DIY racks/room. Snake and asf

So just getting going breeding both balls and asfs. Made a snake rack a while ago but didnt post pics. Figured id post them with the grow out rack i just made. In my newly set up snake room. And with it being new. Im still settlig out the hunidity as u can see.

malamine snake rack with my new herpstat 2 running 12inchs of 4inch flex watt per tub. Rubber maid tubs is what i used.

http://tapatalk.com/mu/461cf545-52e0-3e70.jpg

I wanted to be able to quickly remove my shelves to check my flexwatt or if i have to move the rack. So i routered notches that the shelves slide on.
http://tapatalk.com/mu/461cf545-52fa-8801.jpg

Still need to mount my power bars and clean up the cords
http://tapatalk.com/mu/461cf545-53ca-8c93.jpg

New grow out rack. 3 tubs high with storage underneath.
http://tapatalk.com/mu/461cf545-53f6-49f1.jpg

Lowes "small" mortar tubs.. All i coukd get her in canada.
http://tapatalk.com/mu/461cf545-543b-22b5.jpg

Built completly out of 2x2s.. Not gonna lie it was a definite spur of the moment rush job. So i only used 1 3inch screw per joint.. Shame shame i know...

I could never understand the space most people place between there rodent tubs. Figured it was for water bottles but i put mine right on top of eachother to save space. I hope i didnt make a grave error.
http://tapatalk.com/mu/461cf545-547b-484e.jpg

The 1.4 breeders i put in to check fpr holes ;) rather lose 5 then 50 when these tubs r full. The under tubs have middle supports on the screen to support the tub above.
http://tapatalk.com/mu/461cf545-5549-c392.jpg

I sealed off the widow with weather stripping cause our winters get cold and drafty here. I have an oilfield radiator that i hooked up to my herpstat for the ambient room temp. Have it set in on off mode on probe 2 amd it seems to be working great. In the corner is my asf rack that i purchased used for 40 bucks.
http://tapatalk.com/mu/461cf545-5617-053f.jpg

Asf grow out again. With the big rubbermaid of hog grower i use.
http://tapatalk.com/mu/461cf545-57a3-0c7d.jpg

All in all. The grow out rack cost 65 dollars to buid. 6 dollars for each tub. I used 9 8ft 2x2s one an a half rolls of hardware cloth. And some misc hardware. The bottles came with the used rack i bought.

Figure with the flex watt the snake rack cost just shy of 200.

Not including the humidifier heater or herpstat. The room didnt cost that much.. Besides losing a spare room. Lol


Edited post to finish the right up.

Well its been 24 hours in the new room amd im having an issue. I cannot get a standard temp throughout all the tubs. All are 12inchs of 4inch flexwatt.. Wired to 2 powerbars. Into my herpstat on probe 1. Output 1 is set to 104 degrees. With the probe underneath the flexwatt. In a routered groove. My tubs vary from between 81 to 91. And in no particular order. Not as if jut the bottom ones are cooler. Its all over. One top tub is 83 and one bottom is 89.

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Originally Posted by Simplex

I could never understand the space most people place between there rodent tubs. Figured it was for water bottles but i put mine right on top of eachother to save space. I hope i didnt make a grave error.

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The gap between tubs is for air to circulate through. It doesn't look like you have much room between each level.

The way it's set up you could just as easily have put the rats in a box with a few air holes.

check all your connections, check for any bending or obstruction of the flexwatt, any pinching, anything. Unplug and redo ... see what happens... GL

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

The gap between tubs is for air to circulate through. It doesn't look like you have much room between each level.

The way it's set up you could just as easily have put the rats in a box with a few air holes.

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I disagree. If u look at the pictures u can see how the tubs are sloped. There is approx 4inches of open mesh on either side of the tub that is wide open. Not to mention the 2 inches created by the bottom supports that allows air flow on top of the tubs.

Regardig the flexwatt... I was really hoping that wasnt the trouble shooting i would need. All are soildered and taped down really well. I have trouble using my temp gun on the flex watt itself due to its refectivness.. Was considering putting dull tape in the middle of all the strips so that i could shoot it better.

you should just be able to shoot at the black strips, or even on the tubs if you can.

i wouldnt use duct tape. it will just become a sticky goo. not sure what chemicles would be off gassed into the room as well. always use the temp gun on the substrate in the enclosure to know what temp the snakes are actually seeing. not what just the tubs are seeing. you will notice a difference.
as far as the difference in temps go. make sure all the pieces are the same exact length and that the connections are solid.
adam jeffery

Edit: just relooked at the pics and realized they dont show how much of a slope the ends of the tubs really have. But its approx 4 inches inward from the top to the bottom.

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Originally Posted by adamjeffery

i wouldnt use duct tape. it will just become a sticky goo. not sure what chemicles would be off gassed into the room as well. always use the temp gun on the substrate in the enclosure to know what temp the snakes are actually seeing. not what just the tubs are seeing. you will notice a difference.
as far as the difference in temps go. make sure all the pieces are the same exact length and that the connections are solid.
adam jeffery

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I was thinking hockey tape. And the black strips on the stuff i got just bounce it right up to the top shelf. Id like to find out if its an issue with the flexwatt itself before i tear it all out. Or if it has to do with how i have it wired.

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Originally Posted by Simplex

I disagree. If u look at the pictures u can see how the tubs are sloped. There is approx 4inches of open mesh on either side of the tub that is wide open. Not to mention the 2 inches created by the bottom supports that allows air flow on top of the tubs.

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I see what you're saying.

I guess most people, myself included, don't think that's enough space to allow for air to flow through the tub which is why you see plans that have 9-10 inch spacers between levels. You are not just trying to supply air but to allow air to circulate.

BTW, what space did you save by stacking them closer together? Floor space used is th same. Are you building something above the rack? Just curious.

ETA: I have a rat rack using the same tubs and the gap between the bottom the tub and the next level screen is 5-6 inches.

More then anything it was the lumber saved. But im going to build a shelf unit that sits on top at a later date. Thats why i wanted to keep it low. My orriginal plan was gonna be all 5 tubs. With 6 inch spaces between. But realized 1. I dont need all 5 tubs. 2. I could save significant lumber if i used the bottom support as the next tubs screen.

With the air flow. Is it for the smell? Or what exactly. As u have said its not just for air supply.

Without air circulation the fumes can build up and cause respiratory diseases I think? Just guessing.

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Originally Posted by Simplex

With the air flow. Is it for the smell? Or what exactly. As u have said its not just for air supply.

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I would say ammonia first and bedding dust second. Then you have the smell of their waste and stale air.

I would suggest you get a fan to keep the air moving. It would also help with the heater.

Oh k makes sense.

I would recommend aluminum foil tape. The duct tape and hockey tape are not made to be used with heat, so the glue melts, making it a mess that your tubs will not slide well over. I know, I did it too.:)

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Originally Posted by Lorgakor

I would recommend aluminum foil tape. The duct tape and hockey tape are not made to be used with heat, so the glue melts, making it a mess that your tubs will not slide well over. I know, I did it too.:)

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Right now it is taped down with aluminum.. But aluminum reflects o cant shoot it with my temp gun. Just gonna put kne strip on

What is the ambient room temp? Is it low? It sounds like it might be low. Temps usually vary top to bottom but not by much a few degrees unless it is a cool room then the flexwatt doesn't get hot enough and you end up with tons of issues. Just thinking out loud here.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

What is the ambient room temp? Is it low? It sounds like it might be low. Temps usually vary top to bottom but not by much a few degrees unless it is a cool room then the flexwatt doesn't get hot enough and you end up with tons of issues. Just thinking out loud here.

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Its 79.3 held by a herpstat connected to an oilfilled rad. And the temps are all over tge board..low tubs r high high tubs r low