Top shelf of rack way off from the bottom 3.

Hey All,

I have a Reptile Basics 4 shelf iris rack and notices that my top shelf was registering 10-15 degrees lower than the rest. Could it be a problem with the heat tape? Should I put my probe on the top shelf tape?

Suggestions?

Does the heat tape run in one strip from bottom to top? If so does the top end at the side of follow up the side like all the others?

A while ago someone posted that their rack was cold on the top and this is what it came down to. It might be the same. Racks are usually warmer on the top.

What are the ambient room temps? That could be a problem too racks do better at or near 80º rooms.

I am guessing it should that is how it came from reptile basics. The room temp is about 75. I guess I can check it all tonight. I was thinking about putting the probe up top and testing it all again.

The poster who had the issue had a bought rack prewired, IMO a design flaw tying to save 5$ of flexwatt. If yours does not continue though that would be part of the problem combined with cool room temps is my best guess. You will likely need higher room temps anyway so try that.

If the top is 10-15 degrees lower then my concern with putting the probe at the top is the bottom will be 10-15 degrees hotter. So if you have temps set at 90 the the bottom would be 100-105. That's to hot.

On my rack, the bottom tub runs cool and the top tub runs cool. The bottom tub is cooler since it is floor level and the cool air settles. The top tub has nothing above it so the heat is released. This is just what I have found.

I would try placing something on top to trap heat, and/or circulate the air around the rack to better distribute it. Worth a shot. 10-15 deg is a pretty huge difference.