Radiant Tank Heating?

[johnnymax]

I am needing to set up a couple of grow-out tanks in my garage. I am going to use 275 gallon IBC Totes because they are so cheap 50 bucks.
My question is heating. I was going to build a heater with a heating element on a temp controller with the element mounted in PVC pipe and use a pump to circulate water through it.
My concern is pump failure causing the water to boil in the PVC pipe while I am away.

Does anyone know anything about radiant floor heating?
I would like to set up a heating area on top of foam insulation under the tank using nichrome resistance wire.
Is it possible to control the amps to the wire so it gets warm and not glowing read? How many amps would it be for warming?
I think this would be the ultimate way to heat a tank because heat rises and there will be no moving parts to wear out.
I was wondering how to control the amps going to the wire so the wire gets warn and not glowing red.
I do not want the wires to glow red and melt stuff.
Is this even possible?

 

[johnnymax]

I may just get a radiant floor heating kit from eBay.
The footprint of the 275 gallon tore is 10sf, so this should work perfect.

Electric Tile Radiant Warm Floor Heated Kit 10 sqft With Thermostat UL Listed | eBay

【LARGE AREA COVER】- Min. Bending Radius: 1.6", this product is with high flexibility. Area Coverage 35-65 sqft 25-55 sqft 20-40 sqft 18-35 sqft 15-25 sqft 10-20 sqft. Fast to install with an alarm & 2 rolls of cuttable cable guides for labor-saving.

www.ebay.com

 

[Canoeist]

Very interested in the results. Would the thermostat temp sensor be able to be submerged?

 

[johnnymax]

Very interested in the results. Would the thermostat temp sensor be able to be submerged?

I was thinking about taping the probe to the outside of the tank and tape insulation over it.

 

[Matteus]

I was thinking about taping the probe to the outside of the tank and tape insulation over it.

I have obviously never done this but my hesitation of the exterior probe would be the variance in the ambient room temp vs. The temp of the water through the material of the tote. I think it would be too much of a variance to be able to dial down and have an accurate water temp based on the probes location if it is on the exterior of the tote. I honestly think you would be better off having the probe submerged in the water if possible.

what are you growing out in these totes, your tilapia? Just trying to understand what temp you are aiming for and how much of a shift in temp you are willing to experience before the heating element turns on and off.I suppose that would be mitigated with whatever controller you are using though.

 

[johnnymax]

I understand your concern, But I have done this on thousand gallon fermenters when I had a brewery. The fermenters were made of 1/4" thick poly (much thicker than the this plastic used in the totes.)
The key is the insulation on the outside insulating the probe from the room temperture.

Yes, I am having to move some of my tilapia out pretty soon as my tank is getting to have a high fish load.
I am just wanting the heat to come on if the water temp drops below 65. Strickly a safety precaution.

 

[Matteus]

I understand your concern, But I have done this on thousand gallon fermenters when I had a brewery. The fermenters were made of 1/4" thick poly (much thicker than the this plastic used in the totes.)
The key is the insulation on the outside insulating the probe from the room temperture.

Yes, I am having to move some of my tilapia out pretty soon as my tank is getting to have a high fish load.
I am just wanting the heat to come on if the water temp drops below 65. Strickly a safety precaution.

Awesome. I would love it if you post progress on this then. I want to learn from you. Also where do you get these totes for $50. I want in. Lol

 

[johnnymax]

Awesome. I would love it if you post progress on this then. I want to learn from you. Also where do you get these totes for $50. I want in. Lol

I just found some used ones locally on facebook marketplace. I contacted the seller who has a bunch and I plan on picking it up this weekend.
This is the picture from the ad

They may not be too pretty, buy it will work.
I also see them on craigs list

 

[Yulli]

you can theoretically use an Inkbird 308 or similar controller to run this. It would give you a temp probe for the water.

 

[johnnymax]

you can theoretically use an Inkbird 308 or similar controller to run this. It would give you a temp probe for the water.

I assume I could, even if I had to use a relay. Not sure.