Trying to Heat a Sterilite Tub...

ok, so i really want to move my geckos into sterilite tubs with lamps... i got the fixture no problem but the bulb is tricky... i tried to find a colored bulb at lowes and all they had was halogens and its doesnt put out enough heat... then i went to petsmart. i got an exo terra night glo bulb thats 75 watts and it goes up to like 125 degrees. i put it on my rheostat and it didnt turn it down at all! (the rheostat was on the lowest setting. im trying to just extend the distance from the enclosure to the lamp so hopefully that works. any body got any bulbs that work for them? maybe any that you can order online?

I guess I don't know why bulbs are your choice instead of Under Tank Heater. I am sure you know that the belly heat is important for digestion- you must have tile or something that will be heated by the bulb? I know that some of the members use Sterlite tubs for their roaches and place a piece of glass (like from an old picture frame) between the Under Tank Heater and the plastic tub.

because the Under Tank Heater are exspensive and no itll just be paper towels but the floor of the tub is now at an even 90.3 degrees so.

So there is not a cool area? I don't understand- "the floor of the tub is now at an even 90.3 degrees so." So what? They need a temperature gradient to regulate their body temperature.

Well the 90.3º part is great for the basking area, but it needs to be just that - an area. There also needs to be an area the Gecko can get away from the heat (with a temperature down in the low 80's). And if you are using overhead bulbs and the bottom is 90.3º - the ambient (air) temps inside the tub is too hot!

Kelly is right, they need a gradient - not a constant temperature to regulate their body temps.

What size tub are you using? Rheostats are also not really the best thing to use. I would suggest a thermostat. All a rheostat does is reduce the juice. If the ambient goes up so will the basking spot. If you can find heat tape and a thermostat that is your best set up. As far as the gradient that is why I am asking what size tub. Why are you changing your current set up?
Gary

Get some flex watt. Its cheap and easy to use. What size of tubs? Get some 3 inch wide flex and wire it up. You should be fine.

i meant to say that the spot under the lamp is 90.3 but the other side is about 73. i wanna get heat tape but everywhere i read it seems very complicated.

What is complicated about it?

i dont know it just seems complicated. haha