I am going to build a rack

Hello everyone. I have been doing a lot of research on how people build their racks and how the heating elements are incorporated into them but i still have a few questions. :confused:

First, with the Flexwatt heat tape, is it okay if the tub is sitting directly on the heating element or does it need to be elevated above it to prevent melting/ wear on the tubs? I know that the thermostat will keep the temps at 92, but i guess i was wondering if keeping it elevated or sitting directly on it makes any difference?

Second, is one type of tub better than another as far as holding up to long exposure to 90+ degree temps and also is one type easier to keep clean than another?

Third, with melamine shelving, is it okay to put the flexwatt directly on the shelves? From the pictures I have seen of the heat tape are always of the front where the heat radiates from, i was wondering if it has a special backing to keep it radiating upward and if not, do i need to put something underneath to do so?

Currently I have two BPs, one which is about 2 feet and one that is about 2 1/2 feet. I would like to build a rack to house the two of them, but would like to be able to upgrade the tub size for when they grow bigger. Also, I plan on purchacing a few babies in the spring and would like to house them in the same unit. I am just trying to figure out a design that will meet these accomidations. I am open to any and all suggestions that you will give me!

I plan on ordering the flexwatt and a new Helix DBS1000 from reptile basics to save myself the hastle of wiring everything but i just need to figure out my design and how many feet of flexwatt it will take. I really appreciate any feedback you all are willing to share with me. I'm a total novice at this rack thing and just want to get it right! Thank you!

wow why is no one replying to this post?

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Originally Posted by casperca

First, with the Flexwatt heat tape, is it okay if the tub is sitting directly on the heating element

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This is the method that I and many other use with good luck. I use aluminum tape to secure the heat tape the rack shelf. No problems with plastic tub melting.

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Originally Posted by casperca

Second, is one type of tub better than another as far as holding up to long exposure to 90+ degree temps and also is one type easier to keep clean than another?

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All brands are pretty much the same. I personally like and use Sterlite tubs. These have a smooth base that is easy on sliding over the heat tape.

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Originally Posted by casperca

I would like to build a rack to house the two of them, but would like to be able to upgrade the tub size for when they grow bigger.

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If you go with the Sterlite brand the 28qt and 41qt both have the same stack height. So you could use the 28qt for smaller ones and 41qt is a great size for adults.

I hope this helps :D

cue is da man!!! i listened to him and built a rack that works no problem. I would suggest that if you go with the 41qt tubs in a cooler room, to use a larger size flex watt, i used the 11inch for mine and my room is about 71deg F. But cue knows his stuff.


~mike

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Originally Posted by wildlifewarrior

cue is da man!!!

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Thanks :oops:

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Originally Posted by wildlifewarrior

i listened to him and built a rack that works no problem.

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Glad it worked out well for you man :gj:

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Originally Posted by cueball

Glad it worked out well for you man :gj:

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Thanks again for all the help man!

~Mike

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Originally Posted by wildlifewarrior

Thanks again for all the help man!

~Mike

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Anytime man! I knew you could do it ;)

Here is an example of a rack I built.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...hon/brrack.jpg

Thank you for the help! I've got my questions answered for the most part but if anyone else wants to post pics etc. they are greatly appreciated! I'll post some pics when i get it built.

And here's my rack, in all of it's yummy, gargantuan goodness:

The Back
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8...0011lw2.th.jpg

Front
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/3...0017wl2.th.jpg

The first picture is a good diagram on how I wired it all parallel. I'm a girl, and if "I" can do it, anyone can. :-D

Here is a pic of mine to give you an idea of how I built it. That is 2x4 for the uprights, 1x2 screwed to the melamine to screw into the 2x4 and a mix of melamine/MDF for shelves.


http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...Picture002.jpg

I built it like this because I do not have the advantage of having a herp room yet so I used solid shelves to hold the humidity better. When placing the wood on, what I did was lay a piece of 1/8" wood on top of a shelf, then put the tub on top and lay the next shelf in place. Real easy to do and it only takes about 2-3 hours to cut everything and get it put together.

Here is our rack. We built it out of melamine from Home Depot; if you bring in your specs and size needs, they will saw it there for you. Any questions, please ask or PM me! Oh, it holds Sterilite 41-QT tubs. Heating is Exo-Terra heatmats on dimmers, though most people use flexwatt, this works for me. I too use the metal tape to attach the UTHs to the tub underside.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...es/therack.jpg

Call your home depot to check before going there. Neither of the ones here cut it and neither does Lowe's.

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Originally Posted by tmlowe5704

Call your home depot to check before going there. Neither of the ones here cut it and neither does Lowe's.

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That would be a good idea.. sorry I didn't mention it.

All these rack pictures have me kind of excited! :)

By the way, anyone ever get a cut running their finger across the edge of foil tape? Wicked bad!

its like the worst paper cut in the world


~mike

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Originally Posted by wildlifewarrior

its like the worst paper cut in the world


~mike

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Exactly! Brutal!

oh i'm going to show my hubby this thread and hope to get him 'inspired' to get our rack built so we can be ready when our CITES comes through!

come on hubby... get 'er done!

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Originally Posted by jglass38

All these rack pictures have me kind of excited! :)

By the way, anyone ever get a cut running their finger across the edge of foil tape? Wicked bad!

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Ooof; it hurts! :eek:

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Originally Posted by jglass38

By the way, anyone ever get a cut running their finger across the edge of foil tape? Wicked bad!

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I did cut my lower back like this :tears: I still fear turning my back to racks :oops:

thanks for the heads up guys. i'll watch out for that tape. it sounds pretty wicked

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Originally Posted by jglass38

By the way, anyone ever get a cut running their finger across the edge of foil tape? Wicked bad!

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manpoint lost, buck up bro!


vaughn

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Originally Posted by casperca

thanks for the heads up guys. i'll watch out for that tape. it sounds pretty wicked

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Be the smart one and use packaging tape instead;)

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Originally Posted by casperca

thanks for the heads up guys. i'll watch out for that tape. it sounds pretty wicked

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Or even better yet build your rack so you boxes hang below the shelf above and have 1/8" gap to slide over the tape and use double sided carpet tape to hold down the flexwatt. Looks much cleaner also.

I know I may be a bit late in here, but here is a DIY page that I put on my website that details the building of a hatchlig rack with melamine and Flexwatt down the back. Hope it helps.
http://www.baileyreptiles.com/babyrack.html
Also, an adult rack DIY that may help you a bit as well.
http://www.baileyreptiles.com/cb70rack.html

Happy building,

We've been looking into building a melamine type rack (for what a year now *sigh*)...anyways....after checking with our local building supply stores ours here will only custom cut on orders over $50.00 and only on certain days so it is best to phone ahead.