DIY 9 Tub Breeder Rack (lightweight plastic shelving unit)

I saw a video on YouTube on how to make this rack and I love it! It's very easy to make, fairly inexpensive, lightweight, and you can take it apart in minutes.

The finished product, it will cost just under $300 including the flexwatt. I'm still debating on putting sides on the rack, it's nice to be able to see any breeding going on without opening the tub.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...psf658966c.jpg

What you will need to buy:

You will need two of these shelving units from Home Depot, they are 2x3 feet, and 5 shelves high, $50 each, link
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...psb336ead0.jpg

2 sheets of 1/8th whiteboard/hardboard, $12 each. You will need to cut them down into 2x3 foot sections, you will use all of them and there will only be 2 small extra pieces.

9 plastic 41qt tubs, I got mine at Walmart, I think they are $8 each http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-...-of-6/10401039

9, 1 foot sections of 12 inch flexwatt $27, with connectors ~$50 (plus shipping), I get mine from Reptile Basics

2 packs of composite window shims, $2 each link to lowes

And of course tape/screws/etc.

Ok, now for the fun part, building!

Your whiteboard is already cut into 2x3 foot sections, now you need to cut out the corners, just enough to make room for the posts
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps7c95fd3a.jpg

We clamped several pieces together so it took less cutting. 2x2 inches should be enough, we did 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 to be safe.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps58c3b137.jpg

Once you have those cut you put them on the underside of the shelf, remember the white board is the lid of your tub. You could put it where the tub sits as well, but it's really not necessary. The way I see it heat rises so there shouldn't be a lot of heat loss.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps7af82685.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...pse33305cc.jpg

On the shelf
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps37bb5c6c.jpg

3 screws down the sides and 2 screws on the front and the back are enough. Just make sure you put the screws on the front next to the posts so your tubs don't rub on them.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...psc3576246.jpg

Here you can see the screw next to the post on the front side of the rack, your tub will not be that far over, I was just measuring the width I needed.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps97092230.jpg

It's always nice to have helpers
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps695b0763.jpg

The window shims will keep your tubs from rubbing on the flexwatt. This will also help stop your tubs when you push them in.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...pse7800e58.jpg

Screw the shims into the shelf and slide the flexwatt under it. Do not screw them in tight, they are just there for your tubs to slide on and to hold your flexwatt down. You will want to tape down the front of your flexwatt so it doesn't catch on your tubs when you slide them in. I use duct tape.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...pscd497249.jpg

Here you can see where I had to take out the screws on the front and move them closer to the posts.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...psb6261278.jpg

Then you just assemble and done! You can put screws in the posts to hold the rack in sections to move it in pieces. I left it as is so I can take it completely apart. Also, the posts are longer in the back than in the front to help the tubs slide better and keep the tubs tight.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps51dfb531.jpg

How are these heat wise? I have a back and half the sides covered to keep in heat on my wood rack

This is awesome!! Did you have to cut the posts as well? Or do the shelves slide down into place? If they slide down, what holds them where you want them to stay? Very cool.....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by carlson

How are these heat wise? I have a back and half the sides covered to keep in heat on my wood rack

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I have my thermostat set at 92, it's 88-89 on the hotspot. In my melamine rack I was able to have my thermostat set at 90 to get a hot spot of 88, so not a huge difference. I do heat my snake room to 75 though, that makes my cool side roughly 75 degrees. If you don't heat your snake room you will probably want to put sides on it. There isn't a huge difference from bottom to top heat wise since there aren't sides, so that's nice.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

This is awesome!! Did you have to cut the posts as well? Or do the shelves slide down into place? If they slide down, what holds them where you want them to stay? Very cool.....

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Yeah, you will need to cut the posts. You will also have to make 4 posts out of the extra you cut off to make the other posts (the extra pieces are long enough, so don't worry). I will have to take apart the top shelf and measure the posts to get lengths for you. The back posts are 1/4 of an inch longer than the front if I remember right.

It's really tall, I have to use a step ladder for the top shelf. I'll have to get a height measurement too. I can slide the entire rack around the room on my own, it's very light, but also very sturdy.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...psd88bf872.jpg

I actually made almost these exact plans the other day :) with the whiteboard and everything. Haven't put it together yet so its awesome to see how you did it. Thanks a ton, I think its great when people share their plans

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SnowShredder

I actually made almost these exact plans the other day :) with the whiteboard and everything. Haven't put it together yet so its awesome to see how you did it. Thanks a ton, I think its great when people share their plans

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That's too funny! Good luck with yours, it's pretty easy! Lucky for me my hubby is good at figuring things out, me, I need step by step pictures/explanations. I was totally lost when we started!

I do want to see some plans/cost for a set up like this for smaller tubs. I'm wondering if it would be easier to buy small racks or if building them would be a lot smarter. I'm kind of lazy, lol.

Nice thanks for posting this i think i'm gonna make a smaller one for now.....bookmarked :)

Thanks for sharing the info. Your DIY rack only costs ~$33 per 41qt slot. That's super cheap!

Thank you very much. :) this will give me and dad something to do. Lol. He's beginning to get involved in the care of them and has been wanting to build my burm (around 10 ft) a newer bigger cage. A rack will just have to do.. Lol. And thank you for the links with the actual items themselves. :)

great rack. i only need some larger tubs for my adults. Can this be done using only 1 shelving system? Will this affect the stability? thanks..