Is insulating a tank worth the trouble?

gutted

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jun 19, 2012
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Do you think it'd make a difference if you put styrofoam on the back, bottom and side glasses to hold heat in? Or would it not make much of a difference since the front and top aren't covered?

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skjl47

Goliath Tigerfish
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May 16, 2011
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Hello; A couple of things come to mind. First is the location of the tank(s). If in a portion of the house that you do not normally heat for your own comfort like a garage or basement, then any insulation should help.
If in a part of the house where you live, then the heat that radiates from the tank(s) will become a part of the ambient room temperature. This may be a a more expensive type of heat depending on the effeciency of the house heat compared to the electric resistance heat from most tank heaters.

If the issue is that the heaters in use will not maintain the desired temp of the tank(s), then any insulation should help. As stated a fairly tight or insulated top cover will be a benefit as well.

No way of knowing if it will be worth it to you. When I had some tanks in a basement, I enclosed the area around the tanks and found this to be a help. I simply hung tarps from the floor joists around the tanks and made a door way with some light blankets. I could feel a noteably warmer temp inside the enclosed area.
 

duanes

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I started insulating tanks years ago to stabilize temps, and found my energy bill also went down in winter. It also helps in the event of a power outage, takes longer for the tanks to cool down.
 

gutted

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jun 19, 2012
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Ill definitely be giving it a try. Thanks.

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Mutt

Feeder Fish
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Jan 23, 2013
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If its outside of the home in a garage you can build a makeshift room around it with 2x4's or even pvc and tarping, if you can keep the temp around the aquarium stable it helps, as does insulating what glass you can and of course lids to keep evaporation rates low!
 
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