Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am ordering the flexwatt tape for my just completed rack that holds 10 sterilite 41 qt containers. What do you guys feel is the best size for balls..my corns do well w/ 3 inch but they stay at a cooler temp than balls. I am going to use newspaper as substrate so it shouldn't use as much current to maintain 90 degrees on the warmer end. Room temp fluctuates between 72-75 degrees so if I need to I'll have 3 inch tape on the cool end as well maitaining temp's in low 80's there.

I have one rack with 3 and one with 11 flexwatt on 41qt tubs, and I dont see much of a diff in them. I do use the 11 inch on the 33" long tubs though, because they are so long and short, they lose alot of heat out the top. I am sure the 3" would still work just fine on them also... infact most of the rack makers have about the same size tubs (33 long, 6 high, 12 wide, or something like that) and they all use 3". I would however stress how important it is to make sure the tubs slide EASY over the tape if you are not putting a metal plate over it. I have a rack that is "settling" right now, and I made it too tight I guess... one of the tubs was a little hard to pull in and out... well I just figured out I wore right through 2 layers of black electrical tape, and 2 layers of foil tape and damaged the heat tape... so that level has to be redone... I am just lucky it didnt catch on fire. I has been known to happen with the flexwatt. I knew better, I just didnt judge the gap well enough. So let me say it again... make sure it slides EASY over the heat tape.

Thanks, that was my next question, I may try to cover the tape with sheet metal, or thin guage tin.

I've always used the 4 inch flexwatt with great success. No need to run any on the cool side, I've never had to do this and my room stays a pretty constant 68-70 during the fall and winter. If you did not rout a slot in the shelves for the tape, be careful about how you use the foil tape or tin to protect the tape. I have experienced current induction from flexwatt when it was sandwiched with foil tape. If your going to use the foil tape or tin or both, place it along the clear edges of the flexwatt. If you place a double layer of tape on each clear edge, the box will rise over the flexwatt when sliding in and out . Also, the box will rest on top of the foil tape and just off of the flexwatt. This will prevent scraping the flexwatt and possibly damaging it which would lead to burnout.