help with a unique heating situation

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
S

stealthyhunter

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 29, 2012
5
0
1
indiana
I have a 220 gal tank which is built into the wall between the garage and den. I am running a 55g sump filter which does a great job. The tank actually is in the garage with the face in the wall. My garage is not heated and I now have native fish in this tank which do not require any heating. I am considering changing this set up to a more tropical set up. The tank now stays between 45-55°f in the winter and between 65-80°f in the summer.
My question is what would be the best way to heat this tank? I would like to keep the heater(s) in the sump or in-line on the return. My guess is the standard 3 watts per gal. Will not be enough. How much more do I need?

Any input would be greatly appreciated,
Stealthy hunter
 
Havent had any real time experience with outdoor heating but i think the 3 watts per gallon would be struggling to keep up. i would suggest heating the garage if possible first, a simple electric heater that can keep the temp close, so your heater for the tank isnt on 24/7 and eliminates the chance of a wipe out from failed equipment.
Second idea If you can store your fish in a tub for a few days why dont you try an inline/in wetbox heater for a outdoor pond and see if keeps it at temp and then if does you can add thermal padding to glass to retain the heat.
hope this is of some use to you.
 
I would do what fishnutham suggests but I would take it a bit further. I was a contractor for 23 years so I would build a temporary wall around it with door access and heat that space at least then it would be far more stable with less fluctuations in temp. for both winter and summer. Tropical fish do not like a wide range of temp. swings. Also I use my garage for all kinds of things so I would want the walls to keep the fumes away.
 
I do have the glass insulated with 1/2" rigid foam.heating the garage is not an option as there is not room. The garage does stay around 60°f even in the cold winter months. My idea was to add 2 400watt heaters to the sump set to about 65° and a couple inline heaters on the return lines set to 75°
Do ya think that would work?

Stealthy hunter
 
My basement gets into the high 50'sF in winter, and I use 2 X 300 watt heaters on each bank of 300 gal of tanks (with sumps), it works fine, although my heating bill jumps about $200 per month higher in winter just for the tanks.
I converted one north wall bank to Uruguayan fish, which don't need a heater (they easily water temps in the 50sF).
004.jpg
 
Heating the air in the garage would be a waste of energy. Water transfers heat much more efficiently than air, so you are much better off heating the water only. Also, by heating the garage (or even a small walled-off portion) you are vastly increasing the surface area that loses heat versus just your tank.

I have a 135 in my garage that runs off the same sump as my living room tank - between the two tanks and the sump (which is in the unheated crawl-space) they total about 500 gallons and I use 1100W of heat. Insulation is key - check out this thread:

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?521327-210G-Tank-with-a-300G-Sump

My other garage tanks (75 and 65) both use 3W/Gallon or less as well. I use 1" styrene insulation on any side not viewed and pipe insulation on all the hoses. Aluminized "bubble-wrap" insulation is great for wrapping canisters and insulating hard-to-reach stuff.
 
Dan F said:
Heating the air in the garage would be a waste of energy. Water transfers heat much more efficiently than air, so you are much better off heating the water only. Also, by heating the garage (or even a small walled-off portion) you are vastly increasing the surface area that loses heat versus just your tank.

I have a 135 in my garage that runs off the same sump as my living room tank - between the two tanks and the sump (which is in the unheated crawl-space) they total about 500 gallons and I use 1100W of heat. Insulation is key - check out this thread:

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?521327-210G-Tank-with-a-300G-Sump

My other garage tanks (75 and 65) both use 3W/Gallon or less as well. I use 1" styrene insulation on any side not viewed and pipe insulation on all the hoses. Aluminized "bubble-wrap" insulation is great for wrapping canisters and insulating hard-to-reach stuff.
Click to expand...

This!

To OP: If you are seeing over 10C variation/fluctuation in your aquarium water temperature, use >/=5W/gallon of heating. The water itself has very large thermal mass. I agree that it will take a lot to heat it to desired temperatures but once you reached it, the same rule applies: it will take a lot to cool it down as well. Unless you have free-flowing air going from one side of your tank to another, that is the only time I will suggest you heat the room but you cannot do that in the first place as you will have to close the room (garage) as well.
 
Why not use a water reservoir heater like the ones they use for horses. They are pretty powerful. I saw them at tracor supply yesterday for like $40 1800watts that should be more than enough. You would just need a temperature controller.

"I'm not ignorant. I just find certain types of ignorance amusing"
 
Dan F said:
Heating the air in the garage would be a waste of energy. Water transfers heat much more efficiently than air, so you are much better off heating the water only. Also, by heating the garage (or even a small walled-off portion) you are vastly increasing the surface area that loses heat versus just your tank.

I have a 135 in my garage that runs off the same sump as my living room tank - between the two tanks and the sump (which is in the unheated crawl-space) they total about 500 gallons and I use 1100W of heat. Insulation is key - check out this thread:

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?521327-210G-Tank-with-a-300G-Sump

My other garage tanks (75 and 65) both use 3W/Gallon or less as well. I use 1" styrene insulation on any side not viewed and pipe insulation on all the hoses. Aluminized "bubble-wrap" insulation is great for wrapping canisters and insulating hard-to-reach stuff.
Click to expand...

If you every feel like coming to Canada ill supply all the beer you can drink to do this in my garage .. amazing !
 
fishnutham said:
If you every feel like coming to Canada ill supply all the beer you can drink to do this in my garage .. amazing !
Click to expand...

In Canada, hell freezes over. Temperature does not fluctuate over 10C, it stays below -40C in winter! You are in the extremes. Hehehe...

Sent from my GT-N7000 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom