How to heat my 28qt rack?

I have a new 28qt rack and I was thinking of buying 11" heat tape but then i realized that it would be exactly half of the tub. (Belly heat) Should i go smaller? because the heat will surely reach a few inches past the tape.

Will 1 row of 4 inch heat tape be enough? or two rows?

Also, do you buy your hides and water bowls or make them? Where from? I will only need about 4 right now so i wont be saving much if i make them.

Thank you!

Rows of 4 inch or 6 inch heat tape will work for a 28qt rack.

I buy hides, but they're dollar store cereal bowls($1/each) with cut out openings.
For water, I use pet store dog crocks($6/each) for the big girls who are prone to flip bowls and dollar store pet bowls($1/each) for everyone else.

Just 1 row per tub right? Thanks!

What would you say about 4 inch pvc and 16 oz delicup for waterbowls?

Yes the 4 inch inconjuction with correct ambient temps (typically, room temps, oil heaters are the most common method) will be fine. The deli cups should work fine but remember the tube still needs to be cleaned as well just less frequently.

I use 11" flex watt on my 28qt rack with no issues for the past three years. I just offset the heat and the tub by either runinng half of the heat tape on the bottom and the other half under the tub... or with most of my tubs i have, i can litterally just put the tape under onlt the section of the tub i want to heat.

With that being said, 'i do use 4" under two of my tubs and it works too. the 4" provides a good hot spot but the 11" helps out the whole tub temp gradiant better.