Question on tub heating

[onlyjays9p]

I have my 41qt tubs ran sideways is it ok to heat them with 4in heat tape the length of the tub? That would only cover 1/3 right?

Thanks in advance I tried searching couldnt find much on my question

[Mitch21]

When I was making my first rack, I thought about doing the same thing. But if you do that, you aren't creating a very good heat gradient. It would be a better idea to heat one end of the 41 qt tub rather than one length of it...

[onlyjays9p]

I have 28qt for the males and 12 or 16qt for juvis all on the same rack If i use 11in and 4in I will need 2 thermostats?

[Mitch21]

Yea if you used 2 completely different flexwatts (11in and 4in), you should really use two different thermostats/rheostats... The 2 flexwatts will be different lengths and will draw different amounts of wattage which would make the 2 flexwatts different temperatures from each other. I think that makes sense... Someone else will probably chime in to verify what I was trying to say...

[Blizzarddude]

Yea if you used 2 completely different flexwatts (11in and 4in), you should really use two different thermostats/rheostats... The 2 flexwatts will be different lengths and will draw different amounts of wattage which would make the 2 flexwatts different temperatures from each other. I think that makes sense... Someone else will probably chime in to verify what I was trying to say...

That sounds correct, different size flexwatt has different wattage, therefore it takes in different amounts of electricity. If one takes in more than the other, it cant be regulated the same, so you get varying temps.