Heat tape

[Bryan_Ugarte]

Hey guys I'm building my new rack I have 5 corn snakes and one BP. I was wondering what size heat tape I should get 4" or 6" ? Or should I get something wider ? Any info would help. Thanks


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[daddio207]

What size tubs are you going to use?
Belly or back heat ?

 

[Bryan_Ugarte]

What size tubs are you going to use?

Belly or back heat ?

I was thinking back heat because I'm going to be using all different size tubs I'll be housing corn, sand boa, ball python snakes. The rack will hold 32qt, 15qt, 6qt all my snakes are hatchlings or yearlings right now. When I need to I will be up grading the snake rack.


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[daddio207]

I was thinking back heat because I'm going to be using all different size tubs I'll be housing corn, sand boa, ball python snakes. The rack will hold 32qt, 15qt, 6qt all my snakes are hatchlings or yearlings right now. When I need to I will be up grading the snake rack.

If your going with back heat then you want the 11'' or 12'' depending which brand. Its better, especially with back heat, to go with the widest then use a dimmer or thermostat to regulate it down. You also want to divide it up into at least 2 sections since the BP's will require a little more heat than the colubrids will. I coincidentally have 2 back heated racks with 6. 15 and 32 quart tubs. I would run separate 11'' heat tape vertically if the shelf spacing is going to be variable. If the shelf spacing is 12'' + then run 1 strip for each size tub and/or shelf horizontally so you can regulate them independently.

 

[Bryan_Ugarte]

If your going with back heat then you want the 11'' or 12'' depending which brand. Its better, especially with back heat, to go with the widest then use a dimmer or thermostat to regulate it down. You also want to divide it up into at least 2 sections since the BP's will require a little more heat than the colubrids will. I coincidentally have 2 back heated racks with 6. 15 and 32 quart tubs. I would run separate 11'' heat tape vertically if the shelf spacing is going to be variable. If the shelf spacing is 12'' + then run 1 strip for each size tub and/or shelf horizontally so you can regulate them independently.

What if I go the other way with it ? Belly heat


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[Bryan_Ugarte]

For some reason I got 6" tape last night I hope I didn't purchase something I won't be able to use


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[daddio207]

For some reason I got 6" tape last night I hope I didn't purchase something I won't be able to use

I'm assuming your using the tubs with lids ?
It really depends on how you build the rack. horizonally behind single 15qt and 32qt or 2 stacked 6qt will be fine. If your stacking more per shelf then double them up if the span is 12+ inches. Or run them vertically but might have to run 4 to 6 depending on the with of your rack.

 

[Bryan_Ugarte]

I'm assuming your using the tubs with lids ?

It really depends on how you build the rack. horizonally behind single 15qt and 32qt or 2 stacked 6qt will be fine. If your stacking more per shelf then double them up if the span is 12+ inches. Or run them vertically but might have to run 4 to 6 depending on the with of your rack.

that's what I have so far I'm going to add the shelves and tubs in tomorrow


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[Bryan_Ugarte]

I'm going to run the 6" tape on the bottom back of each shelf then up the wall and back across the bottom and just keep going like that. It's my First rack never did this before I'm basically falling some DYI I saw on YouTube


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[Bryan_Ugarte]

The rack is 36"by 36" and it's 26" deep


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[daddio207]

I would probably run vertically 2 strips of the 6'' tape wired in parallel on the back of each side for back heat. That way you can regulate each side separately. This also would allow you to make tub size changes simpler with adjustable shelves.
Using bottom heat with different size tubs makes it harder to get the proper heat gradient inside each tub if their on the same heat tape. Don't put the 6qt and 15qt tubs all the way on the heat tape since the cabinet is so deep. You only want about a 3rd of the bottom of the tubs over the tape. Ideal would be to have each size tub with its own separate heat tape so you can regulate them individually.

 

[Bryan_Ugarte]

I would probably run vertically 2 strips of the 6'' tape wired in parallel on the back of each side for back heat. That way you can regulate each side separately. This also would allow you to make tub size changes simpler with adjustable shelves.

Using bottom heat with different size tubs makes it harder to get the proper heat gradient inside each tub if their on the same heat tape. Don't put the 6qt and 15qt tubs all the way on the heat tape since the cabinet is so deep. You only want about a 3rd of the bottom of the tubs over the tape. Ideal would be to have each size tub with its own separate heat tape so you can regulate them individually.

Ok so back heat I'll run 2strips on each side and have 2 different thermostats for each side I was going to set it up like this

2 32q stacked on each side on the bottom then on top of that would be 2 15qt on each side then4 6qt on each side that's a total of 8tubs on each side of the rack. But your saying to put all 4 32qt on one side and all the 15qt and 6 qt on the other ?


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[daddio207]

Ok so back heat I'll run 2strips on each side and have 2 different thermostats for each side I was going to set it up like this

2 32q stacked on each side on the bottom then on top of that would be 2 15qt on each side then4 6qt on each side that's a total of 8tubs on each side of the rack. But your saying to put all 4 32qt on one side and all the 15qt and 6 qt on the other ?

My feeling is to go with 32qt one side and 6qt and 15qt on the other since the 32qt tubs will require a higher setting with back heat.
BUT
There will be at least 4 variables to determine how to organize the tubs that I can think of. First is you mentioned Ball Pythons and colubrids going in the rack. Ball pythons need a little more heat. Second is there will be some heat build up at the top of the rack. My racks are not fully enclosed in the back to allow heat to escape at the top. Third is probe placement from the thermostat. You might even find that you have to drill some holes at the top of each side to allow some heat to escape the top of the rack so you can turn up the thermostat to get the right temp for the bottom. And of course the bigger the tub the more heat required to get the right heat gradient.
So you might find that your original plan is best but with the 32qt at the top. 15qt in the middle and 6qt at the bottom.

 

[Bryan_Ugarte]

My feeling is to go with 32qt one side and 6qt and 15qt on the other since the 32qt tubs will require a higher setting with back heat.

BUT

There will be at least 4 variables to determine how to organize the tubs that I can think of. First is you mentioned Ball Pythons and colubrids going in the rack. Ball pythons need a little more heat. Second is there will be some heat build up at the top of the rack. My racks are not fully enclosed in the back to allow heat to escape at the top. Third is probe placement from the thermostat. You might even find that you have to drill some holes at the top of each side to allow some heat to escape the top of the rack so you can turn up the thermostat to get the right temp for the bottom. And of course the bigger the tub the more heat required to get the right heat gradient.

So you might find that your original plan is best but with the 32qt at the top. 15qt in the middle and 6qt at the bottom.

Ok I understand. I'm going to cut the shelves today and I will be installing them. I will also drill two 1" holes on the top back left and right so heat can escape. I can't drill them on top because I'm going to build another enclosure for my pixie frog and my Brazilian short tail opossum and on top of that I'll build my bearded dragon enclosure. Sounds like a lot but it's only going to be 5 1/2 feet tall.

Thanks for all the help I'll keep you posted on the rack.


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