hey im ganna be making a rack this weekend for my 4 v175 tubs and a 10 count 32qt rack i got everything figured out besides the heating it, i was planing to use a heat pad on the v175 but how do i make it that when im sliding the tub in and out that im not tearing up the heat pad, and as for the 32qt rack should i use the heat cable or the heat tape ??

I use Flexwatt on all my racks....as for the heat pad... not sure what your refering to... but you can either notch the shelf for the heat pad to recess into.... or build up the shelf so there is a place for the pad... and the container slides on the built up area.

I just position it and tape the all the edges down. If you want to, you can run a couple 1" wide stripes of the alum tape over the heat tape so the tub slides more on it than the pad itself.

hey im ganna be making a rack this weekend for my 4 v175 tubs and a 10 count 32qt rack i got everything figured out besides the heating it, i was planing to use a heat pad on the v175 but how do i make it that when im sliding the tub in and out that im not tearing up the heat pad, and as for the 32qt rack should i use the heat cable or the heat tape ??

I had the same problem when I made my rack. If you build tracks for the lip to hang from it should be okay. I didn't So I came up with a solution. I used roof Flashing. it wasn't pretty, but it kept the heat tape where it was supposed to be. And maybe spread the heat out a little wider. Just an idea.

flex watt heat tape is what i use

Foil tape to tape it down.

If you use heat cable, you will need to router a grove for it.

thank you all for your sugestions im still not sure what ill do im building them this weekend so ill snap a few shots during and after to see the finished product thank you all again for all your help

For the heat pads, you can router the shelf a little bit so it is recessed or you can just use foil tape and you should be fine. For the other rack, it depends on your situation, but I have found flexwatt to heat more evenly than cable since you have to arrange the cable and it won't cover 100% of your hot spot. I like back heat for my smaller racks, as it seems to give a more even heat that will heat a good portion of the tub and gives a good gradient. I don't use 32 QT tubs, so I don't know if they will work well with back heat or what your ambient temp is in your herp room, so you will have to try it out and see if you want to go that route. I use 28 QT tubs that are similar in size to the 32's and with an ambient temp of 76 in my snake room, back heat works great with my 28 qt racks. I've also seen people do dual side radiant heat, where they put a strip of heat tape on each side of the tubs and seems to work well also. Anyways, I hope this helps at all.

When I use tubs that will slide across the heat tape, I cover it completely with foil tape.
http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/41qt/heater2.jpg

I haven't had any problems doing it like that and the foil tape transfers the heat very well to the tubs while protecting the flexwatt from wear.

Clay... the link popped up forbidden

Clay... the link popped up forbidden
me as well

I would just heat with Flexwatt. Get a Thermostat ( Zoo Med 500R works fine for my small racks * i have a Herpstat too, and i LOVE that thing...*, and i havent had any issues with them) and just run 11" Flex down the back.

I used roof flashing from home depot. I taped it over the heat tape with aluminum tape.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/files/5/9/7/8/HeatTape2.jpg
http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/files/5/9/7/8/HeatTape.jpg

im thinking about the flex watt down the back thats easyer than having a piece under each tub huh? im ganna put it under one side of each tub on the 175 but im ganna go with it down the back on the 32 qt rack the 32qt rack is for kings and corns the back heat should be fine the ambiant room temp is 72 to 75 at night and then warmer during the day

Thats the main thing is your room temp. I am sure in Florida I could get away with it where someone in the great white north would not be able to.

I made a home rack recently and used flex watt tape under the tubs and covered the heat tape with the alum tape where ever the tub made contact with the tape.....works great :yessir:

im thinking about the flex watt down the back thats easyer than having a piece under each tub huh? im ganna put it under one side of each tub on the 175 but im ganna go with it down the back on the 32 qt rack the 32qt rack is for kings and corns the back heat should be fine the ambiant room temp is 72 to 75 at night and then warmer during the day

I have backheat on a 6 qt rack right now in a 75 degree room. It's running at 120 degrees surface temp to put my tubs at 88 degrees on the back end. You could use 4" heat tape running across the shelf at the very back edge of the tub and keep a nice tight hotspot more efficiently.

I have backheat on a 6 qt rack right now in a 75 degree room. It's running at 120 degrees surface temp to put my tubs at 88 degrees on the back end. You could use 4" heat tape running across the shelf at the very back edge of the tub and keep a nice tight hotspot more efficiently.

im only keeping kings and corns in that rack i dont need a 88 degree hot spot and its no rush for the heating ive got to order the heating element and add it later

im off to build 2 racks ill post pics later tonight of the finished product

Have fun and good luck. Remember measure twice and cut once! :D

I use back heat on some, belly on some, and both on some.....LOL

I am in OK where its pretty chilly in the winter. I have good success with all options though, you will find out really quick which way will give you the best results though. With kings and milks, not so much of an issue as you want them to cool down as the room does anyway.

Looking forward to the pics!

Weekend is up. Pics???? :devil:


Cheers,
Kat

Have fun and good luck. Remember measure twice and cut once! :D

Thats the carpenters motto! Nice Jenea!

Or, go with the carpenters helper mottos that my guys swear by

"Measure six times, cut yourself"

:D

here you go not finished yet got to add heat and all the tubs but heres the pritty much finished product
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww195/snakebitereptiles/009-1.jpg

http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww195/snakebitereptiles/006-1.jpg

Those look really good!

Looks good!! What did you decide heat wise??

Alan

the 10 tub 32 qt rack will be back heat and the 4 tub v175 rack will have an under tank heat pad on the left side of all 4 both will be flex watt from bean farm

Nice work!! :rockon: What size tubs are you using for the 4 high rack??


Cheers,
Kat

Nice work!! :rockon: What size tubs are you using for the 4 high rack??


Cheers,
Kat

there the ve 175's there ruffly 4ft by 2ft by 2ft that rack will house a fwc pair and a blood python pair.

ok so a quick update on the racks i built the 10 tub 32 qt rack is working great still need to find me some more 32qt tubs but besides that its been a great rack but i have found some problems with the way i built the ve175 rack so anyone that plains to use these tubs in a rack let me tell you what i did rong, pulling them out in the direction i do has been a problem they have to much flex when pulled out in this manner and it is not easy to get them back in and becuase the shelfs are only suported by the sides the center has begun to bow, making it even more difficult to get the tubs in the lower in the rack you go but i want to have the ability to look at the animals in the long side of the tub so i have figured out a way to make it happen i will take the rack and slide it out on the short side not the long side and place 2 2by 4 on eather side of the long part of the tub suporting the center of the shelf but still able to see the tub on the long side and will have to remove one side of the rack and replace the corners with 2 by 4s its sound a bit confusing im sure but ive got it all maped out in my head shouldnt take me to long to retro fit it and get some pics posted hopfully this week im excited to see the end result

Where do you get the v175 tubs from? I have looked everywhere and can't find them.

Where do you get the v175 tubs from? I have looked everywhere and can't find them.

Reptile tubs is one place

http://www.reptiletubs.com/

Reptile tubs is one place

http://www.reptiletubs.com/

walmart right after xmas was the first i had ever seen them and och right after xmas 30 bucks each

can you post pics of the Ve175 rack? I really want to make one for carpet pythons and bloods or boas maybe.

it is posted on one of the posts ill repost but be sure to note my findings ill repost it all for you

ok so a quick update on the racks i built the 10 tub 32 qt rack is working great still need to find me some more 32qt tubs but besides that its been a great rack but i have found some problems with the way i built the ve175 rack so anyone that plains to use these tubs in a rack let me tell you what i did rong, pulling them out in the direction i do has been a problem they have to much flex when pulled out in this manner and it is not easy to get them back in and becuase the shelfs are only suported by the sides the center has begun to bow, making it even more difficult to get the tubs in the lower in the rack you go but i want to have the ability to look at the animals in the long side of the tub so i have figured out a way to make it happen i will take the rack and slide it out on the short side not the long side and place 2 2by 4 on eather side of the long part of the tub suporting the center of the shelf but still able to see the tub on the long side and will have to remove one side of the rack and replace the corners with 2 by 4s its sound a bit confusing im sure but ive got it all maped out in my head shouldnt take me to long to retro fit it and get some pics posted hopfully this week im excited to see the end result

here is the rack pic and in a few weeks i will post pics of the rebuilt rack with the new fetures.
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/w...iles/006-1.jpg

can you post pics of the Ve175 rack? I really want to make one for carpet pythons and bloods or boas maybe.

hope all of this is helpfull i use it for false water cobras and bloods and i might use it for carpets 2 i havnt decided whether i want to use 74 qt tubs or ve 175s for carpets ... then again im not sure wether i want to keep using the tubs for the false waters or mabe move them to vision cages ..... haah im not sure of much ever but ya know such is life

here is the rack pic and in a few weeks i will post pics of the rebuilt rack with the new fetures.
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/w...iles/006-1.jpg

For some reason everytime I click on the link it says the image has been deleted.

http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww195/snakebitereptiles/006-1.jpg

how about that ?

thats awsome! do you have any problems form sagging in the wood on such large shelves?

That is a nice job, I imagine it will hold up well as long as you don't pull one tub all the way out...

thats awsome! do you have any problems form sagging in the wood on such large shelves?

ive had affew problems as i mentioned in a earlier post the problem is there is some sagging do to the shelves are only suported on the left and right side of the tub and i feel sliding them in this way leaves the tub very open and so feeding and changing water is more of a pain the tub seems to sag also do to the fact your having to pull it out in 2 locations of the tub its not smooth sliding so my plans to fix all of that is to take 6 2by4's and place one at each corner and 2 in the center on eather side and then remove the side panels witch will transform this tub from sliding out in the manner they do and make them slide out of the left side.it will alow me to still see in the tub but it will open from the short end like i said i am trying to rebuild it here in the next few weeks and will post pictures apon its completion .

ok so it took awylhttp://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww195/snakebitereptiles/eggsandcages009.jpge but i got it all retro fited so