Ambient room temp help

I'm new to this forum,so I hope this question is in the right place:) I have 2 issues:

1) I built a rack system and got Sterelite tubs from Wallyworld. Have had it in operation for a year with back heat. I know the tub sides are not vertical, but what I just now noticed when I added 1 more shelf and used bottom heat is that the perimeter "bump" around the floor of the tub stops good contact with the heat strip and my internal tub temp is not much higher. Any solution?

2) OK, in relation to the above... I am using heat tape, rear on 9 racks and bottom on 1. For 2 years I've read about the potential high heat danger (REAL... I know.. Ranco in place),but I've never heard of a minimum ambient room temp requirement. Do you know of one ?

As you can tell, the combo of the above let you know I'm not satisfied with my temps. There is a L-O-N-G story I could tell,but being my 1st post... I sure would hate to get a reputation for being long winded ( but entertaining!).

THANKS and I NEVER knew I'd grow to enjoy keeping any type of snake. BPs are so beautiful and gentle that I wish I'd have noticed them more than just 1.5 yrs ago.

If I am understanding the question correctly, yes there is a lowest recommend ambient air temp. Typically 76 is as low as most would say and closer to 80 is preferred. The snakes them selves are a good judge if they are healthy and eating well the temps are likely fine as they sit.

Back heat adds to ambient temps more than belly heat does. Typically racks are in quite warm rooms usually 80 everything just works better. A rack placed in a 80º room the ambient air temps usually is 80 at the coolest and 82-4 at the warmest.

The lip on the tub for belly heat should not be any issue but I think it will require a separate thermostat as the rest of the rack is back heat (correct?) For a single t-stat you will need every stip of heat tape to be the exact same set up. Or separate t-stats to control the variations correctly.

The most important is that the enclosure ambient temp does not fall below 75.

That being said depending on your room temperature certain racks and type of heat may not be recommended.

For example I would not recommend an open rack with ambient temps below 75, I would also not recommend back heat.

Enclosed racks such as RBI with belly heat are best if your room temps are below 75.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

The most important is that the enclosure ambient temp does not fall below 75.

That being said depending on your room temperature certain racks and type of heat may not be recommended.

For example I would not recommend an open rack with ambient temps below 75, I would also not recommend back heat.

Enclosed racks such as RBI with belly heat are best if your room temps are below 75.

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THAT is exactly my issue. I've started off using a "closet space" 4'x8' in our finished basement. Issue is that normal air temp is 69ish during winter months. So, bottom line is I have to get room air to 78-80 . My rack is enclosed on all but the front. Guess it's time to break news to my wife... gonna be using the portable oil heater again (lol). THANKS to all !

They make 400 watt small oil filled heaters that would probably work well in that small space. I use one in my snake room on a thermostat. You average oil filled heater is 1500 watts which would also work on a Ranco thermostat. Depends how big your space is.

I don't let my room get under 77.

I certainaly recommend warmer rooms for racks. I however seem to be the odd one out and run a rack in a cool room it is rarely over 76ºF and rarely under 66ºF. It can be done but it is a crazy amount of work to get there and lots of controls to keep it. I have warm and cool side heaters T-stats to control warm and cool top and bottom (4 probes for the rack) and lots of insulation and careful air flow vents to keep the cool room air out of the rack and to use preheated air. It can be done but it isn't the easy or cheap route. (ok it is a lot cheaper for me as the room is poorly insulated)

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

I certainaly recommend warmer rooms for racks. I however seem to be the odd one out and run a rack in a cool room it is rarely over 76ºF and rarely under 66ºF. It can be done but it is a crazy amount of work to get there and lots of controls to keep it. I have warm and cool side heaters T-stats to control warm and cool top and bottom (4 probes for the rack) and lots of insulation and careful air flow vents to keep the cool room air out of the rack and to use preheated air. It can be done but it isn't the easy or cheap route. (ok it is a lot cheaper for me as the room is poorly insulated)

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THANKS for the input one and all. Maybe I should turn my attention to getting your help convincing my wife to let me out of the closet.... well, I mean expand my closet into a larger room! 4'x8' with 10 BP's doesn't really leave a lot of space. Add in large bag of Aspen, fresh water containers and a trash can and you're just about are out of room. I'm hoping that the 1 clutch I should get next Spring will yield a more open minded wife and a bit more square footage;)

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Originally Posted by gilly

THAT is exactly my issue. I've started off using a "closet space" 4'x8' in our finished basement. Issue is that normal air temp is 69ish during winter months. So, bottom line is I have to get room air to 78-80 . My rack is enclosed on all but the front. Guess it's time to break news to my wife... gonna be using the portable oil heater again (lol). THANKS to all !

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what is your rack made of? I would try insulating the sides and back with some type of foam insulation. At night my room gets down to 67 but the ambient temp in my tub stays at 81-82 degrees. I use belly heat for hot side and side heat around the whole tub to increase ambient temps. Its defiantly easier just to heat the room to 80. however, my snake room is where I sleep so heating the room to 80 would make it hard to sleep.

my room stays at like 55-60 in the winter but there is a simple fix.. lowes sells nice heaters for like $20 and it is on HALF power and the room is a constant 79-at night 81-during the day

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Originally Posted by isanta666

what is your rack made of? I would try insulating the sides and back with some type of foam insulation. At night my room gets down to 67 but the ambient temp in my tub stays at 81-82 degrees. I use belly heat for hot side and side heat around the whole tub to increase ambient temps. Its defiantly easier just to heat the room to 80. however, my snake room is where I sleep so heating the room to 80 would make it hard to sleep.

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3/4" melamine. 11" FlexWatt...TKS for the idea. I have a spare piece of plexiglass that I might use to enclose the front. I am testing oil-heater on min (of 3 )settings and Max temp. In 2 hrs. air temp up from 66.6 to 72.1.