Heating tanks or heating the room?

[lightaddict08]

So I've been in the works of setting up additional tanks for holding mothers and fry and I've been thinking about the concept of heating a room to the required temperature rather than multiple tank heaters. By heating each tank I know two heaters are generally used in case of one failing. For running multiple tanks this can get both costly and power outlets can run scarce/overloaded. For using a small, centrally headed room you should have a much more constant temperature of your water. I would assume with this method a backup heater would be used in each tank.

I've got an oversized utility room that houses my furnace that runs much warmer than the rest of my house that I'm thinking of turning the other half of the room into a central fish location because of the heat and the 2x4 stands wouldn't look out of place. It's got a faucet and a drain for water changes and everything. I'm almost about the break out my Thermodynamics books to begin doing the calculations, but I'm curious what everybody here does for their fish room, heat the tanks or heat the room? Which do you find more cost effective?

[jcunningham0295]

Currently I am heating all my tanks, however this is not cost effective or ideal.  Heating the room is much more practical.  Also, you don't have to deal with failed heater issues.  This is something I really need to work on.

[danielratti]

I will use heaters on tanks that are close to the ground but I heat the room. For those tanks I use way undersized heaters for the tank and if it fails it fails. My room i have a space heater and a gas fireplace. The fireplace gets the room up to like 100 in maybe 20 min with the door closed. I generally keep the room around 77 easily and the space heater will heat it up to 78 and turn back on when it goes to 76. My electric bill actually went down from me switching to a different space heater and use the fireplace when I am home.

[Regalblue]

I heat the room with a combination of a space heater & the furnace.  But I do have a few heaters running in some tanks.

[jamarini]

I converted to a ventless natural gas heater in my fishroom to eliminate issues with malfunctioning heaters and to take advantage of the overall lower cost of heating with natural gas vs. electricity (in terms of BTUs).  It took about 2 years to pay off and I've been saving $$$ ever since.  The ventless natural gas heaters are available at most building supply houses such as Menard's, Home Depot and Lowe's but can be found elsewhere.  I did my own research online and consulted with the mfr's. technical support to size my room appropriately.  Good luck with your decision.

[greg y]

I would imagine water change temp drops would take a lot longer to come back to room temp. Something to consider

[danielratti]

I feel the is irrelevent many fish will spawn with a drop in temp as it is warming back up

[Johnnyhigh5]

I use fish tank heaters at the moment.  I have my tanks all through the house since I don't have a basement. I've been thinking of doing space heaters in certain areas with tanks close together. Also been thinking of running one central air pump instead of 8 or 9 different ones to help save money on electricity.

[four_by_ken]

If you have the ability/option to heat a room... thats the way to go for sure.