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New Rack

Blue Apple Herps

Blue Apple Herps

aka Matthew, PhD
Yup, you guessed, another new rack thread!! Oh well I wanted to share anyways. So here's my new rack I built. I have sub adults that are too big for their 28qt tubs and younger ones that need to go into those; so that meant new rack!!

It holds the 41 qt sterilite tubs (no idea what model number they are). I have no qualms about putting my adults in there; tons and tons of room compared to the 28/32 qt tubs. And the great thing is that the 12 and 28qt tubs also fit as well! I also really like the look of the melamine; my other rack I built out of mdf and it looks like crap compared to this one. Also built it a little tall so it has a "storage area" at the bottom perfect fo storing feeding tubs, the scale, and deli cups. It's heated by the Zoo Med heat cable controlled by a Zoo Med 500R thermostat.

Anyways here are the pics: rack, shot of heat cable, shot of my coral snow Maleficent in different camera settings.
 

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Jrgh17 said:
I must admit, I'm kinda jealous of your rack. :)

How much did that one cost?
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About $75 for just the materials (no tubs) plus about 2.5 hrs of work. I already had everything else (tubs and heat). Not bad if you ask me. The only other pre-made racks that you can buy that hold the 41qt tubs that I've seen are $225 but only hold 3 tubs. That would be $450 for what I spent $150 on. :dancer:
 
Thats got me thinking, some of mine will need to go up to bigger boxes soon and i was concerned by getting a good size box that it would stick out into the room to far, i never thought of putting them side ways as my medium size boxes are sharing the back third on heat strips, eg 3 boxes to a shelf

Thanks for that, given my another choice of what to do, now the question is do i fit heat mats for each individual box/level or go across to the cable/tape
 
captaincaveman said:
Thanks for that, given my another choice of what to do, now the question is do i fit heat mats for each individual box/level or go across to the cable/tape
Click to expand...

Well individual heat mats like UTH would cost a fortune to heat a rack compared to heat cable or flexwatt.

I would go the heat tape or heat cable route and run them lengthwise along the back third of the shelf.
 
What size router bit and how deep did you go for the heat cable? As you know I am building mine and should have the heat cable in by friday so I am hoping to have it built by saturday. Thanks!!
 
Excellent job!!! Looks absolutely professional. One thing I noticed is your choice of heating. Will the one thin strip of heat rope/cable generate enough heat to maintain the entire rack? Not criticizing, just asking.
Jay :cool:
 
mullinsn2000 said:
What size router bit and how deep did you go for the heat cable? As you know I am building mine and should have the heat cable in by friday so I am hoping to have it built by saturday. Thanks!!
Click to expand...

I used a 1/4" router and then just played with the depth until I got it to where I wanted which was so the cable just was just barely below flush with the floor.
 
onelifetolive45 said:
Do you have plans for the rack, or do you not want anyone to steal your ideas?
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I didn't make any plans for it or anything, but I could care less who builds one like it. All it is is just pre cut melamine with a 1x2 extension along the back of each shelf. Measure out the spacing for each shelf, drill and voila! A rack!

I'll probably be making another one of these to replace my other rack; so maybe I can do a write up then.
 
PJCReptiles said:
Excellent job!!! Looks absolutely professional. One thing I noticed is your choice of heating. Will the one thin strip of heat rope/cable generate enough heat to maintain the entire rack? Not criticizing, just asking.
Jay :cool:
Click to expand...

Yeah, this is my first time using this. I know that AP uses it on their economy rack so I got it assuming that they wouldn't use it if it was total crap. So far it seems to be doing ok. When I ordered it I ordered two of them thinking the same thing you did, that one might not be enough. But so far so good wiht just one, but then again it's been in the 70's and not very cold so no need for that much heat right now. If it seems to be struggling I will install the other one.

It was wayyyyyyyy easier than having to wire up flexwatt. Sometimes you just want soemthing to be easy and not have to deal with it!
 
I used the heatrope for my ghetto rack, and it's doing its job perfectly. I tested it unregulated before putting it in and it reached over 90f
 
Wow, What a great rack. I'm getting ready to build several racks and would love a set of measurements and maybe a drawing. This is right up my alley as far as needs go. Very nice job. :crazy02:
 
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