Diesel engine tank heater (electician guys?)

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I'm ALWAYS trying to come up with this. I moved into this house 5 years ago, and as I added "features" such as a Koi pond, another tank, a basement full of Rays and Tilapia, etc... my electric bill has climbed to over $300/mo.... And I hate my electric company.

;)
 
I am afraid the fuel costs would be so high for it to be cost-effective. My mom just installed a propane powered backup generator and it burns something like $10/hour worth of propane. I can't imagine diesel would be any cheaper...
 
You might be better served by looking into a solar thermal water heating system. With current tax breaks the payback period could be 3 years or less (especially since you are heating such a large amount of water).
 
What about using your existing heat pump or AC system for heating? Any way of running some sort of heat sink/heat loop to transfer heat from your heating/cooling system to heat the tank? Then you're not actually adding any extra heating or cooling, but you're making use of already wasted energy to heat the aquariums...
 
Clearwater guy;3933114; said:
I have an idea that I can heat a few thousand gallons of water, and get free electricity out of it. Or, if you will... I could generate electricity and heat a whole bunch of water for free....
Click to expand...

hey i see your thinking, but as the other have mentioned, a few flaws...

free electricity doesnt exist, the method you mention costs fuel, and engine maintenance, not to mention the purchase of the diesel motor itself...

if you have all your tanks in your basement, spend money insulating your room, keep heat in, plump all your tanks through one sump or something, and use one uber heater. which will be far more cost effective in my opionon and easier to implement.

If you are really looking for ways to save coin, even cover the sides of your tank in foam to keep heat in. Its all about keeping the heat in the tank, and keeping the fish room warm.

im assuming your not heating your koi pond, as they can withstand some seriously cold water.

But kudos for coming up with ideas :)
 
Would agree, an existing heat source, modified to heat your tanks would be a more cost effective way.
But toss in pumps, valves, extensive plumbing and insulation. Big initial outlay, and would still have a continuing cost for the power needed to keep it running.
Might mention the potential for a disaster while getting it all working.
I guess the “Grail” would be a system that would work off of capillary action by a free, continual heat source.
The only source I can think of, that would not fluctuate is geothermal. But your area is not really a “hot bed” of easily accessible geothermal power. Even if it was, the cost to drill the “well” and maintaining the piping would still have to be added.
Hate to say it, but your existing power grid( I hate mine also )is a pretty efficient way to heat your tanks.
 
lol. I was actually going to heat the room with a window air conditioner. But that will only work in the summer. So, great idea!

I'd really like to have a geothermal ground loop, but I can't breed those and sell them for money, so I need income first.

I'm going to end up getting an LP tank out here. I've been wanting to get on-demand hot water, and gas appliances for a long time. I'd rather spend money on LP gas than Electricity. Because with LP, if I'm not happy with the service, I can have someone else deliver it.

Then I can use LP gas and wood to heat the water. Too bad we're not all rich...but we wouldn't have a DIY section if everyone could just write checks...

Mike

Electric companies are crooks. I won't get into the details because I still get mad.
 
:irked: Yes they are!!! Especially once you have done power generation and realize that how they are charging you is almost as bad as the Recording industry wanting to charge a tax for every song played on the radio.
 
One thing did occur to me right before I decided that this is not practical....

With my Tilapia experiments, I am going to be using oxygen and ozone...The stocking rate will be so high that I'm going to need backup power in case of power loss. So, if I set up "whatever" generator, I could use a smaller one than I would otherwise need, and I could use simple manually controlled valving to direct water, or even simpler, just install the generator in the utility room where I am going to have all of the sumps. It wouldn't be any different then the space heater I have next to my 55gallon barrel that I'm using for a sump right now...

We don't all have perfect ideas all the time....but it takes "way far out" ideas these days to get anywhere. I come up with them pretty much every day. But a lot of them are more like "what are you on?" than just being a little far out. LOL.

Mike
 
Just make sure if you set up a generator indoors, that it is properly vented to the exterior of your house. Don't want to kill yourself (or fish) with the fumes from it...
 
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