Gas heater for my 550 gal

[wizzin]

I'm doing something similar on my tank. It's a hot water recirculation pump system. They sell them all assembled and ready to install. Then, Aquaticeco sells a heat exchanger coil for in tank use: http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/9248

I'm attaching mine to my house's hot water heater.

SO, how efficient is this? Are you finding the pump running a lot, or is it off more than it's on?

I just re-read your post and had a few more comments. One, the way you have it setup is BAD!!! Water heaters use copper conductors inside, and some had/have copper tanks or at the very least coils. Copper+FW fish = BAD Generally.

Just get the heat exchanger and loop it into your hot water heater. That way you're only using the heat of the hot water, not the hot water itself!

 

[Boydo]

Thanks Wizzin, I knew copper was very bad for salt water, I guess it only makes sense it's bad for fresh water. I used 316 SS tubing and made a coil system that goes in the sump of the 550 gal the return line goes right behind the 230 gal so I put a small coil in there to get the last bit of heat out of the water. I just finished my first function test and it bump the 550 tank from 87.1 to 88 F in 20 minutes and in that time the 230 went from 84 to 84.4 F. The same temp increase with 1000 watter would take a few hours. I need to tidy up my mess now, but I will get some pics here to show the final product.

Thanks fo the input.

 

[jdepasqu2]

Cool....., cant wait for the pics.....

 

[Rivermud]

Copper is NOT bad for FW where on earth do people get these ideas. Copper DOES kill inverts and such but as for fish... no. Besides, here is the big catch.. Copper is what most houses use as their main lines.. ding ding ding

 

[jdepasqu2]

Copper is NOT bad for FW where on earth do people get these ideas. Copper DOES kill inverts and such but as for fish... no. Besides, here is the big catch.. Copper is what most houses use as their main lines.. ding ding ding

copper kills a lot of fish..... especialy rays....

 

[rawley2]

I would be worried that aluminum heat exchanger would corrode through in salt water and release what ever your heating with (anti-freeze, copper or other potentially toxic fluid) into your tank.

Would be much better (and cost more) made out of stainless.

 

[fishdance]

It takes quite a bit of copper for copper toxicity to occur. While a heat exchanger IS a better idea, using copper pipes is not such a drama. There are exceptions to this of course just as you cant say copper is ALWAYS BAD. I routinely ADD copper to my systems since I struggle to keep dissolved levels up because I maintain a low background level for prevenative reasons. I usually keep copper scourers in my sumps too. Soluble copper precipitates out rapidly in hard water.

 

[fishdance]

Forgot to post what I wanted to say initially. Aquaculture places sell accurate thermostat and flow controllers for heating. It doesnt matter whether you are solar, electrical or gas heating, the principle is the same. The controllers will automatically adjust pump flow predictively, not reactively to achieve pre-set temperatures and is quite accurate. Rather than trying to re-invent the wheel I suggest you get in touch with an aquaculture suppler. Household temperature controllers dont extend to the ideal ranges we need for fish.

 

[Boydo]

rawley2 I would be worried that aluminum heat exchanger would corrode through in salt water and release what ever your heating with (anti-freeze, copper or other potentially toxic fluid) into your tank.

Would be much better (and cost more) made out of stainless.

I agree, that why I'm using 316 SS for the exchangers in the aquariums.

fishdance It takes quite a bit of copper for copper toxicity to occur. While a heat exchanger IS a better idea, using copper pipes is not such a drama. There are exceptions to this of course just as you cant say copper is ALWAYS BAD. I routinely ADD copper to my systems since I struggle to keep dissolved levels up because I maintain a low background level for prevenative reasons. I usually keep copper scourers in my sumps too. Soluble copper precipitates out rapidly in hard water.

Interesting, but I think I'll stick with Stainless Steel.

fishdance Forgot to post what I wanted to say initially. Aquaculture places sell accurate thermostat and flow controllers for heating. It doesnt matter whether you are solar, electrical or gas heating, the principle is the same. The controllers will automatically adjust pump flow predictively, not reactively to achieve pre-set temperatures and is quite accurate. Rather than trying to re-invent the wheel I suggest you get in touch with an aquaculture suppler. Household temperature controllers dont extend to the ideal ranges we need for fish.

Thanks, I 'm using aquarium temp controller, and I'm not re-inventing the wheel - this is the DIY section, and I'm making an affordable gas heater which I haven't seen done here yet.

Here's some pics to better explain how it works.....
This is the Aqua medic Temp controller I'm using - Accurate to 1*.

Gas Heater, Circ pump and blue expansion tank.
When the temp is down 1* the controller energizes the pump which starts circulating fluid, the water heater has a flow indicator when satisfied with flow it turns on the main burner. Now we are circulating hot water( approx 120 *) to the big tanks coil(550) then through the small coil in the small tank(230) returning to the pump at ( 90-94*). Just before the suction of the pump, there is a tee for the expansion tank to ensure the lines are alway full, this is also where I can refresh the fluids as needed.

Small coil in 230 gal - return line from big tank.

Main coil in 550 gal sump - dual lines of 3/8" 316 Stainless steel for a total lengh of 18 Feet.

I need to finish mounting the circ pump, and thats about it. I had lots of the supplies already in the garage left over from other projects, so this cost me about $250 and should pay for it's self in a couple months.

 

[wizzin]

Copper can be deadly depending on your water chemistry and species. I wouldn't risk continuously cycling tank water through a copper heating element. Also, I did say "generally", which was supposed to mean that it isn't absolute, just bad in general. Supply water passing through copper pipes in your house is not the same as continuous exposure or cycling through a closed tank system.