problems with makiing a rack with 16 qt tubs and 28qt tubs?

[devinrw]

Im thinking about building a rack that holds the two different sizes the 28 qt tub is 23"x16 1/4"x6". the 16Qt is 16 3/4"x11 7/8"x7". im thinking about placing 2 front facing 16 qt tubs to a row with one side facincin 28 qt tub.. my question is if i run either botom heat with 3 in. flexwatt will I have enough of a temprature gradien in my 28 qt? because im runnin it down the whole side. and also will this cause different tempratures in the small tubs vs big tubs?

[Amon Ra Reptiles]

Use the sterilite 32qt tubs that have purple handles. They are the same height as the 15qt tubs.

The 32


The 15


The rack

[CCfive]

I built my rack to hold 15/32's, I still have a small gradient with the 32's. My snakes all are in great health, great eaters and sheds, so I'm going to go on record to say it works fine.

[moravaguy]

your best bet will be the 15/32 rack they are absolutely awesome and the 32 are good enough for adult females.

[benwallage9]

I've wanted to build one of these too. And i did alot of thinking about it, the 15/32 is the best option but the tubs are way more expensive. I think I'm going to do the 12 and 28 qt tubs from sterilite. There gap at the top will be slightly bigger but not as bad as the ones you want to do. Plus the tubs will be like half the price

[varnoid]

does anyone know why the melimine wars over time ? is it because of heat or humidity or weight? im thinking of building a rack soon and want to desighn acordingly

[tuffstuff07]

i believe it only does that if you get it wet? I could be wrong but I think that is what I have read.

does anyone know why the melimine wars over time ? is it because of heat or humidity or weight? im thinking of building a rack soon and want to desighn acordingly

[benwallage9]

does anyone know why the melimine wars over time ? is it because of heat or humidity or weight? im thinking of building a rack soon and want to desighn acordingly

All of the above, the melamine covers the particle broad thats inside it. THe particle board isn't strong by itself and has lots gaps in it compared to regular hard wood. high humidity expands the wood, heat sucks humidity out so it contracts. The constant expanding and contacting lowers the strength of the wood and melamine, also known as swelling and shrinking. This happens just through different seasons you can't help it, unless you have a perfectly climate controlled room, even then it would change when you drop temps in winter. Also weight makes them sag if it isn't supported correctly, my current one is starting to sag and its only been like a year, due to improper placing of the supports, i'm rebuilding it in jan.

I hope this explains, I'm not an expert and I might be wrong but i'm like 95% sure that is why. Plus melamine isn't half as strong as pvc which is that the pros use. If someone can better explain i'm all ears but i'm better sure i'm right

[varnoid]

wow thank you ! that made me really re-concider my desighn i hope to put up pictures up of my idea soon . i plan to build a 10 shelf 28 qt melamine rack with adjustable shelfs soon and so far there have been no desighns like my idea ... yet ! hopefully it minimizes warpage or atleast makes it easy to replace shelfs that warp

[King's Royal Pythons]

I sealed the edges of the melamine before assembling it, and then sealed the corners with the aquarium silicone. For support, I put a back on it made of hardboard (also called masonite, I think)
This is how I built mine as well (referring to the 15/28 qt tub design), I just left enough space to use the lids to the tubs (I only have 20 bps). If you do this, each slot will accommodate:
1) 32 qt tub, or 2) 15 qt tubs, or 3) 6 qt tubs