Heat tape size and other questions 28 qt / 41 qt bin rack

[Ripsaw642]

My idea was to build a rack for 41 qt tubs, and use 28 qt tubs for the smaller snakes right now, in the same rack. I may be adopting a couple of adult corns, and i will be buying a 2yr bp at the end of this month. The idea being the bigger corns (one is a big boy +5 ft)and the bp would go into the 41 qt tubs, and have room for 2 hides and water, and a lil room to move The rack will be built lengthwise (~36" from wall) with melamine shelves and 2x4 or 1x4 braces on the sides (6 total). I already have 2 thermostats and loads of thermometers, a homemade dimmer, 3 28qt and 1 41qt bins. The melamine and side braces are waiting for me at the lumber yard lol. Heat tape will be run the width of the bins (16") snaked from shelf to shelf, except for the bp's shelf, which will be separate tape. I can buy 4", or 12" heat tape locally, i think 12" would be overkill, but would the 4" be enough? Or should i order 6" tape online, or double up the 4"?

Other Things of note:
I'm keeping the room at ~72-75f, Sterilite bins 1860 (41qt) and 1846 (28qt),
I'm kind of confused as to whether the 28 qt bins are large enough for all these snakes or not. Some say yes, some say no. I would feel better for a 5ft snake to have 3 ft of stretch room rather than 2 ft.... Thanks to anyone who can lend me some expertise here

 

[AliCat37]

I had written you this long, beautiful reply... And when I hit enter.. I lost Internet connection. So, let me try again!

If you have the time to modify your rack, I would use the twelve inch tape along the backside of the tubs. If you want belly heat, I would order 6 inch tape and do it that way. In my current rack, none of the tubs have additional heating. I heat the whole room, but plan on switching over to heat cable sometime this year.

Personally, I find that most corn snakes will fit in the 28 quart tubs just fine. If you get a large individual, it may be better to keep them in a bigger tub. What I do, if use small water bowls, or water bowls that are large enough to double as a hide box, so the space is maximized that way.

Overall, I think it is entirely your choice, but also know your snakes. If they are very active, use bigger tubs. If they are pet rocks, smaller tubs will be okay. I wouldn't keep a ball in a 28 quart, but some people do. Mine is in a 41 quart and is comfortable.

 

[Chip]

I keep adults in 2'X3' tubs and larger. I agree that 28 quart tubs are awfully cramped for big adults. Some corns stay small, though. My lavenders and Miamis of days gone by never seemed to crack 500 grams and did fine in smaller enclosures, my okeetees were usually 700+. Like Michelle said, their activity level plays a role in space needs as well. And I agree with her take on 12" for back heat and 4" for belly.

 

[Ripsaw642]

Almost done, i have to add casters, a back and heat tape, some edge banding at the front, and maybe some pegboard sides. I left myself the option of building more shelves, there's room for 6 more. For now, I'm going to add a sturdy shelf on top and place my crested geckos up there! Thanks everyone for the advice! :dgrin:

 

[Nythain]

Lookin pretty sharp. But is that a small gap i see on the middle tub in the first picture? Hard to tell if it's there or an illusion. I don't keep tons of snakes, but knowing what i know about them, I'd be worried about even the slightest gap myself.

 

[Ripsaw642]

I was under the impression i was supposed to leave ~1/8" gap, that's what i have. There is a problem though, the 28qt tubs have a little dip in the front/back of them, and with my 1/8" gap it adds up to ~1/4" or slightly more. I will have to fill this "dip" with some hot glue or something...would that work?

 

[Nythain]

Heh, must just be an illusion for me then. That middle tub looks like it has half inch or so gap. Good to know it's not that much. As for the hot glue solution, that could work. Try it with one tub and see how well it sticks/holds. If it holds well and evens the gap out then it should work great.

 

[Ripsaw642]

Heh, must just be an illusion for me then. That middle tub looks like it has half inch or so gap. Good to know it's not that much. As for the hot glue solution, that could work. Try it with one tub and see how well it sticks/holds. If it holds well and evens the gap out then it should work great.

Ya look closely and it tapers to just over 1/8" at corners, in the middle of front and back there's that dip, which i didn't notice til i built the thing. 3 DVD's just slide between gap at corners, 3.6mm or .14" . If i need to shim it or something, i will. This is my first ever build, i cut spacer blocks for the shelves , but thought the gap was too small, so put 1 dvd under each block, which i guess i shouldn't have. Oh well i learned for next time. I think I'm just going to end up building a 5 bin 28 qt rack to stack on top of this 41. It'll give me room for a few more The 5 shelves in this one are already going to be occupied.

 

[Ripsaw642]

As i thought, with that little dip in the bin top, my juvenile corn Venus ( ~75g) can just sneak through it. It took her about 5 minutes lol. That was also the top shelf, where the gap seems to be just a wee bit larger (i can JAM 4 DVDs in it). If anyone has suggestions, I'm all eyes

 

[Nythain]

Thinking your best bet is going to be your original idea. Though you might want to try JB Weld, or any safe plastic putty you might be able to track down.

 

[daddio207]

I can buy 4", or 12" heat tape locally

If you can buy authentic Flexwatt, I would recommend it over the China made heat tape. Higher quality and made in America.
I believe 12'' is always the China made heat tape and true Flexwatt is made in 11''. You can also tell by the metal strips. Flexwatt chromes over their copper and the China made tape does not amongst other things.
There is very little price difference but the quality in manufacturing is huge.
Just my 2 cents


First grainy pic is the Flexwatt. Second is the China made tape

 

[TyeW]

Even better yet, you could use the 12" THG heat tape. It works wonders and has tested far better than flexwatt in terms of even heat distribution and not overheating.

 

[daddio207]

Your statement about THG testing far better than Flexwatt has also been made in flavor of Flexwatt all over the forums.
Quality aside;
What I like about Flexwatt is it is made in the USA.
What I like about THG is it was born out of the reptile industry by reptile enthusiasts for reptile enthusiasts.

BTW I should of said "foreign made" instead of "made in China" in my first post.

 

[Ripsaw642]

I've already got THG heat tape, which is made in KOREA, like almost all of the higher end consumer electronics these days. I'll be using a 4" strip, and if I'm not happy with the result, i'll be adding another 4" strip beside it. 12" is too much, from what I've read, and the advice I've been given. My local distributor is bringing it over tomorrow, now that's service! He's a good guy, likes to help people out

 

[daddio207]

Yeah, I missed it where you said you got the tape
My 2 favorite guitars are Korean made.
I only use back heat on my racks with 31 and 41 quart tubs with 11'' tape so can't help you if 4'' is enough for bottom heat.
Looking good so far !

 

[Ripsaw642]

I've installed my 4" heat tape on the rack now, I have a few more questions still Pictures attached. First of all, where do i locate my thermostat probe? Any place on the heat tape? Or does it have to be directly under one of the bins? Taped down with metal tape? Secondly, is it safe to hot glue the thermometer probe inside the bin, so it doesn't move? I know not to use tape inside. And third, what sort of hole pattern should i be putting in my bins? I was thinking of making a mark every inch, then using the soldering iron to make a hole every 3 inches, to start, then make more if i need to..???:shrugs: Oh ya one more, can i put metal tape across the heat tape, perpendicular to the way it runs? I want to do this on the edges, for durability. Thanks again everyone!

 

[TyeW]

I've installed my 4" heat tape on the rack now, I have a few more questions still Pictures attached. First of all, where do i locate my thermostat probe? Any place on the heat tape? Or does it have to be directly under one of the bins? Taped down with metal tape? Secondly, is it safe to hot glue the thermometer probe inside the bin, so it doesn't move? I know not to use tape inside. And third, what sort of hole pattern should i be putting in my bins? I was thinking of making a mark every inch, then using the soldering iron to make a hole every 3 inches, to start, then make more if i need to..???:shrugs: Oh ya one more, can i put metal tape across the heat tape, perpendicular to the way it runs? I want to do this on the edges, for durability. Thanks again everyone!

1) I tape my thermostat probe directly on the heat tape. In one long strip like you have there, you would probably want it in the middle of the rack to control for the heating error margin from top to bottom.
2) I have never used glue in a cage so I cannot answer that question.
3) The hole pattern does not matter. You can use whatever you'd like.
4) It is recommended to NOT put aluminum foil tape across the heat tape, but only parallel along the plastic edges as you seem to have already done.

 

[TyeW]

P.S. Your rack looks good! Nicely done. I love DIY stuff

 

[Ripsaw642]

Second Strip of Heat Tape

I'm not quite happy with the size of the hot spot, so I'll be installing a second strip on my rack tonight. My question is ; Should i snake it through in the same pattern, or the opposite? As in, start with the cord on the same side, or opposite? My thinking here is if i start on the opposite side, once i put some sides on my rack, it will create a pocket of 'side-back' heat around each tub. Anyone have any experience with this? Second strip will probably get turned off in summertime as well, depending how the ambient temps get in here. (My reptile/pc room lol). I'm kind of struggling to keep the ambient temps around 75 right now, as it's 32 outside , supposed to be ~25 tonight, and I'm in a corner room of a mobile addition, with outside door to my man cave lol(basically a covered patio with 3 walls). And i still have to crawl up into the attic cavity and put some insulation in i forgot, heat is leaking up into there Temps vary from 71-75 depending how much the door is getting opened. That sums up why I'm putting in the second strip.

 

[Ripsaw642]

Second Strip of Heat Tape

Or should i rip it all out and wire the 2 strips up in parallel? Was just given this advice by my THG dealer....His though was i was wasting heat tape, running it like this.....Thoughts?