So, in exploring my options for heating the 1200 gal or whatever it is now tank, I came accross a 60,000BTU propane swimming pool heater for $75.00. My question is whether anyone has used one on a tank before? It's got a thermostat and can be adjusted down to 70 degrees. He said that using it in the summer, the large tank that comes with it lasts 4-5 months of continual use, and costs $70 to fill with propane. The guts are stainless steel, and he said the inlets etc are all pvc. Anyone see any reason why this wouldn't work?
propane pool heater
- Thread starter wizzin
- Start date
I think that is extreme overkill. It turns out to be about 15 watts per gallon. You have to worry about venting the exhaust--since it will build up carbon monoxide. Also, it was designed to work on a much larger body of water. It will have to cycle on and off a lot more frequently, leading to increased wear. I'd worry about the temperature most. You pumps will be a lot smaller than a pool's, so water going through the heater will be quite hot on exit. This will cause hot spots and the temperature could overshoot the setpoint by a significant amount because of insufficient mixing. Changes would be very rapid, frequent, and large. I would expect that they would be at least 2-3 degrees, but if it turned out to be more, i wouldn't be surprised.
I think you'd be better off going with a 2-3 500 Watt electric heaters. They fluctuate, but slower and less frequently, which is more like swimming from a warm part of the lake to a cooler part.
Brandon
PS I am really jealous of your tank.
I think you'd be better off going with a 2-3 500 Watt electric heaters. They fluctuate, but slower and less frequently, which is more like swimming from a warm part of the lake to a cooler part.
Brandon
PS I am really jealous of your tank.
cbfreder;702987; said:
Thanks. I'm agreeing with you on this one. I'm jumping the gun and I said I wouldn't. I know not to size the heater until I know the temp difference. The bkg is a muddy riverbank look. Achieved with foam and spray foam to shape it, then covering the entire thing in a thinned layer of cement, then sealing with sanitred (dark brown) and finally while the sanitred is still wet, sprinkling some small river stones and sand on it very sparsely. Substrate is 3 or 4 different sized river stones including some large melon sized ones. Large driftwood pieces etc. etc. etc.