Temporary Shelving Idea

Well in the unending search to find more flat space/conserve space and not being in a position to buy a rack atm, I found this at Lowe's for $80.00

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...74B&lpage=none

It would do as a temporary shelving I think, is big enough and very sturdy and has tons of other uses after we get or build a rack. Is it okay to use metal? Anyone ever put sterlite tubs with undertank heaters/flexwatt on metal shelving? Any concerns about heat conductivity or whatever?


~~Joanna~~

Many moons ago I was in a pinch and used these ...

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...824&lpage=none

with strips of 3" flexwatt fixed to the back of the shelf with packing tape and plastic tubs with tiny "feet" (aka washers) hot-glued to the outside corners sitting on top.

I'd think that the wire shelves would allow too much heat loss "down" and away from the tubs unless you put something like rigid insulation or at least contact paper on them. I know that heat rises, but I kind of like to give it an extra "push" in that direction to maximize efficiency.

-adam

Thanks for the great advice Adam. We won't be buying this metal rack for awhile anyways as we have to get Becky's RTB shipped out first and we are still quarantining the newer females seperately.

Just thinking ahead and looking at options that fit the budget.


~~Jo~~

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

Many moons ago I was in a pinch and used these ...

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?acti...4824&lpage=none

with strips of 3" flexwatt fixed to the back of the shelf with packing tape and plastic tubs with tiny "feet" (aka washers) hot-glued to the outside corners sitting on top.

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BAM!!


Looking for the pic of mine and you beat me to it.

I actually have that very same unit holding 8 Sterelites - it is indeed a great stopgap solution.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Smulkin

BAM!!


Looking for the pic of mine and you beat me to it.

I actually have that very same unit holding 8 Sterelites - it is indeed a great stopgap solution.

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Must be true ... Great minds think alike! ;) :P

-adam

Twisted and true.

Those many moons ago did you have anything covering the particleboard (tin, aluminum etc) for the flexwatt to sit atop or did you just let it lay on the wood?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Smulkin

Twisted and true.

Those many moons ago did you have anything covering the particleboard (tin, aluminum etc) for the flexwatt to sit atop or did you just let it lay on the wood?

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I put aluminum foil under the flexwatt after I noticed the wood discoloring a little bit. That seemed to help.

-adam

Cool beans - did you have the flexwatt running the width of the shelf or just smaller patches for where the tub actually sat?

I'll want to scrape up some cash and give MGReptiles a shout for some of that goodness before winter kicks in.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Smulkin

Cool beans - did you have the flexwatt running the width of the shelf or just smaller patches for where the tub actually sat?

I'll want to scrape up some cash and give MGReptiles a shout for some of that goodness before winter kicks in.

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It was a setup for hatchlings ... 12" tubs, so the heat tape just ran length wise across the shelf and I placed the tubs down so that they sat with the heat tape under the back 1/3.

-adam

I seen some Iris stackable sliding drawer tubs similar to these:
http://www.organize-everything.com/stacdraw2.html
when I was with my wife shopping at bed bath and beyond for stuff around the house. The large ones looked like they would be real easy to make into a 'rack' for housing bps...they were sealed all the way around unlike most other sliding stackable tubs that I have seen...they had an area for heating placement....and all you would have to do is put holes for air circulation.... I am actually going to consider using them to make a bp rack for hatchlings in the future.


DISCLAIMER: THESE TYPE OF SETUPS HAVE NOT BEEN PROVEN TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY AS PROPER BALL PYTHON HOUSING. I WOULD SUGGEST NOT USING THIS TYPE OF SETUP IF YOU ARE JUST GETTING INTO THE HOBBY. SOME SIMILAR SETUPS HAVE BEEN HARD TO HEAT CORRECTLY AND POSE AN ESCAPE RISK.