6important – Exo Terra Heat Wave Rainforest User Manual

Page 4

Advertising
background image

6

IMPORTANT:

When installing this substrate heater it is important that the electrical

contact block is not bent and that it sits flat against the glass surface

of the terrarium. This heater is not to be installed with the contact block

portion resting on the bottom frame of the terrarium.(see picture)

The terrarium must not sit on the contact block. Under no

circumstances should the heater sheet be bent or folded in any way,

this may result in product failure. The use of the rubber spacers

provided is mandatory when installing the substrate heater on a

terrarium without a bottom frame.

Background or wall mounting
For heating terrarium walls
Not to be used with paper backgrounds!
1. Clean the surface of the glass.
2. With the protective backing still intact, place the Heat Mat Substrate

Heater on the outside of the tank to determine its final position.

3. Mark the position on the background or wall with a wax pencil or

other marker.

4. Remove the white protective backing and carefully fit the Heat Wave

Substrate Heater to the tank wall. Do NOT remove the clear film

backing on the other side of the mat.

Once in place, the Heat Mat Substrate Heater should not be removed.
5. Place the tank in its final location.
6. Plug in the Heat Mat Substrate Heater.
7. Add the substrate and decorative accessories (see Substrates and

Decoration).

Substrates
When mounted under the tank, the Heat Mat Substrate Heater should

not be used without a substrate in order to prevent reptiles from being

burned. The efficiency of the Heat Mat Substrate Heater depends on

the kind of substrate used and the thickness of the layer, as some

substrates are more conductive than others (see table).

ENGLISH

FRANÇAIS

DEUTSCH

ESP

AÑOL

IT

ALIANO

NEDERLANDS

Material

(W/mK)

Granite................................................... 2.90
Sandstone ............................................. 1.70
Wet Desert Sand .................................... 1.55
Wet Soil ................................................. 1.50
Glass ..................................................... 1.38
Water ..................................................... 0.60
Wet Peat, Bark, Coconut Fiber ................ 0.33
Dry Desert Sand .................................... 0.21
Dry Soil .................................................. 0.20
Dry Peat, Bark, Coconut Fiber................. 0.08

SUBSTRATE THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY

Moistened substrates increase the humidity in the tank rapidly when

heated by a Heat Mat Substrate Heater. This is ideal for damp and

warm-loving reptiles and amphibians. Make sure to use warm (30ºC)

water when adding it to the tank to prevent cracks in the bottom glass,

as it reacts to temperature changes.

Decoration
Always place the water bowl on the opposite side of where the Heat

Mat Substrate Heater is positioned. This prevents the water from

overheating and evaporating. Hiding boxes or caves should also be

placed in the cold zone of the tank to promote natural behavior. Reptiles

seek these hiding places to cool down and hide from warm substrates

or the sun. Other decorations like rocks or wood can be placed in the

warm zone (on the Heat Mat Substrate Heater) to create even more

temperature zones.

Additional heat sources
Next to the Heat WMat Substrate Heater several types of heating

devices can be applied to create the ideal environment. In nature heat

is transferred in three different ways from its source to the animal.
Heat can be transferred by:
Conduction
(Heat Mat Substrate Heater and Heat Rock): the transfer

of heat by means of physical contact. The larger the contact area, the

more efficient the heat transfer.
Convection (almost all heat sources create a form of convection):

the movement of heat by moving air. Convection results from the

differences in the densities of the air at different temperatures. As air

raises in temperature, it becomes less dense and thus lighter thereby

rising above its cooler and denser counterparts, which in turn sink.
Radiation (Sun Glo, Night Glo, Heat Glo and Repti Glo): energy in

the form of electromagnetic waves. Different forms of radiation

comprise the electromagnetic spectrum and are characterized by

their different wavelength. The following types of radiation make up

the electromagnetic spectrum (in order of decreasing energy and

increasing wavelength): ultraviolet rays, visible light rays and infrared.

The shortest wavelength forms of radiation are most penetrating.
Incandescent light bulbs (Sun Glo, Night Glo, Heat Glo and Solar Glo)

should not be mounted immediately above the surface heated by the

Heat Mat Substrate Heater, and place them in such a way that a cooler

area is still present.
Heat Rocks can be used in conjunction with the Heat Mat Substrate

Heater but is more as an alternative heat source as it can be placed

inside the terrarium.

Never position the Heat Rock on the surface

heated by a Heat Mat Substrate Heater!

Guarantee

This product is guaranteed for defects in material or workmanship

for a period of 2 years from date of purchase. The guarantee is valid

with proof of purchase only. The guarantee is limited to repair or

replacement of the unit only and does not cover consequential loss

or damage of or to animate or inanimate objects. This guarantee

is valid only under normal operating conditions for which the unit

Advertising
This manual is related to the following products: