Heating?

[amanda92]

Hi im new here and need some info. i have finally gathered all the supplies ill need to build a few naturalistic vivs. I want to go about making them with a leca layer seeing as how i find it hard to keep the humidity up in a couple tanks. It gets really cold (well cold to me and the critters) where i live its 46 right now 53 indoors and usually stays in the 60s in the day. How would i go about heating the vivs? i more than likely wont put a water feature in just yet so a water heater is probably out of the question. would i just keep using the lights on top? if so would the plants be able to handle the heat? would an undertank heat mat suffice? will it crack the glass cause of the water though there wont be much at any given time just enough to keep the humidity up? and will a heat mat be able to penetrate through all the layers?
will i need a filter for the leca layer even though there wont be a water feature or too much water in there at a time? would mold form in the false bottom or the water become stagnant? sorry too many questions, i know , i just like to get my research in before starting a project. any and all advice is greatly appreciated

[Th@t1Guy]

you can get the large undertank heater and slap it on to the back, that with the lights on top should help. it also depends on the size of the tank. what did you have in mind?

[amanda92]

it wont affect the foam or silicone if its one the back? and the main tank is roughly a 60 gallon but im going to start off with a 10gal just as a trial and error i guess.

[Th@t1Guy]

i think it might actually... but you might be able to throw some tree fern or coco panel on the side so it wouldn't give any animal heat burns.

[amanda92]

hmm that might work....i think...

[Th@t1Guy]

Haha well let me know how it turns out if it works i might have to use it on my 29 gallon