New to heat cord

[Bl69aze]

hey guys last night my diamonds heat may has stopped working after 5years (no idea why, hadn't touched it recently)

And was thinking of going heat cord/tape
Just wondering a few things..

It is a large tank with Fairly thick walls and base (wood)
1) what would be the best way to setup the heat cord? I've seen people suggesting put it on a tile with another tile over it, would you then put substrate over the tile? (If so, less than normal? )

2) best cord that people use?

Thanks

 

[kittycat17]

I do the time method yes I have substrate over the top but the carpets just push it off and sit right on the tile


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Bl69aze]

I do the time method yes I have substrate over the top but the carpets just push it off and sit right on the tile


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

thanks

also forgot to mention.... how do they work?(like... is the whole thing a heat emitter? how much cord do i have to work with that isnt emitting heat etc) how much should i get for just a normal tile size?

 

[MANNING]

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=..._AUICigC&biw=360&bih=512#imgrc=vSPeHkjVojKI2M:

 

[MANNING]

Hopefully that link takes you to Google and nothing else
I tried uploading a file but was taking too long.
If you have a timber base you could router (or have someone do it for you) a line similar to the one on the right.
Your heat cord would sit in this and you could sit a tile over the top.
I'd say if you had a 3m cable for instance 1/2 -> 2/3 would heat. 1.5 -2m heat cable and the rest to get to the wall.

 

[Bl69aze]

Hopefully that link takes you to Google and nothing else
I tried uploading a file but was taking too long.
If you have a timber base you could router (or have someone do it for you) a line similar to the one on the right.
Your heat cord would sit in this and you could sit a tile over the top.
I'd say if you had a 3m cable for instance 1/2 -> 2/3 would heat. 1.5 -2m heat cable and the rest to get to the wall.

thanks, ill see what we have in terms of tools ...

another question, what wattage would be enough to go through a tile and a bit of substrate at a suitable temperature?

 

[Wokka]

Heat cord was originally designed for under floor heating in houses and for lagging water pipes to prevent freezing. Different wattage cords produce different amounts of heat per length of cord. There is a formula for how many watts of energy you need to to increase temperature by how many degrees above the ambient temperature but i dont know it. The main advantage i see with heat cord is that the heat is more efficient being stored in the substrate such as tile or sand whereas radiant heat sources waste heat by heating the air which may be lost when it moves away.If you need more heat you use more cord which can remove the need for a thermostat as heat cord is generally low wattage. generally say 20 watts of heat cord would provide sufficient heat for a 5 yo diamond but in the end it will depend upon the ambient temperature.