Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm planning on building a fairly large hatchling rack. What I have in mind has three levels of sweater boxes four wide for 12 boxes. And 12 levels of shoebox 6 wide each for 72. I will be using Helix proportional thermostat and dividing the rack into three zones, sweaterbox and two sections of shoebox. Also thinking on setting one shoebox section aside for zone dimmer switches. Overall dimms are 73" tall (with wheels), 45" wide and 19" deep.

Questions:

1) Planning on belly heat, would threading the flexwatt from shelf to shelf be preferable to individual shelf runs? Would the additional side flexwatt affect the few tubs where the flexwatt was below and alongside?

2) How deep should the dado be for the flexwatt? I was thinking fairly shallow and wider than the flexwatt to allow room for foil taping. For 3" flexwatt was planning on 3 1/2" dado by 1/16" deep.

3) Since each shelf will be supporting 4 sweaterbox or 6 shoebox should I go with 3/4" plywood and maybe even have vertical supports in the middle? I don't want shelf sagging to allow escapes.
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Thanks,

Dave "Rainbows-R-Us"

0.1 Wife
0.2 kids
4.12 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
1.1 Ball python
0.1 BCI "Elvira" normal from 1989
1.0 BCI albino / het-anery
0.1 BCI Hypo / het-albino
0.1 BCI Anery / het-albino
0.1 BCI Hypo (possible super)

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I built my new baby racks using the new heat cable.

It is much easier to cut grooves for and the cable gives off the perfect heat for babies.

Flexwatt is a pain in the butt and is very expensive.

have plenty for this hatchling rack but may need another in the future. What is this "new" heat cable? where to get? How much does it cost?
-----
Thanks,

Dave "Rainbows-R-Us"

0.1 Wife
0.2 kids
4.12 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
1.1 Ball python
0.1 BCI "Elvira" normal from 1989
1.0 BCI albino / het-anery
0.1 BCI Hypo / het-albino
0.1 BCI Anery / het-albino
0.1 BCI Hypo (possible super)

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

n

............3" belly heat tape,after routing a shallow channel i applied metal tape to the channel bottom then heat tape on top of the metal tape.on the back wall i used reflex (sp?) insulation (bubble wrap with reflective coating on both sides) and ended up with remarkable results.
the heat gradient from back to front of the tubs changes temp about every 1.5 inches,there's no hot then cold spots as some have suggested.
i've never used heat cable,but i would rather start my heat with 3 inches of heat spread rather than the width of the heat cable.have fun!