View Full Version : 28qt rack build
I'm gearing up to build a 10 space tub for 28 quart Sterilite tubs. I'm stealing from a thread on another forum using melamine shelving.
It's going to be 3'-6" tall x 3' wide x 23 3/4" deep with 5 shelves. The top is going to temporarily hold my 20 gallon tall tank that my JCP lives in but it will be a work area down the line. It'll also hold the thermostat etc.
Heat will be two strips of 3" wide/6 watts per foot Flexwatt belly heat. I keep my house pretty cool so I want to make sure there's enough heating. I had the Flexwatt wired separately so I can unplug one strip in the summer. The thermostat is a Vivarium Electronics VE-100 that will eventually be upgraded to a proportional unit and used as a backup. It's not ideal but it'll be a darn sight better than what I'm doing now.
The tubs are in, the heat is set to arrive today and I'm going by Home Depot on my way home from work today so this might just happen this evening.
Everything is here. Dinner then start building.
I will not go to bed before the rack is built and heated. My wait til tomorrow to put the snakes in.
The rack is done. Four tubs have substrate in them, I'm letting it run overnight so I can troubleshoot anything that needs it and get the thermostat adjusted properly. I also need more substrate. The tubs are bigger than I though.
With luck everything will be OK and we'll get the snakes transferred tomorrow after work. It was an easy project though it cost a bit more than I had anticipated. I'll work up the cost tomorrow and post it so folks can have an idea. It was extremely easy to build, my wife and I did it in about 4 1/2 hours and we are hardly what you would call handy.
Materials:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--Dl1-WksoKg/TvP6-pu9-pI/AAAAAAAAA14/SYkcVYaDCxE/s512/001.JPG
Starting construction:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Kamg2QXtw68/TvP7Ank6VvI/AAAAAAAAA14/deWgrSAwiYg/s640/004.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OxwyXNn4BO0/TvP7CETBEOI/AAAAAAAAA14/yZ6vhtZhdYU/s640/005.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bF-6jYrEodo/TvP7DnwFtGI/AAAAAAAAA14/h_xJLmnzV28/s640/006.JPG
Here's a pic of the finished product w/ Jerome's tank on top:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VVJ2oqUVWIg/TvP7NmSvQbI/AAAAAAAAA14/ED6izwEBSiI/s512/014.JPG
And with a drawer pulled open:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6Zhp6hYEDDQ/TvP7PTrNFFI/AAAAAAAAA14/scjkZN18lVE/s640/015.JPG
alessia55
12-22-11, 10:47 PM
Looks good Norm! Bet you can't wait to fill those all in with snakes ;) Also, the pic with Jerome's cage on top really put his size into perspective... I thought he was so much bigger! :eek:
Thanks Alessia. Yea, Jerome's just a little guy yet. And yes, it's already been noted that we have a lot of empty spaces. LOL Soon enough they'll be filled.
I had the thermostat set at 100 and it produced a temp of 82 on top of the substrate but the plastic of the tub when I cleared the substrate away was 92. I jacked the thermostat up to 108. I'll see what it does when I get home. I wonder if I might have to hang a curtain or something to help insulate...
Terranaut
12-23-11, 07:16 AM
Nice work. Looks great. Fill 'er up!!!
Well done! Thanks for the pics.
lady_bug87
12-23-11, 09:32 AM
i didnt see any lids on the containers are you worried about escapes?
Just a question I want to build something like that when I move
Lady Bug, no lids. I used the tubs themselves spaced with CDs to locate the shelves so the tolerance is pretty tight. There's no way a snake could worm his way out unlesss we goof and leave one of the tubs pulled out a bit.
Hi Norm. Can I ask a question that has no relation to this thread.
I'm a newbee here and i dont understand the way peoples signatures work.
1.0 jungle carpet python, 1.0 boa, 3.1 ball python ?
lady_bug87
12-23-11, 09:59 AM
^^^
1.0 = male
0.1 = female
0.0.1 unsexed/ eggs
so if you read it he has 1 male carpet 1 male boa and 3 male ball pythons and 1 female ball python
Bingo. Technically the carpet & boa are mine and the balls are my wife Becky's. But I include them all in my signature. I think it's cute when people do it with their family too. ;^)
Lankyrob
12-23-11, 10:14 AM
Lady Bug, no lids. I used the tubs themselves spaced with CDs to locate the shelves so the tolerance is pretty tight. There's no way a snake could worm his way out unlesss we goof and leave one of the tubs pulled out a bit.
Just a concern from a worrywort - is it possible that one of the snakes can brace itself against the "roof" and force one of the tubs out on its own? :confused::confused::confused::confused:
I really don't think so Rob. The snake would have to be sticky or something to get any purchase on the melamine surface. There are dozens of folks using this basic design over at the other forum (not sure if I can mention it here per the rules) where I got the idea and nobody has reported any escapes as I'm sure they would.
All that said I'm actually trying to come up with an idiot proof latching system more to prevent us from doing something stupid than the snake pulling a jailbreak. Something that will click or snap maybe into place when the tub is pushed in all the way but yet isn't a large pain in the rear. I'll come up with something.
Gungirl
12-23-11, 11:21 AM
Hi Norm. Can I ask a question that has no relation to this thread.
I'm a newbee here and i dont understand the way peoples signatures work.
1.0 jungle carpet python, 1.0 boa, 3.1 ball python ?
http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/general-discussion/85699-herp-lingo.html
This should help you out..
Lankyrob
12-23-11, 01:34 PM
How about just a simple piece of wood that rotates down across the front of the tub? Just swing it up and away when pulling the tun out and back down when its pushed in?
lady_bug87
12-23-11, 01:37 PM
The rack is done. Four tubs have substrate in them, I'm letting it run overnight so I can troubleshoot anything that needs it and get the thermostat adjusted properly. I also need more substrate. The tubs are bigger than I though.
With luck everything will be OK and we'll get the snakes transferred tomorrow after work. It was an easy project though it cost a bit more than I had anticipated. I'll work up the cost tomorrow and post it so folks can have an idea. It was extremely easy to build, my wife and I did it in about 4 1/2 hours and we are hardly what you would call handy.
Materials:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--Dl1-WksoKg/TvP6-pu9-pI/AAAAAAAAA14/SYkcVYaDCxE/s512/001.JPG
Starting construction:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Kamg2QXtw68/TvP7Ank6VvI/AAAAAAAAA14/deWgrSAwiYg/s640/004.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OxwyXNn4BO0/TvP7CETBEOI/AAAAAAAAA14/yZ6vhtZhdYU/s640/005.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bF-6jYrEodo/TvP7DnwFtGI/AAAAAAAAA14/h_xJLmnzV28/s640/006.JPG
Here's a pic of the finished product w/ Jerome's tank on top:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VVJ2oqUVWIg/TvP7NmSvQbI/AAAAAAAAA14/ED6izwEBSiI/s512/014.JPG
And with a drawer pulled open:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6Zhp6hYEDDQ/TvP7PTrNFFI/AAAAAAAAA14/scjkZN18lVE/s640/015.JPG
did you buy all the pieces pre-cut?
millertime89
12-23-11, 02:34 PM
Norm, it is possible, the retic breeder in my area had a BP do it and when it got out it pushed out a bunch of baby retic and SD retic tubs, mine was in one of them...
If I were you, a solid latching strip of wood in front of the tubs will keep that from happening. All you need is 2 pieces of wood running the entire height of the rack, and 4 screws/nails, drill holes in the end of the pieces of wood where the screws/nails can pass through and it acts as a cheap and simple deadbolt.
Ladybug, the pieces came in 8' long sections. I had them cut to size at Home Depot. It's easier and much quicker for them to do it.
Kyle, I guess it depends on the design but I've seen tons of pics and watched dozens and dozens of videos of people's racks and none of them have any kind of lock on them. Snake Bytes TV, Ben Siegel's videos etc. Also none of the commercially available racks (boaphile, animal plastics etc) have them either. I'd like to see how that BP got out and wonder if it wasn't operator error.
Rob, that's what I'm thinking but it's gotta be easy and not look too bad.
All the worries about the tubs being easy to slide out aside I have the opposite concern going right now. I don't know whether it's the weight of Jerome's aquarium on top, the stuff taking on some moisture (can't see how this would be possible in this dry place) or maybe the heat causing expansion but the tubs are all very difficult to pull out today. I think I'm going to try and install spacers in between each tub cut to just the right height to try and take some weight off each one. If I cut them accurately I shouldn't need to screw them which is good since there's no way to do that. I think next time I'll use something thicker as a spacer on top of the tubs next time.
exwizard
12-23-11, 03:57 PM
Just a concern from a worrywort - is it possible that one of the snakes can brace itself against the "roof" and force one of the tubs out on its own? :confused::confused::confused::confused:
This design is similar to the Animal Plastics racks I have now. There is no possible way for any snake to escape unless the tub is not shut all the way.
Well I think I'm going to hav to re-do the top shelf. It's just too tight even without the aquarium on it. I put Jerome in the rack thinking it might help him feel more comfortable. He's a flighty little sucker.
Norm where did you get your flex watt, and thermostat? can you pm me the link to the site?
By the way it looks good.
I'm jealous now that you got yours done before me. LOL
Thanks
Jimi
Jimi, PM sent. I ordered on Tuesday afternoon and it shipped later that afternoon. I rec'd it yesterday mid-afternoon. Good, quick service. I was pleased.
millertime89
12-24-11, 01:44 AM
I got my flexwatt from the same company as Norm, they were really helpful and shipped promptly. As far as the thermostats, I make my own, but I'm thinking of switching over to one of the professional units due to limitations of the ones I make.
Thanks Norm.
So did you get it figured out why the bins are a little tight?
No problem.
Not yet. I'm trying to decide if it's a 'live with it' kind of thing or a 'fix it' kind of thing. :)
I don't know if I can get all the screws out or not without stripping them so I might just live with it.
lady_bug87
12-24-11, 12:52 PM
as you drag the containers in and our it may loosen up.. not sure whats going to happen when you put snakes inside
Oh the snakes are all in. Even Jerome. No aquariums at all now. Mario, boa, and Jerome, JCP, are temps until they grow up a bit.
Strategic error. One CD is not sufficient for a spacer. Just finished rebuilding the rack.
Glad I did though, I redid the way I taped te flexwatt down.
Kind of felt like a parent putting kids' toys together Christmas eve but I'm not nearly old enough to be a parent. ;-)
So what spacing did you use Norm? And how did you change the way you had the flex watt?
Two CDs. Just taped the ends a bit differently. Hard to explain and I didn't take pics. Mor secure is all.
candyraver69
12-25-11, 06:34 AM
I really don't think so Rob. The snake would have to be sticky or something to get any purchase on the melamine surface. There are dozens of folks using this basic design over at the other forum (not sure if I can mention it here per the rules) where I got the idea and nobody has reported any escapes as I'm sure they would.
All that said I'm actually trying to come up with an idiot proof latching system more to prevent us from doing something stupid than the snake pulling a jailbreak. Something that will click or snap maybe into place when the tub is pushed in all the way but yet isn't a large pain in the rear. I'll come up with something.
I have been using a similar design to house my 2010's and it's been escape proof so long as you don't forget to slide one in and there isn't too much of a gap at the top. It's a little tricky to get the spacing just right if you aren't inclined to building things (like me) but not too bad. I have one tub out of 10 that is a pain in the butt to pull out because it's too tight and I intend to fix it but haven't yet lol.
Your rack looks great! It looks like you used that melamine strip to hide the wood. I want to get that for mine because it looks so much better, but for right now there is bare wood at the front and back. The only thing I would change if it were me would be the heat strips. I would put more shorter strips towards the short end to get a larger heat gradient, but I don't think it's 100% necessary to change.
millertime89
12-28-11, 04:48 PM
Norm, got a question for ya.
What are you currently using for substrate in your tubs?
If wood chips of some kind: (if not ignore the following questions)
how thick do you have the substrate (approx. inches)
how high are your thermostats set
what are the enclosure temps.
Thanks man, appreciate it. I'm looking to change my thermostat set ups and need some more info.
Kyle, I started with cypress in two, coco husk in two and Jungle Earth in two. I wound up pulling it all out because it was all way too wet and the humidity was over 90. So right now I'm mixing it up and letting it dry and using newspaper. But I fully intend to go back to using cypress and/or coco husk (didn't like the jungle earth) I just need to let it dry before using. The paper is 3 sections deep. With the cypress I'm going about 2" thick. Any less and it doesn't cover the floor of the tub very well.
My thermostat is set at 108F. The hot part of the tubs is between 90 and 94 (depending on which tub) and the cool side is between 78 and 82. I'm toying with the idea of putting a curtain of some sort across the front to let the ambient temp get higher and be able to turn the thermostat down. Haven't decided yet.
Let me know if there's anything else I can help you with.
millertime89
12-28-11, 07:38 PM
Thanks Norm, that helps a lot.
What I did as far as the curtain idea, I just used a thin afghan blanket with small holes all over with something heavy in the corners and center on top to hold it in place. Mine is more for hiding the snakes than it is for keeping temps up as I've got the lids on my tubs.
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