[Wet Thumb Forum]-Is sand OK over Dupla heating cables?

[Ruxtonvet]

I read that it is best to place a thin layer of sand over the silicon heating cables to fascilitate the heat being spread out evenly before adding a layer of lateralite and a layer of gravel to the top. Does Dupla recommend this? Will the sand compact too much (melt?) and be difficult to remove at a later date?

[imported_russell]

ruxtonvet, i hope you don't mind. i moved this post to the hardware forum because i think you would get more hits there.

russell

[John N.]

I can see how sand would distribute the head around a little better. But I don't think it's absolutely necessary. Are these substrate heating cables or for the tank? Substrate heat cables from what I gather are not needed.

I would do without the sand. It'll endup mixed with everything else eventually, and not completely pleasing to the eye.

-John N.