View Full Version : Heating a rack
I'm getting ready to build a rack for BP's. I have been doing lots of reading about how to build them but I still need to figure out how I'm going to heat it.
I know I have two options if I use Flex watt. Belly heat, and back heat.
Also if Using Flex Watt where should I position the temperature probe for the thermostat? Also what size tubs should I use for adult BP's?
Thanks looking forward to all the info I will gather here.
I've been researching the same thing spots. I'm going to start with one to hold 32 qt tubs and later one for 41 qt tubs as I've read those two sizes are good for males and females respectively. Since we're getting babies the smaller ones will work fine for now.
My plan for heat is two rows of flexwatt similar to Boaphile racks are built. I don't have a dedicated reptile room and I keep the house around 68 in the winter. I'll have them wired so I can only run on row in the summer. If you'll have a warm reptile room I Imagine one will be fine.
I'm open to suggestions about probe placement.
I'm going to try and get the right sized pieces of melamine but otherwise I'm going to use plywood. What are you planning to build yours ou of?
I'm going to be building it out of 2 good side plywood. Then clear coating it with water based lacquer. So humidity will not be a problem for the wood.
So Norm is your flexwatt belly heat or back heat? And also the 32 qt tubs are a ok size for a adult bp?
Heat wise my wife keeps our house at 78f. Too hot for me, but good for animals and her.
Look forward to seeing pics of your creation
snake man12
12-18-11, 06:47 PM
32 Qt sounds all right for bp's
I'm going with belly heat. I've read some things that suggest it's more efficient than back heat. With the house at 78 I'm sure on row will be sufficient.
Yes I've read that 32 qt is good for adult males. IIRC several people mentioned 2000 grams as their cutoff to switch them to 41 qt but don't quote me on that.
And likewise on the pics. Cheers!
I read no more then 1/3 of the floor space should be heated.
snake man12
12-18-11, 06:53 PM
I would only use 1/4 of the floor space
KORBIN5895
12-18-11, 07:53 PM
Heat wise my wife keeps our house at 78f. Too hot for me, but good for animals and her.
Yep that's good for most colder blood:)ed beings.
Anyone Know where in canada i can find 32 qt tubs? I've looked at walmart zellars home depot lowes, no one carries this size :(
You know, I think they may have done away with them. I'm finding 28 quart and 41 quart here. I'm hitting a different Wal Mart tonight and maybe K-mart too.
You know, I think they may have done away with them. I'm finding 28 quart and 41 quart here. I'm hitting a different Wal Mart tonight and maybe K-mart too.
let me know what you find please.
Will do. When are you building yours?
some time in January, HOPEFULLY :)
you?
32 qt? As in 8 gallon? Thats roughly an enclosure about 24" long. That seems like a very small enclosure for a 4 foot long snake. I know Ill probably catch some grief here, but once you put in the large water bowl and hides, how much floor space does that give your adult BP?
Saturday hopefully. Assuming I can find tubs.
Tubs...I found two Rubbermaid 41 quart tubs. And nothing else. There were plenty of lids but only two 41 qt. Lids for other sizes too but no tubs. Wal Mart and K Mart. Dimensions ar 29 x 18 x6.
The 41 qt seemed plenty large for a BP. Jarich, I got those sizes from some BP breeders on another board. I haven't done a lot of research honestly on the size thing.
Since our BPs are pretty small now my plan was to build a Rick that would hold 12 qt and 20-ish qt tubs they could grow up some in then later build a larger one. Now I honestly don't know wat I'm going to do since tubs sem tough to come by. I never thought finding plastic tubs woul be an issue. Geez.
I wound up ordering 10 28quart Sterilite tubs from Target.com shipped for $86. $8.60 per tub doesn't seem too bad to me.
I'm going to build a 3'-4" or so tall rack 3' wide out of melamine pieces 23 1/4" wide. If I'm doing my math correctly I should need 4-8' long pieces so the total should be about $100 for wood. I like the melamime because I can put it together and it'll be ready to use immediately rather than having to wait on primer, paint and polyurethane to dry sufficiently to where it's safe to trust the fumes with the snakes.
I figure the 28 quart isn't big enough for full grown animals but it will do me for a while and will serve in the future as a growout (fish term, do reptile folks use it?) rack for juvies to adolescents. Plus it's pretty cheap and easy to get running quickly.
I'm off to order Flexwatt now.
Cool Norm, I'll look at Target.com today as well. Ebay had a good price on flexwatt.
As for the water base lacquer I'll be using with in 2 days max's there will be no fumes to worry about, and it will look like a piece of furniture in my house :)
Also are you insetting your flexwatt into the shelves?
Post some pics when you start.
Ebay had a good price on flexwatt.
As for the water base lacquer I'll be using with in 2 days max's there will be no fumes to worry about, and it will look like a piece of furniture in my house :)
Also are you insetting your flexwatt into the shelves?
Post some pics when you start.
I'm buying my Flexwatt from Reptile Basics. They'll cut it and attach the wires free.
I'm just going with white. I really wanted black to match my homemade fish tank stands but they don't have melamine in anything but white. In the future when there's not as much of a rush I'll probably use plywood and water based laquer like you're doing.
No, I'm not insetting the Flexwatt. I'm just going to use aluminum tape and keep a close eye on it.
And of course now I'm not building this weekend. The tubs won't be delivered until late next week so it'll probably be next Saturday. I am going to buy materials Saturday so everything will be ready.
Right now I'm deciding between the 6 watt/ft and the 10 watt/ft and wondering if I might be able to get away with one row of the 10 watt/ft. It would cut my heat tape costs $50 or so. Hmmmm.....
I'm committed now. I ordered 10 sets of 3' long x 3" wide x 6 watt/ft Flexwatt. The plan is to installone strip on each shelf and see if it's sufficient to heat the tubs properly. If it is, fine I've got Flexwatt for my next rack down the road. If not I'll install the other strip. My thinking is I'll need both, but I had them wired separately so I can only use one in the summer as needed.
So now it's down to getting the melamime, having it cut, some screws, and a 1/4" piece of plywood or something for the back. WooHoo!
millertime89
12-20-11, 12:17 PM
I don't feel like reading the entire thread right now, but here's what I'm doing.
I ordered the flexwatt from reptile basics as well and they were super helpful.
I'm using the heat under the tubs, from what I've gathered from breeders and other keepers of rack systems, use the SAME amount of flexwatt under the exact SAME tubs with identical setups and put the thermosensor for the thermostat between the flexwatt and the tub on the middle tub, monitor temps to ensure they're uniform, you shouldn't see more than a few degrees difference (if any) between the top and bottom, and that's a product of heat rising.
By tomorrow I should have everything and be ready to build. The tubs weren't supposed to be in until 12/29 but they arrived last night. The heat stuff is due tomorrow. I'm leaving work at 12:30 tomorrow to head to Home Depot for the materials so if all goes well by Saturday the snakes will be living in their new, much easier to take care of, home. Woohoo!
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