Looks like I'm building a rack

[Papa Burgundy]

So I have been thinking about it ever since I caught the BP bug, and found out racks are the best and most economical way to house BP's.
I currently only have 2 female BP's, but I have made steps to change that. I put down a deposit on a pastel, and in talks about acquiring a spider and a mojave.
This is a picture of the rack I have in my mind, I'm more of a visual learner, so I figure if you guys saw it it would be the best way for you guys to help me out.

The number in tub is it's quart size. All the shelf will be the same height, all the Sterilite tubs pretty much are.
I have read over and over that it is best to have 1/3 of the tub over the belly heat, so I figure I will put only 1/3 of the smaller tubs over the flexwatt.
I'm planning on a Herpstat, everyone raves about them on here and I figure I might as well get a good one.
So what do you all think? Am I on the right track?

[Peter Williams]

looks good to me

[starmom]

When you get finished with this one, it'll be time for your 6qt baby rack

[Papa Burgundy]

I plan on breeding, but I don't think I will really make any money in it. I just hope to support my new found hobby. Maybe a couple new addition here and there. I'd be more than happy with that.

[Papa Burgundy]

I have sorta come up with a different design, and my buddy (amateur carpenter) said he would be willing to help.
I am going to use 11 inch Flexwatt for my 41 quart tubs, but I don't need it for any of the other ones. I wanted to use 4 inch Flexwatt for the smaller tubs. I know the different sizes of Flexwatt run different wattages, so would I be able to use the same thermostat for both heat tapes?

[Freakie_frog]

I am looking at your current set um and doing the 2 41qt tubs long ways like that is going make your rack a least 6 feet wide. Which means if you do it right you can get 2 41qts on the bottom and 3 32qt tubs long ways on the other and 8+/- 12qt tubs per level.

[Papa Burgundy]

On my original design, I planned on having the 41 qts deep wise, so the rack would be around 3 feet wide. My new/current design, is to place the 41 qt tub long ways, being 3 feet wide. So basically 6 levels of 3 foot wide shelving. I only have 2 females right now, and all the additions I am planning on getting this summer are hatlings/yearlings. So I will mostly need smaller tubs to house them in.
I think I am thinking to much. I do this with everything. If I build something secure, and just put my BP's in the right size tubs, then they will be fine.

[JD Constriction]

Something that I do to allow different sized tubs in the same rack is to do multiple depths.

For instance I built hatchling/juvie racks with 12qts on the bottom and 6qt on the top. They are all the same width but the 6qt rack isn't as deep (15 inches I think instead of 18).

It's basically like building 2 racks and stacking them on top of one another using metal or wood dowls and holes to hold them together.

In your case you could do it with 3

Also something to consider is that with one thermostat and different kinds of heat tape you will have different heat results. 90 degrees on the 11 inch won't be 90 degrees on the 4 inch or 3 inch because they run at different wattages to attain certain temps.

I would suggest using 4 inch everywhere but running multiple rows of it on the 41 qt containers (3?)....and maybe 2 on the 32 if you want.

Hope that helps,

[Freakie_frog]

Bingo..If I may offer a suggestion look at doing two racks one that will house the 41 qt racks and one that will do the 32qt tubs and then you will be set no matter what

[Papa Burgundy]

I think I am going to build a 6 qt rack first, then a larger one in the later part of summer. With the exception of one, all my additions this summer are going to be hatchlings.
How long can a BP live in a 6 qt tub until they need to move on? At what weight do they usually need to move up?
So, to heat a 6 qt rack, most people use back heat. Who out there has 6 qt racks of there own? What do you use?