Quote Originally Posted by Slowcountry Balls View Post
In talking with Chris from C Sepents, the 1/2 inch thick expanded PVC (XPVC) is too flexible to perform well much wider than 1 short V-35 tub (or 2 V-18 tubs), so that limits how wide the rack can be (also, 3/4 inch thick material is too expensive to be practical he said). 2, 8 short V-35 tub racks stacked on top of each other is a good working height. You can always add additional racks as you need to (or can afford), as long as you can fit this season's babies.
I have a design drawn up to build a 3 and 4 wide V18 rack with 1/2" XPVC. The support issue for the 4 wide has been addressed with supports in the center of each level from 1/2" XPVC "scrap" from other projects.

I don't see support for a 3 wide V18 rack being an issue at all with 1/2" XPVC when C-Serpents builds V70 racks that are 35" deep with no support in the middle?? A 3000g female and a full 9" or 11" ceramic water bowl weigh far more than a 3-4 wide rack with V18 tubs full of hatchlings. I will likely build a 3 wide with no support and a 4 wide with support for either four V18's or two V35 tubs for grow out racks for my breeder males.

The open area in the center of the side of a C-Serpents V70 rack is 19" and there is no sagging issue. Another 4" (23" wide) will make a 3 wide V18 rack, and I'm sure there will be no issues with support with hatchlings. Just for sizing things up, here are two V18 tubs shown in the center of the side on a C-Serpents V70 rack. The female above the V18 tubs is a 2950g Albino about to ovy with a full 9" ceramic water bowl. She is sitting right over the center of her tub with the water bowl where there is no support: