Large incubator (old wine cooler)

[GeckoCrossing]

Okay... So I got a large incubator, basically the size of a fridge with lots of edges for shelves inside. How should I run the heat tape? All the way down the back, or on the bottom? Or Both? It can't go up the sides due to the shelves, and on the bottom is a pretty big space, which right now i'm using for eight gallon jugs of water to keep temps steady. I have a Herpstat hooked up to the heat tape right now which is running down the back, the way the previous owner had it.
Any input, advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. I want to get an early start and be perfectly ready for next season

 

[GeckoCrossing]

Pictures below to see how it's set up.

 

[SC Geckos]

Very nice! I would say on the back where it currently is will work best. I would suggest a couple of small computer fans to make the temps. the same throughout the incubator. (one in the top corner facing down and one on the opposite corner of the bottom facing up. I have a small mini fridge size incubator (made myself). It has the heat tape on the bottom with only two shelves. With this setup (no fan) the bottom shelve is 84-85 degrees and the top is 87 - 88. I would like both shelves to be the same temp but perhaps I can incubate for males on the top and females on the bottom. I would imagine a larger scale incubator without fans would have a much greater temp difference between the top and the bottom shelves.

 

[GeckoCrossing]

Very nice! I would say on the back where it currently is will work best. I would suggest a couple of small computer fans to make the temps. the same throughout the incubator. (one in the top corner facing down and one on the opposite corner of the bottom facing up. I have a small mini fridge size incubator (made myself). It has the heat tape on the bottom with only two shelves. With this setup (no fan) the bottom shelve is 84-85 degrees and the top is 87 - 88. I would like both shelves to be the same temp but perhaps I can incubate for males on the top and females on the bottom. I would imagine a larger scale incubator without fans would have a much greater temp difference between the top and the bottom shelves.

Thanks for the tip. The temp difference in mine from top to bottom is 85 bottom and 89-90 in the top half.

 

[SC Geckos]

Thanks for the tip. The temp difference in mine from top to bottom is 85 bottom and 89-90 in the top half.

No problem.
You could always leave it as is and use one incubator to temp sex for both males and females.

 

[RevolutionBoas]

I would put in a false wall along the back with 2 fans blowing out and across the bottom.

This will suck hot air from the top and blow it across the bottom mixing with cooler air.

I did this with my incubator and it worked great. Not to mention the constant airflow across the heat tape will help dissipate the heat much more efficient as well.

I would also skip the computer fans because of the need for a converter. I found fans that can be plugged right into a wall from Newark and them come in all sizes.

 

[hcgeckos]

I know this isn't a new topic, but I was wondering what fans you were using that can be plugged in directly without a converter?