Size and Placement of Heat Tape Questions!

[Snakes'nCoffeeStains]

I am building a rack system that will house 4, 28 QT tubs for my 4 BP's. I plan to switch out two of the tubs for 41 QT in the future when my females are larger. The rack will be short and long as apposed to tall and deep and placed in my room that is generally on the cool side from 65-70. I live in an old house so keeping ambient temps consistent it almost impossible. So what I am wondering is what width of heat tape should I get? Currently I can't decide between 6" and 3" THG tape. Additionally, I have seen people place the heat tape on one end of each tub, in the middle of the long side of 28QT tubs, and underneath one end of the tubs. What I want to know is which placement and size would work best for maintaining temps for 28 and 41 QT tubs while still providing a gradient.

[bcr229]

In your situation I would use 6" wide tape. A hide placed over top of the heat tape inside of the tub will trap a decent amount of heat inside it as well.

Also, assuming the back and sides of the rack are solid pieces, you can drape a small blanket over the open front to help keep heat inside the rack.

[Snakes'nCoffeeStains]

In your situation I would use 6" wide tape. A hide placed over top of the heat tape inside of the tub will trap a decent amount of heat inside it as well.

Also, assuming the back and sides of the rack are solid pieces, you can drape a small blanket over the open front to help keep heat inside the rack.

So would you suggest having under tank heat for a room that is on the cooler side?

[bcr229]

So would you suggest having under tank heat for a room that is on the cooler side?

For the 41-qt set up so the long side faces the room, yes. I have a rack with that design and you would need a lot of heat tape on the back wall to get the back side of it up to the correct warm temp, there's just a ton of air exchange with that design. Under-tub heat is a lot more efficient.

[Snakes'nCoffeeStains]

For the 41-qt set up so the long side faces the room, yes. I have a rack with that design and you would need a lot of heat tape on the back wall to get the back side of it up to the correct warm temp, there's just a ton of air exchange with that design. Under-tub heat is a lot more efficient.

That would make sense. However, if I use 6" on my 28Qt in the same fashion would that provide too little of a gradient for the smaller size? Additionally, I am trying to order that size tape from Reptile Basics but they are currently out of stock, would 4" provide enough heat or is it basically the same as the 3"?

[bcr229]

That would make sense. However, if I use 6" on my 28Qt in the same fashion would that provide too little of a gradient for the smaller size?

I don't think so. The 28-qt is 23 inches long so 6 inch tape would leave plenty of unheated floor space available if the snake wanted a place to cool off. Remember a UTH really don't do a whole lot for ambient temps, and your room temps are 65-70*F.