Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am considering buying an oak cabinet formerly used to house a large TV, putting a shelf on a track at mid-height and using it to house a 30 long tank on top and a 30 gallon breeder tank on the bottom (on top of a slide-out shelf of its own which would rest on the bottom). The 30 long is, with the screen top, 16 1/2" high and the 30 breeder is, with its screen top, 13 1/4" high. I would put combo-lights on each tank, which are 4" high. I would probably use like a 1" thick shelf under each tank to allow me to slide it out part way for maintenance, feeding, etc.

The back of the cabinet has many openings for wires, and would allow plenty of heat dissipation.

It looks like there would be 1 1/2" clearance above each tank, from the top of the combo-light housing to the shelf or roof of the cabinet above. Is this sufficient room for heat dissipation?

I would think that you will still get some extra heat from the bottom lamp but all you would have to do is get a rheostat and turn down the juice on the upper tank to compinsate.

nate

The combo-lites vent at the sides instead of the top. I'd run a little muffin fan to exhaust the heat.

Meanwhile, the cabinet I sought to buy is not for sale unless I also buy the tv that is housed in it, which I'm not interested in. Wish I could find someone in the NYC/Long Island area to build me a similar cabinet. It's been rough going to find such a person, let me tell you.

>> Wish I could find someone in the NYC/Long Island area to build me a similar cabinet. It's been rough going to find such a person, let me tell you.

While up there one time, I was going to a certian store. I walked right by a cabinet shop. Unfortunitly, I don't remember where it was. I want to say Lower East side maybe? Look in the phone book under cabinets and you should be able to find one. Or, if you know of a good Petshop that caters to reptiles, maybe you can ask them who might be able to build it for you.

If you do know of one, please let me know about it. I'd like to check it out sometime. The only ones I have found are petco type places.
Rob
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"I reject your reality and substitute my own" Adam Savage
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Yeah, the cabinet-making shops. Where I got one estimate for $1200 and one for $3200 to build this simple cabinet.

Argh!

I think I understand what you are asking.

You may leave the 1 1/2" distance and adhere some sheet metal on the underside of the surfaces you are concerned about. This will act as a heatsink for the wood shelf and pretty much eliminate the risk of fire. They sell aluminum sheet in rools for roofing applications. Rather inexpensive and works well.

Reflectix insulation might be another good choice to safeguard the wood surfaces from heat. See www.mgreptiles.com for info.

One last comment. You could simply bore some holes in the shelf and top to allow heat to rise up and out.

Good luck.
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Mark

Thank you Mark, for your insights.