Built nightstand/rack ... how much flexwatt???

[ballpnoob]

Thanks for all the advice given previously.

Well ...
I spent most of today working on a nightstand for my room with a Sterilite 28 qt tub (16"x23"x6.5") as a drawer. There is no lid in this drawer ... it slides in and has melamine for shelves (on top and bottom of the tub). The melamine is held at the side by really nice laminated wood that I stained today and will varnish tomorrow (notice, the varnished wood does not come in contact with the snake).

So my question is ...

considering the size of this tub (16" wide and 23" long), will the 3" flexwatt UTH be enough??? Or should I go with the 11" ???

I ordered the 3" and got it today in the mail ... but now I realize it might be too small, since it provides 5" of heat (less than a third of the tank). However, a 11" by 12" uth might be excessive ...

I don't know what to do !!! Help!!!

PS.: Will post pics of the stand this week!!!

[mmchoppers]

My Herpenclosure rack has 31qt tubs and only uses one row of 3" belly heat, and that seems to provide a big enough hot side..

[recycling goddess]

it's been suggested to me to use the 4" tape... which must be your 3" tape... so i'd say it'll be great!

very interesting idea by the way... please post a pic when you are done!

[tmlowe5704]

No, I hear there is a 4" tape but most suppliers just don't keep it or distribute it. Try the 3" if you have it and see.

[recycling goddess]

my mistake... it is 3"

http://www.niagarareptiles.com/pricelist.htm

[tigerlily]

I have those same tubs and use 3" flexwatt. It runs the length (23" side) of the tub. So 3" flexwatt is very doable.

[muddoc]

I use 15" of 3" flexwatt for each of my tubs. I use CB-70's (16.5"x33"), and all of my snakes seem to do just fine. 3" flexwatt is plenty of tape, as lon as you run across the whole width of the tub.

[Wild Bill]

I use 3" heat tape on my 28 qt tubs. My tubs are in the racks the deep way and have 3" heat tape across the back of the tub. It works just fine and makes a nice heat gradient.