Heating multiple fish tanks in my fish store?
- Thread starter zedhed
- Start date
I designed systems for several stores for a german pet shop chain and found the best way to conserve air quality for the customer and keep heating at an optimal minimum was to completely close the aquarium wall both front and back and set a couple of ventilators behind the aquarium wall to draw off any excess humidity. Closing the aquarium wall means the heat from the lights is also maximally utilised. The ventilators are controlled by variable humidity sensors so they only turn on when necessary (air gets blown outside). This way the air where the customer is standing isn´t so humid. Due to more normal humidity levels in the sales area, even with somewhat higher ambient temperatures the customer still feels relatively comfortable. During summer you just open the wall at the back side of the tanks and the ventilators cut in to draw off excess heat. The pic below is the store in Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Your idea with the heat tape has one big problem though. You need individual thermostats for each tank if you want to run variable temperatures on different systems. You also have to be careful of fire danger. I´ve seen such systems using heating mats under terrariums but when a heating mat breaks down or overheats then you have to remove the tank to replace the mat. I´ve seen a few terrariums crack as well using this system. Granted aquariums distribute the heat better but if a tank is sitting empty for a few days you may have problems. Any system which doesn´t heat up enough to be a danger in this way, for instance frost protection cable for water pipes - approx. 8 watts/yard, won´t be powerful enough to heat the tanks properly. the cable can be installed in a snake like fashion but the stability issues of putting filled tanks on such cable needs to be addressed. Any system that gets placed anywhere other than underneath the tank will be wasting heat.
If you can utilise the warmth of the tank lighting by closing the aquarium wall like in the pic below you´ll also save a lot on heating. To keep the bottom row of tanks warm you just need to install a hot water pipe underneath the tanks to heat the airspace underneath. The water pipe idea would only be necessary as an addition in winter. just make sure your workers and customers can´t get at this pipe easily. The pipe would be run off a boiler connected to gas or solar.
Just my thoughts
j<><
Your idea with the heat tape has one big problem though. You need individual thermostats for each tank if you want to run variable temperatures on different systems. You also have to be careful of fire danger. I´ve seen such systems using heating mats under terrariums but when a heating mat breaks down or overheats then you have to remove the tank to replace the mat. I´ve seen a few terrariums crack as well using this system. Granted aquariums distribute the heat better but if a tank is sitting empty for a few days you may have problems. Any system which doesn´t heat up enough to be a danger in this way, for instance frost protection cable for water pipes - approx. 8 watts/yard, won´t be powerful enough to heat the tanks properly. the cable can be installed in a snake like fashion but the stability issues of putting filled tanks on such cable needs to be addressed. Any system that gets placed anywhere other than underneath the tank will be wasting heat.
If you can utilise the warmth of the tank lighting by closing the aquarium wall like in the pic below you´ll also save a lot on heating. To keep the bottom row of tanks warm you just need to install a hot water pipe underneath the tanks to heat the airspace underneath. The water pipe idea would only be necessary as an addition in winter. just make sure your workers and customers can´t get at this pipe easily. The pipe would be run off a boiler connected to gas or solar.
Just my thoughts
j<><
Ours keep the building heated most of the time as it is far cheaper than any other method. and run minimal AC in the summer.
At one time I had the most gallonage of any store in the Richmond area.We had rows of tanks three high with flaps covering the space between them, somewhat holding the heat in. We kept the store in the low 70's and used individual heaters as needed.
Average of 2 million euros starting investment for a store like this. Not many companies are willing to invest that muchcjohll;2302047; said:
j<><
Jgray152;2306174; said:Justin Guest had the same idea as meOnly, more complex.
Us Justins think alike I guess
Jgray152;2298140; said:
in the summer here i keep my house at 80 with all fans on and it is comfortable to me so i would LOVE to walk into a LFS that was 76-78* 70-72 i just might need a jacket.
