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What is this heating tape for a rack? Could use some advice

kadaysa

kadaysa

I'm so addicted to....
Has anyone used this type of heating tape before? I picked up two racks this weekend which included the full size tubes and two strips (one for each rack) of the green heating tape for 175.00 total. I am thrilled. I mean seriously thrilled. I traveled 2.5 hours one way and had to drive home with my hatch on my Jeep Grand Cherokee propped open but it was worth it. I have everyone in 10g tanks except Midas in a 20L (which is where he will stay for now) Anyway, this will open up the room they are in and gives me 24 spaces. 12 spots per rack....Oh my god 24 spots, oh my the possiblities LOL.
Anyway I am talking to reptile basics (and oh my goodness what extremely nice people there) about switching to flexwatt and just wondered if anyone had any comments. The tape thing it came with has regulated the 15quart tubes (cause my babies are babies..) that I just bought from Target, but the tape is only 1" width and I worry about the full (I think 32q, (23x16x6) tubs, that came with the rack). The guy I bought them from has about 100 of tthese racks (anyone want a road trip LOL) and kept kings, balls, and corns in them so it worked for him. It took two full days to get these tubs right though. It takes forever to heat them up. Like when I was using UTH under the glass tanks, when the thermostat clicked on the temps went up quickly, this stuff not so quick.... but the tubs do maintain the heat. I only moved a few snakes into it for now but they are regulating okay. What does everyone think, should I spend the extra cash now and go for flexwatt?, anyone use this stuff I have. I am going to clean out a tub that came with these tomorrow, put some aspen in, and slide it in one of the spots and see what it does. Crazy that I just thought of doing that now while typing this. I guess that is how my not genius mind works, LOL.
Anyway I still love these racks, did alot of scrubbing with ammonia and water to be safe but I am just thrilled with them... Oh and whoever here on this site mentioned binder clips for the tubs....kudos. I have four per clips per tub and they work perfectly and are easy to use. This is why I love you guys




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I am guessing, but that looks like heat cable;

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...nd-rocks/-/zoo-med-115-foot-repti-heat-cable/

I don't have any experience with heat cable. I currently use heat tape on my current rack (40 tub rack) that I built myself. I love the stuff. It heats up quickly, maintains good temps and is easy to set up and regulate with a good thermostat.

If your not happy with the current set up, then change it. I used to use heat mats, that use a lot of electricity and are a pain to regulate. I find the heat tape to be so much better.

Good Luck!

Wayne

*EDIT: You know what, that green cable looks like the kind of cable, used on roofs of houses, to prevent ice dams. Not the stuff that I referenced from LLLReptile. That stuff is very low wattage and could explain why it's takes so long to heat up. :shrugs:
 
Thank you. I think I might go with a four shelf setup of the flex watt from reptile basics for now to see how it does. It sounds like I would need to open up the holes on the side bigger to get the tape and the insulators on the shelf. I guess I am just used to the heating from the UTH's they just seemed a little more stable in my mind or at least when they dipped they didn't take long to heat back up. This cable seems to take a long time to heat the tub back up and as long as I don't fall down too far with the temp I guess that should not be a problem, I guess I am not used to that which is why I am thinking of changing to the flexwatt. To go with the flexwatt means fork out some more cash and then modify the rack that I have to make it tape fit. So not very excited to do that. I think I will go for a four shelf set up anyway just to test it out, and at least four shelves vs the whole rack is cheaper and I don't have to butcher the whole thing. I will test it on the rack that is empty for now. Thank you
 
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