Help keeping a tank warm

[piscavore pisces]

I am going to set up a 5'Lx2.5'Wx2'H tank in my garage. I live in N. California and it doesn't get freezing in winter but it does get in to the 50's easy. How do some of you guys with tanks in your garages keep the tank insulated during the colder months? I was thinking of putting foam on the back and sides. How should I attach the foam? Any other suggestions in insulating the tank so it doesn't loose too much heat from the heater? I don't want to run up my electric bill too much with the heaters on 24/7 in the tank. Any tips or suggestions will be much appreciated.

 

[FishGoneWild]

Get acrylic since acrylic traps heat better. Cover all opennings and avoid placing tank near direct openning.

 

[ercnan]

I am going to set up a 5'Lx2.5'Wx2'H tank in my garage. I live in N. California and it doesn't get freezing in winter but it does get in to the 50's easy. How do some of you guys with tanks in your garages keep the tank insulated during the colder months? I was thinking of putting foam on the back and sides. How should I attach the foam? Any other suggestions in insulating the tank so it doesn't loose too much heat from the heater? I don't want to run up my electric bill too much with the heaters on 24/7 in the tank. Any tips or suggestions will be much appreciated.

Glass is a pretty good insulator on it's own, but if you want to add foam, go for it. Cut panels the size of the tank and use duct to hold them together.
If it's in the garage where you won't be viewing it all the time, cover the whole thing, and make a panel on the front that you remove to view.
Most of your heat loss will be out the top, so pay attention to that, being careful not to make it so confined as to limit gas exchange.

 

[Potts050]

Glass is a pretty good insulator on it's own, but if you want to add foam, go for it. Cut panels the size of the tank and use duct to hold them together.
If it's in the garage where you won't be viewing it all the time, cover the whole thing, and make a panel on the front that you remove to view.
Most of your heat loss will be out the top, so pay attention to that, being careful not to make it so confined as to limit gas exchange.

If you are using aeration then gas exchange wont be a problem even with an insulating cover. What kind of fish do you want to keep in your garage...and what kind of car do you keep in your....?

 

[piscavore pisces]

I have a glass tank already so acrylic isn't an option. I haven't decided what I'm going to stock it with yet. My garage is kind of a hangout with an old couch and all that. No cars in the garage.

 

[Nic]

add a extra heater in the winter months

 

[basslover34]

Why not just add a small space heater into the garage... should provide enough ambient temperature to keep the normal summer set up working as normal, AND your hang out will be warm enough as well ... It's cheaper to heat the space than the water

 

[ercnan]

Why not just add a small space heater into the garage... should provide enough ambient temperature to keep the normal summer set up working as normal, AND your hang out will be warm enough as well ... It's cheaper to heat the space than the water

I agree, I originally assumed a "garage", not an unheated hangout with a couch.
Heat the space, and make the "hangout" a fish room.

 

[john C]

just finished my fish room in basement and it is cold down there. looking in to a Eden Pure space heater. they are suppose to be the most cost efficient space heater out on the market. however a little pricey, but for my set up i think would work well.

 

[piscavore pisces]

Why not just add a small space heater into the garage... should provide enough ambient temperature to keep the normal summer set up working as normal, AND your hang out will be warm enough as well ... It's cheaper to heat the space than the water

I've thought of a space heater. I just thought it might be more expensive on the energy bill but I have no experience with fish tanks in non isulated rooms. Maybe if I add more tanks down there it would make more sense to heat the space instead of the water but for just one tank I'm not sure yet. Maybe I'll try heating the water for one month and then the space for the next month and see which is actually cheaper.

I agree, I originally assumed a "garage", not an unheated hangout with a couch.
Heat the space, and make the "hangout" a fish room.

My bad I should have been more specific. Yea when someone says garage you think of a place where they park their car. I have a small house so the garage is the only place for the tank. All my other wall space inside is taken. I plan on adding more tanks just have to convince the wifey. I even painted the walls and ceilings in there with enamel paint to help with the extra moisture thats going to be present because of the fish tanks.

just finished my fish room in basement and it is cold down there. looking in to a Eden Pure space heater. they are suppose to be the most cost efficient space heater out on the market. however a little pricey, but for my set up i think would work well.

I'll look in to those Eden Pure heaters you're talking about.