Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking into getting a rack. I dont have tools so I need to buy one. I am shying away from the rubbermaid and sterilite tubs because they seem to change their stuff every few years. I am either going to use the IRIS MCBL or the IRIS Container Store equivalant. They have those lifter feet and like AP racks I called and they say you gotta kind of lift it so it doesnt fall or catch into the flexwatt recess because of the feet.

I was wondering if I got some like 1/8" thick glass and got it cut into pieces that fit into the flexwatt recess and laid on top of the flexwatt so the tubs have a flat area to slide on would that cause any problems or concerns? I have thermostats so they arent going to be run wild. Is that a danger?

You can, but you don't need to do the entire groove. Just do the areas where the feet pass over the groove. After all, you just want to protect the Flexwatt from wear at those points.

You can use a square piece with side length about 3 inches or whatever fits nicely. And you can get some scrap 1/8" PVCx from a sign shop and use that - much easier. You can cut it with a utility knife and straight-edge. A smidgen of silicon to keep it there and you are done.

Another idea is that extruded aluminum bar sold at DIY places. They sell a 2" wide by 1/8" thick piece. You can lay the whole thing across the groove, as aluminum transfers heat nicely, or just do pieces as described above.

I did this with pipe heat tape (about 1/2" wide) and I used a piece of extruded aluminum bar over the entire groove. Worked great.

I'd avoid glass just in case a piece may shatter.

If the groove is deep enough you can use ceramic tile. I doubt the groove is that deep though.
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Mark

I've never used the Iris tubs, but I wonder how big of a problem it would actually be on AP racks heated with heat cable instead of flexwatt. AP uses a T-slot for the cable to run under the tubs. In other words, the channel where it actually lays is larger than the opening you have at the top where the tub slides (picture an upside-down T grooved into the shelf), this also prevents the cable from buckling up or moving around once installed, it's actually great.

Now, if you are talking about using flexwatt, that could be entirely different, but you could ask them at AP about the cable and see if it matters as much. I have the cable option on mine and it works fine (but I have Sterilite model tubs).