Getting some new racks made and was curious if everyone would like to share their opinions and experiences regarding their preference.Thanx Marcus
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Hatchling Rack- Back heat or Belly Heat or Indirect Belly heat/Which one and Why?
hogglover
Nov 27, 2004 01:17 AM
Replies (4)
bahreptiles
Nov 27, 2004 04:20 AM
OK I'll share. I feel that you would be better off with belly heat, but with a rack that is kinda hard to accomplish. That is when I would say you can do and get by with back heat. You figure a shoebox rack that is 12" deep. You can use flexwatt up the back of it and heat 1/2 of the back with some certain degree of confidence and the front will be cooler than the back. Do mind your temps though. This does kinda depend on your room temps as well. I heat all my racks from the back controlled by a dimmer switch, and it works great for ME. Here is a pic of that.
The one in the middle is a baby rack 16"x12"x6" and works great. I have 11" flexwatt up the back of it on a dimmer switch.
The one on the left I have two 11" strips of flexwatt in the same manner.
The rack one the right has 11" flexwatt as well with the same dimmer switch device.
I hope this helps some as it can be as difficult or as simple as you want to make it.
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morgans boas
Nov 27, 2004 10:54 AM
I've recently built my 1st two rack systems for the up-n-coming season, and I couldn't make a desicion on this same topic. I was also concerned with the top shelves becoming warmer than the bottom ones. So, in building, I made the shelf depth 4" deeper than needed, so that if the top rows were getting to warm, I could slide them foreward a bit, and put a line on the shelf to "callibrate" them. This also changes the bottom heat to back heat. The 3 keys in my opinion are, Good thermostat(s) - multiple thermometer placements - and keeping the tubs from rubbing across the flexwatt (or whatever you'll be using). I used 1/2" shelves, then used 1/4" tempered lamenant on the front 2/3rds to give a "trough" for the flexwatt to lay in along the back of the shelves. I can take picks if I'm not desribing it clearly - sometimes I'm the only one who knows what I'm talking about.
bahreptiles
Nov 27, 2004 12:04 PM
but you got me thinking now...... How about 2 pieces of flexwatt up the back and 2 diffrent dimmers??? That would work.... upper and lower.
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Morgans boas
Nov 28, 2004 12:25 AM
one reason that I come up with solutions that are a bit off - you should see my gate. Your idea is probably the more professional way I'm sure, but then I'd have to buy more flexwatt, and dimmers.
Now if I could just get my snakes to eat Ocra and cornbread. Take care, David
P.S. - No offense to those from Oklahoma, I'm just being lighthearted, and joking about myself. I'm actually an Oregonian, but my grandaddy hopped the train from Oklahoma way back.
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--aka DMOG68
