How do I insulate this?

[Juxtaroberto]

I'm gonna buy this trough (http://www.gemplers.com/product/G82250/400-Gallon-Durapride-Stock-Tank) and use it as a sort of indoor pond (at least now I can tell all my friends I have a pool in my room), but I was wondering what the best way to insulate it would be. I've seen flat pieces of insulation, but is there anything that will mold in shape, or something?

I have no clue whatsoever how to go about this. Any ideas?

 

[LivingForTheFuture]

Those are made for outside I wouldn't put in your room unless you live in the basement I have seen large tanks warp floors after awhile and am sure you don't want your mom after 4-5 years forking out tons of money to get her floor fixed. As far as insulating go I wouldn't worry about it... Unless it was going outside. A suggestion to decorate the outside for inside purpose would be take a styrofoam block and cut out pieces to make it look like rocks paint them gray and add some dimension to them with a little white to make them look like snow is on them or something or make it kinda of a jungle them with green on the rocks to imitate moss. Although like I said a few water spills on your ma's floor and that weight of the tank will warp the floor.

 

[Ricochet]

Years ago, while stationed in Geneva, I helped a buddy living just over the border in Lully, Haute-Savoie (as in the French Alps) build an indoor snake pit for his big pythons in his basement... I **** you not!

First, we wrapped two layers of cheap thin fiberglass thermal insulation around the sides and over the bottom of a giant plastic horse trough; securing each layer with duct tape. Second, we sprayed foam insulation over it. Third, spray painted it with gray and black Krylon… it looked just like rock when we were finished.

It is very important to insulate the bottom; if you are clever and careful you can keep it very flat and level… we had to use more duct tape to mold it correctly and when the foam was nearly dry after spraying we flipped it over unto cut-opened refrigerator boxes, used a level, and pressed down on the sides that were not even until we are pretty much square and level all the way around. It took us a Sunday afternoon to complete. We literally sprayed painted over the foam as soon as we leveled the bottom and it was dry to the touch; maybe should have waited a little bit longer but it worked.

Similar Products That We Used:

Insulation:
http://images.lowes.com/general/f/fibrgls_roll.jpg

Spray Foam Insulation:
http://www.dap.com/product_details.aspx?product_id=10

Krylon Waterproof Spray Paint:
http://www.krylon.com/products/fusion_for_plastic/


***Beware! It can be messy and toxic when applying so do it outside in the open air. Good luck!***

 

[dawnmarie]

I did somethig real similar once.
Flip the tank face down.
Buy a cheap kidde pool that fits just inside the lip on you pond . If it is to large in diameter thats OK just cut the side and overlap the ends and duct tape.
Cut out the bottom and discard.
Buy a 2 part liquid foam kit online, mix according to directions and fill the kidde pool encasing your pond in foam.
HINT: Don't try to fill it all at once as the foam expands considerable. Mix enough to fill just the sides and fill the rest second.
I added a drain in the bottom immediately turned it 90 degrees and ran it out thru the side/bottom edge of kidde pool. Kind of a poor mans hot tub.
Hope this helps, Chris

 

[Pharaoh]

I kinda like the styrene underneath the tub and the indoor fiberglass insulation to wrap around the tub.

 

[dawnmarie]

I kinda like the styrene underneath the tub and the indoor fiberglass insulation to wrap around the tub.

I agree Pharoah , That was my first try also. I eventually decided to go with the liquid urethane foam product for its higher R value, R-7 vs R-4 per inch, and because fiberglass insulation is a sponge and if it gets wet it is junk.

 

[Juxtaroberto]

Those are made for outside I wouldn't put in your room unless you live in the basement I have seen large tanks warp floors after awhile and am sure you don't want your mom after 4-5 years forking out tons of money to get her floor fixed. As far as insulating go I wouldn't worry about it... Unless it was going outside. A suggestion to decorate the outside for inside purpose would be take a styrofoam block and cut out pieces to make it look like rocks paint them gray and add some dimension to them with a little white to make them look like snow is on them or something or make it kinda of a jungle them with green on the rocks to imitate moss. Although like I said a few water spills on your ma's floor and that weight of the tank will warp the floor.

What if the area where we're gonna put it is over this small space in the basement that we can support with concrete blocks? Will the blocks help at all?

 

[Juxtaroberto]

I kinda like the styrene underneath the tub and the indoor fiberglass insulation to wrap around the tub.

I like the simplicity of this. See, I figured there must be some kind of insulation that would be "wrappable," I just didn't know it what it was called.

Years ago, while stationed in Geneva, I helped a buddy living just over the border in Lully, Haute-Savoie (as in the French Alps) build an indoor snake pit for his big pythons in his basement... I **** you not!

First, we wrapped two layers of cheap thin fiberglass thermal insulation around the sides and over the bottom of a giant plastic horse trough; securing each layer with duct tape. Second, we sprayed foam insulation over it. Third, spray painted it with gray and black Krylon… it looked just like rock when we were finished.

It is very important to insulate the bottom; if you are clever and careful you can keep it very flat and level… we had to use more duct tape to mold it correctly and when the foam was nearly dry after spraying we flipped it over unto cut-opened refrigerator boxes, used a level, and pressed down on the sides that were not even until we are pretty much square and level all the way around. It took us a Sunday afternoon to complete. We literally sprayed painted over the foam as soon as we leveled the bottom and it was dry to the touch; maybe should have waited a little bit longer but it worked.

Similar Products That We Used:

Insulation:
http://images.lowes.com/general/f/fibrgls_roll.jpg

Spray Foam Insulation:
http://www.dap.com/product_details.aspx?product_id=10

Krylon Waterproof Spray Paint:
http://www.krylon.com/products/fusion_for_plastic/


***Beware! It can be messy and toxic when applying so do it outside in the open air. Good luck!***

Wow, that is so cool! I'm seriously thinking about going the extra mile if it'll help keep the heating bill down.

 

[Pharaoh]

I would just make sure that you wrap the insulation with visqueen to keep it dry if any splashes were to happen.