How important is the design of your rack??

[JHPythons]

Hello everyone!

So I built a rack out of a plastic shelving unit from home depot. All the shelves are cut to height so the tubs slide in and out with a small air gap but for the most part sealed on top.

I'm using 6 quart sterilite tubs and 3inch flexwatt ran across the back.

I'm having a big heating issue. My thermostat is set at 97 degrees and the probe is taped to the heat tape.

When I place small reptile thermometer probes inside the tubs I get a hot spot of about 85 and a cool side of about 77.

When I temp gun the heat tape it gives me on average of about 100 deg. when I temp gun the tubs it gives me anywhere from 86-89 and maybe one tub at about 91.

I feel like these temps are all bad but I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. The tubs have a lip around the bottom edge and are slightly raised in the middle so therefore not sitting directly on the tape. The rack is open on all sides and the shelves have slats on the bottom so is too much heat being dissipated?

I was also wondering what was more important....getting a 91 degree reading from a thermometer probe...or a 91 degree reading from the tub surface from a heat gun. they are very different readings.

Any help with this would be great.

[Alexio]

Could you post a few pictures of the rack and how the heat tape is?

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[PitOnTheProwl]

Back as in under the back of the tub OR on the back wall of the rack?

[JHPythons]

Could you post a few pictures of the rack and how the heat tape is?

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what is the best way to post pics? I put them in the gallery but it didnt give me a URL to use.

[JHPythons]

Back as in under the back of the tub OR on the back wall of the rack?

Sorry under the tub, but under the rear of the tub. I posted pics in my gallery if you want to check out the design.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Sorry under the tub, but under the rear of the tub. I posted pics in my gallery if you want to check out the design.

So that's belly heat. Inside tub temperature floor no more than about 94/95 ish max

[JHPythons]

So that's belly heat. Inside tub temperature floor no more than about 94/95 ish max

problem is that its not even getting that hot...and its very inconsistent from tub to tub.

[Alexio]

That's funny I bought one from home depot a few weeks ago to use for my 41 quart tubs. This is what I did. I used reflectix

+

To make this:


I bought a larger roll of reflectix and cut it to size. It holds temps and humidity as well. Rated up to 180f. I had issues with the tubs being flimsy and the snakes being large so I had to leave the lids on.

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[JHPythons]

That's funny I bought one from home depot a few weeks ago to use for my 41 quart tubs. This is what I did. I used reflectix

I bought a larger roll of reflectix and cut it to size. It holds temps and humidity as well. Rated up to 180f. I had issues with the tubs being flimsy and the snakes being large so I had to leave the lids on.

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OK nice...do you just put the heat tape on top of it?? Is there problem with the metal strips on the flexwatt and them possibly being crossed with the reflectix? I"m assuming you were having a similar problem to me and this helped a lot?

[Alexio]

Yupp I actueally had an idea I would run into that problem. No there is no issue with laying the heat tape on top of it. Heat tape should have a plastic coating on the outside, and all your connections should be tapped or wrapped up anyway. Reflectix is foil wrapped insulation so its good at keeping the heat and humidity trapped.

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