http://aquaticconcepts.thekrib.com/Shc/index.htm

It deals with your assumption of using reptile heating pads instead of
coils, as well as many other issues. Personally, I'm on the pro heating
coils side, but that's probably cause I was able to make them myself for
almost no cost to me, if I had to pay for them, I might have spend money on
something else. However, I do think that they can be useful in a planted
tank, especially in the allowing the tank to grow for long periods of time,
however, they will do absolutely nothing to enhance growth, so asking for
proof of how heating coils helped a tank ... there really is no proof,
except someone telling you that their plants grew for years and years in a
tank with coils, while another tank that didn't have them needed to be
redone more often. Which is basically what the guys at Aquatic Concepts
give as the proof. Make sense to me.

Harry

George Booth is the guy at Aquatic Concepts. I've argued that my tanks
have been fine over the years abd actually better than any cable
system once I switched to flourite, onyx based substrates with no
flow/cables etc.

I would certainly argue that the health and growth of plants using
those far exceeds any sand/laterite + cable set up. George has never
used these substrates but has been threatening to for a few months
lately.

I've never had to "redo" a planted tank or found what George did in
comparisons. I think it's difficult to ascertain if it's from the
added heat, the temp current differences, but I could argue the same
thing with RFUG's if it's an issue of currents and long term growth.
Those tanks did as well as tanks with the cables. I've had cables for
a long time, I've had plenty of time to gauge, think about and see
their role. I've also had plenty of other tank set ups to compare the
flourite vs cables and can tell anyone that the flourite etc is worth
far more than cables + sand laterite set up. I also have tried the
RFUG's more than anyone else I'm aware of with planted tanks. I have a
fair amount of background on substrates and am very well versed in
wetland soils professionally.
While George has said his views over time and I respect those views,
it must be something folks can consistently duplicate the results
with. I have been unable to duplicate it and have since found many
other methods that are cheaper and simpler and DO give much better and
more consistent results.
The hobby has really come a long way since 1985 when these things were
introduced. Substrate materials have become much better since then
which is almost 20 years ago.

Regards,
Tom Barr