Custom stand... heat inside the stand?

[four_by_ken]

Just tossing ideas around...

So, I am going to be making two custom stands for two 84x18 tanks.  There will be a sump/filter system under the tanks.

My #1 goal, other than holding the tank up, will be to fit as large of a sump system as I can in the stand.  When I start the filter system, I will create a new DIY thread.  I want as much extra water as possible.

Because these tanks are in my basement, heating the entire room isnt an option.  Its an unfinished wide open basement.

So, I was thinking... since I will be building a custom stand... why not heat the air under the stand.  This would heat the water in the sump and also the bottom of the tank.

That being said... I cant really figure a safe way to do this.  I just dont trust a space heater running all the time.  I also thought about a heat bulb/light... like what is used for reptiles and chickens.

It would be a neat idea if I could figure out how to do it.  Of course the stand would have to be fully enclosed.  I also think that moisture would be an issue because of this.

Main reason for this would be to cut the cost of heating... not sure either idea would cut costs.

[djlamonica]

Why wouldn't you just put a large heater in the sump?

[four_by_ken]

Why wouldn't you just put a large heater in the sump?

That is what I am doing as of right now.  Likely have the same (3) 250watt heaters from my current tank in the sump.


I am just thinking out loud with this thread... nothing more.

[atmagoulick]

Metal halide generates a lot of heat.  For example, a 175 watt bulb is as hot as an iron.  a 400 watt bulb is twice as hot as an iron.  The ballast for the bulb get hot also.  They could easily heat a small aquarium.  Sound like a fun project, just be careful.  Metal halide have been known to cause a fires.  I don't use heaters for South and Central American cichlids.

[four_by_ken]

Yes, fire is my biggest fear.   The main reason I will probably not do anything like this.

[rcombs]

humidity wont be an issue if you dry-loc stand. I would also still have a couple breather holes just so it would minimize the pooling of water inside the stand that drips down the sides. I would not enclose it completely.

A Large heater will work just fine. My buddy has a 180 gallon reef with a 75 gallon sump in his system. Works fine and keeps water at 81.

[four_by_ken]

humidity wont be an issue if you dry-loc stand. I would also still have a couple breather holes just so it would minimize the pooling of water inside the stand that drips down the sides. I would not enclose it completely.

A Large heater will work just fine. My buddy has a 180 gallon reef with a 75 gallon sump in his system. Works fine and keeps water at 81.

I'm not worried about being able to heat the tank.  I do have to use more heaters than most as my basement is VERY cold in the winter.  I have 750watts of heaters in my 140 and in the same in my 150 gallon.  I dont like to use a single large heater... the thoughts of malfunctioning heaters freaks me out.  If one of my 250 watt malfunctions, it wont kill my fish.

[djlamonica]

Metal halide generates a lot of heat.  For example, a 175 watt bulb is as hot as an iron.  a 400 watt bulb is twice as hot as an iron.  The ballast for the bulb get hot also.  They could easily heat a small aquarium.  Sound like a fun project, just be careful.  Metal halide have been known to cause a fires.  I don't use heaters for South and Central American cichlids.

This confuses me a lot of souths and centrals need much higher temps then old worlds. 

[danielratti]

Not to go off topic but 81 way to high for a reef tank 77.2 is ideal for coral and fish to do well. Then at night is the other issue without the light giving a heat source where will heat come from?

[four_by_ken]

If the light was under the tank, it would be on all the time.

[danielratti]

Ok but bacterica grows best in the dark. So having that light on 24 hours a day little bacterica will grow. That'swhy the lights are ran in reverse with refugims

[rcombs]

Not to go off topic but 81 way to high for a reef tank 77.2 is ideal for coral and fish to do well. Then at night is the other issue without the light giving a heat source where will heat come from?

My reef thrived at 81. There is nothing wrong with 81. Corals grow awesome. Great color. its perfect. (7 Years in reef keeping). Check out this article. Reef is a 180, 75 gal sump, 3 radion LED lights.

http://www.ronshimek.com/salinity_temperature.html

[Marty]

I suspect the most efficient way to heat your tank would be a submersed heater as opposed to heating the air.  Make sure the top is sealed up as much as possible to prevent heat loss.  You could also put styrofoam underneath and behind the tank (if it's against the wall and you have a background) to cut down on heat loss.

I would think you could probably cut back on the amount of heaters/wattage you have as well.  I have two 500 watt heaters on my 400 gallon, and they're rarely both on at the same time.

[four_by_ken]

Must be that my basement is colder than most.  I really dont heat it much.  With a pellet stove running on the main floor, the furnace hardly comes on... hardly any heat in the basement.  I would say it stays in the low 60s, at most.  I'll have to put a thermometer down there... now I am curious.

[Ron]

100%, it's more effective to heat the tank than the air surrounding it in this case.

To save on energy, instead spend time cutting styrosheets to surround the outsides of the tanks and help cut energy loss. Also be sure that the lids are a tight fit and if not, try to improve those as well.