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New Rack...

pinatamonkey

pinatamonkey

Ophidiophile
My & my dad put together a simple rack system yesterday. It uses 28qt sterilite containers ($2.84 each at walmart) and precut melamine shelving (Lowes, SysDesign shelvs parts D 24"x48", parts J 24"x16"). We fastened the shelves together with deck screws. The back panel is 1/8" hardboard. (Home Depot).

It holds 7 shelves, 6 hold corns, the last is a sinaloan milksnake.
Right now there's no heat (it's warm enough during the daytime that heat isn't vital). I will be getting flexwatt heat tape for the back.
 

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I've got one just like it! I also used the same pre-cut boards from Lowe's and 28 quart sterlite containers from Wal-Mart.
 
I know this has been explained before, but ...
How EXACTLY is the flexwatt attached? does anyone have a close up picture? is it on the shelf itself? or attached to the back wall of the shelf? and i'm assuming it is safe enough for the wood to get heated along with the tank? I have read other posts about this, but haven't really gotten an entirely clear picture about the whole thing...
I need to get a set up like this SOON!...
thanks!!

PS- If you know any links to other threads, this would be helpful too- I've read several, but can't seem to find them now...
 
This is how I do mine...

I use peg board for the back for better air circulation. I also place my heat tape in the middle, because I use two smaller boxes per shelf for babies. It seems to work ok, haven't had any fires or dead snakes yet.
heat.JPG

Before I attach the peg board, I attach the heat tape to the back of each shelf with those small black tacks that you can get in the WalMart hardware dept. Make sure that you don't go through any electrical parts of the heat tape. It you stay on the outside, it works really good. Then I attach the peg board with screws, I used nails on my first rack, but then I decided that screws would be better so that if I ever needed to replace the heat tape it would be easier.
heatclose.JPG

I control the whole thing with a Helix DBS-1000. I can run multiple racks with one Helix. Just make sure the heat tape in each rack is exactly the same (same size, length, etc.).

I hope that helps,
Brian Miller
BC Reptiles
 
Brian did a great job explaining Flexwatt. If you need anything else, this old post has a ton of info and websites:

Rack system information

My racks are similar but can hold two large or four small containers per shelf. I use the same Helix model to control three racks.
 
I run my flexwatt similarly to what Brian showed above. However, my racks are 46" across on the inside edge, and I run three strips of 11" heat tape across the entire back. This gives me more uniform heating with lower actual temps required.

Also, I use the aluminum tape to affix the heat tape instead of tacks. It removes the problem of cutting off circuits, reduces the chance of sparking, makes the heat tape lay flat, and increases the area of heat radiation.

I'll try to post some pics later . . .:cool:
 
I used to use foil tape, but it is so sticky that it leaves a lot of "goo" behind when you try to remove it. I started using the tacks so that I could easily remove the heat tape and replace it if needed. I have seen a lot of smoked heat tape. I was thinking that I might replace it very few years or so? It's pretty cheap.

I just wanted a system that would be easy to replace the heat tape. But the foil tape works great as well!

Brian Miller
BC Reptiles
 
Thanks Guys! that was just what i needed to know. I do have two more questions, though:
1.Do you have the end with the connection to the thermostat (the plug in end) at the top or the bottom? which would be safer/ why?
2. How much space (between the shelf and the wall) is nessicary to maintain circulation (and so i don't burn my house down :rolleyes: )
thanks again!
Amy
CAV- thanks that was the link i was looking for and couldn't find... I guess i'm not too good at navigating the search engine:eek:
 
I run the cord out at the bottom rear. It is just more aesthetically pleasing to have the cords on the floor as opposed to 3-4 feet up the wall.

As far as the space, I have mine placed a couple of inches off the wall. Remember that if it is thermostatically controlled, the tape isn't going to get much warmer than 85- 90. The key is to place the temp probe right in front of the heat tape (inside the plastic tub on top of the substrate, of course)

I'm glad that thread was helpful. I tried to make it "one-stop shopping for all your rack system needs" ;)
 
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