So, as of today, I just have one small bp... 114g female.

I want more... I was thinking a t8 enclosure, but the more I think about it, building my own rack from melamine seems to make more sense, seems like it could be cheaper, and easier to maintain... but I have a couple of questions...

1. Thermostat - I have looked at several DIY's for racks, and it looks like it's pretty common to just use one probe even if you have 4 or 5 shelves with the same size flexwatt on them. Obviously, there is a need to check all the shelf temps regularly, but is this method okay? If so, is it better to wire them all in series or wire them individually and plug them into a power strip and then plug that strip into my thermostat? I'm considering building a rack with more shelves than I need right now, so I'd like to have the option to not heat the shelves I'm not using. I can wire in switches, but the power strip seems simple enough... If this sounds adequate, and I'm correct, I could run a 4-6 shelf rack off of a Herpstat 1, correct?

2. Size - I was debating about what size I need... but I think if I use tubs with lids, I can just build to fit the largest tub (41qt) and then if I have small tubs with hatchlings, I can just slide them back onto the flexwatt as needed, correct? (The rack I plan to make would be closed on both sides, and may have the back closed as well...made from melamine.

3. shape - I have seen both... one you slide the tub back into, so the hole is roughly 20" wide and maybe 34" deep, or more like a shelf, where it's 36" wide, and maybe 19" deep. I would think the first would hold more heat, as there is less of the tub exposed to the room, but I'm not sure. My house is generally cooler in the winter months, so easier to heat would be better, I would think.

Again, I'm just throwing this out there... as I'm planning for the future.