Hi guys, I have a 450 gal in my garage that I'd like to set up but since it is getting much warmer. My only concern is that it gets pretty darn cold in the winter here in PA, so it has me worried for long term. How do you guys heat larger tanks for cold winters, and I'd like to do it without breaking the bank please. Thanks in advance for advice/input.
Help for heating 450G in Garage in PA
- Thread starter BrAveHrT
- Start date
I have my 450g setup in my garage and we get pretty cold winters here. Temperatures during winters would get down to below 0 C sometimes and I'm running 1600 watts in heaters and my tank struggles to stay at tropical temps. My tanks temps would drop down to low 70F and I have my heaters at full blast. My garage is also not insulated so it gets cold in there as outside temps. I can't run anymore wattage as my breaker cannot handle the power if I were to up the wattage in heaters. I've also looked into upgrading the breaker box and it wasn't cheap. This summer I'm going to insulate the garage but I don't think it would help significantly in keeping my tank warm at tropical temps. It'll probably help a bit. I've read ppl place blankets all around the tank or using styrofoam to cover all sides of the tank and adding a portable heater to help heat the whole garage up to room temp. If u do a research on how many watts per gallon for heaters and if your tank is set up in the garage or outside i think the math came out to 6-8 watts per gallon to keep your temps up. Correct me if i'm wrong. As for not breaking the bank in energy bills I don't think there is a way in saving money if you set up a huge tank in the garage. My energy costs doubled in the winter due to my heaters running constantly 24/7.
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No clue how cold it gets in PA so hard to speak here normally our winters are around 17-24C.
Cheapest best long term bet would be building a small frame (mini room) inside the garage around the tank with enough room for you to watch then insulating the mini room and heating that with a room heater or just a normal aquarium heater. the frame would cost around 40$ to build and another $20 to insulate.
Only other option I can think of is covering the back and sides of the aquarium with insulating foam which I hate else you cover the foam with a frame.
Cheapest best long term bet would be building a small frame (mini room) inside the garage around the tank with enough room for you to watch then insulating the mini room and heating that with a room heater or just a normal aquarium heater. the frame would cost around 40$ to build and another $20 to insulate.
Only other option I can think of is covering the back and sides of the aquarium with insulating foam which I hate else you cover the foam with a frame.
I just googled PA winters gets pretty cold. Avg of 30 F during winters. Similar temps to west coast Canada winters.
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Double layer insulation on a little room or frame built around the tank cheapest way. its that or insulate the whole room, if you plan on add more tanks might be better to do it now and save but if just the one I cant see any cheaper way that will give the same outcome.
I live in Ohio and I have a heated garage. I don't have a tank in the garage but the heater hangs from the ceiling of the garage and is very effective at keeping the garage at whatever temperature I set. When I open my garage in the winter, the heater quickly brings the temp back up after I close it. Also my electric bill isn't bad at all. I use a 1000W titanium heater in my 210 gallon. I think the combo of these 2 would work. My place is heavily insulated and it's a green build so it was made to be efficient. I also agree with Squirtle. Framing, insulating, and heating a smaller space would be more cost effective. 1000+ watt heaters running continuously can get very expensive!
I think you are going to get a double wammy with that tank in the garage. Have you thought about how you will keep the temp down in the summer? My 500 is built in the wall of my living-room with an access door to get behind it so it is pretty much sealed in. I've had issues with the tank hitting 90 F when the house air conditioner wasn't on. I battled with higher than normal tank temps all summer. I think your tank will be super heated in garage this summer.
Furnace for winter, air conditioner for winter. I live in Iowa, had my tanks in garage most of winter. Had to feed wood burner every 4 hrs to keep tanks from dropping below 75