Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone! I thought some of you might be interest in my first rack system that I built. It holds eight 12qt tubs and is heated by a 50 watt heat cable (a word to future heat cables buyers when its says it 21 ft it doesnt mean 21 heated feet). The heat is controlled by a dimmer on the front which is wired to a regular outlet on the side which the cable plugs into. If i want to expanded the rack I just need to build a similar one and I can plug it right in and use the one control. here is the picture

thanks for looking
John

Nice work, especially good to see the dado cuts for the shelves - something I never take the time to do.

Is that bull-nosed melamine shelving? I've never seen that color. Did you paint it or something?

Let us know how the cable works. Do you have a single strand tucked into a groove on each shelf? I'd be especially interested to hear if that provides enough heat during your colder months.

>>Hello everyone! I thought some of you might be interest in my first rack system that I built. It holds eight 12qt tubs and is heated by a 50 watt heat cable (a word to future heat cables buyers when its says it 21 ft it doesnt mean 21 heated feet). The heat is controlled by a dimmer on the front which is wired to a regular outlet on the side which the cable plugs into. If i want to expanded the rack I just need to build a similar one and I can plug it right in and use the one control. here is the picture
>>
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>>thanks for looking
>>John
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

The heating cable passes by each tub twice at about 2 inches apart. I figured out that the heat cable is about 3 watts a foot. so doubled up it is around 6 watts a foot which is only 2 watts less than 4" flexwatt. So far it has worked good for me. My house is about as cold as it is going to get all winter and it has had plenty of heat and it is still turned down quite a bit. I built it from bullnose mdf which I then painted. Oh and no dado cuts...I wish i was that talented, the shelves stick out an inch so the picture appears that way. had to do with the precut mdf shevling i use it turns out 16" width mdf isnt actually 16"! I really didnt want to start moving and having to deal with a 4x8 sheet since I was alone and only had a car, not to mention the weight on them, so I used the precut shevling pieces.

John