carla Posted January 21, 2007 Report Share Posted January 21, 2007 After reading all the solutions to the hot fishtank, I am wondering if you all brainstorming together can come up with the ultimate solution to the far too cold fishtank in the outdoor fishroom. Let's get in early this year so I don't have to run around frantically at dark and try to find heaters, as the temp is dropping fast. The fishroom is outside and double wall glas/plastic. It is no problem in clear nights as the hot days heat up everything enough to keep fish from dying in the cold night. What is much more of a problem are cloudy southwesterlies. The following solution has been tried: Single electric heaters in the tanks of the most susceptible species. These solutions are mulled over currently: Gas heater for the whole room for cold nights. Bubblewrap tanks. Create a separate compartment for fish that need warmer and heat that only. All solutions seem not to be perfect. Each one has drawbacks. What are your good ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarium Dude Posted January 21, 2007 Report Share Posted January 21, 2007 Just put in a heater (or have I missed something??????) :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 21, 2007 Report Share Posted January 21, 2007 If the heaterstat in the tank is unable to keep up with the chill of the room (which is what I am assuming the problem is) I suggest you pack polystyrene around the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted January 21, 2007 Report Share Posted January 21, 2007 I don't have this problem with mine but if the heater can't keep up it may not have enough wattage. I have seen other fish keepers pack polystyrene around three sides of their tanks and some even put woollen blankets over the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herefishiefishie Posted January 21, 2007 Report Share Posted January 21, 2007 I have seen other fish keepers pack polystyrene around three sides of their tanks and some even put woollen blankets over the top. What and give them a pillow & tuck them in? Glad I don't have to worry to much about the cold. Frenchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carla Posted January 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 Just put in a heater (or have I missed something??????) :lol: :lol: No - not really. Just when you have to put heaters in many tanks then you very fast reach quite high wattage over all which not only costs heaps but also puts a strain on the cables. If the heaterstat in the tank is unable to keep up with the chill of the room (which is what I am assuming the problem is) I suggest you pack polystyrene around the tank. The problem is not "the tank" Caryl its "all these tanks", hence the idea of heating the room rather than the tanks. However since it is outside and cannot be insulated any more except with a bubblewrap curtain or similar I will have to insulate the tanks in such a manner that I can still get at them for looking, cleaning, feeding, water changes etc. I thought some others might have solved these problems already? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimTam22 Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 how many tanks do you have in this room? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 I reckon it would be easiest and best to heat the whole room. Just buy a 1kw heater, and set it up to heat the room. Not sure how you control the temp in it though... Attach it to a temperature controller somehow i guess. Not too up on that sorta stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carla Posted January 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 Yes heat the whole room is what we thought after the single heater experience last winter didn't go too well. Have been looking on TM for gas heaters with and without chimney and kerosene heaters. has anybody any experience with that sort of thing? And can anybody calculate what would be more efficient? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jn Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 Ok.. this might sound crazy but here's a thought. Let me start by saying I live on a lifestyle block (aka: pseudo-farmer!) So if I get his right your fish room sounds like a glass house? I believe in the 'old days' glass houses were kept warmer by having a large compost pile in them. Compost gives off heat as things breakdown (if it's done properly) I don't know how much heat or how big a pile would have to be to make a difference. Nor how much spare room you have. Its just an idea. But you go to a landscape supply place in the winter and the compost heaps are always steaming. It's a low tech idea. A bonus is you'd have compost :-? I guess the other important thing would seem to be that all air gaps are sealed as well as possible. Like mounding soil around the bottom edges so the wind doesn't get in. Also since heat rises. Can you put extra insulation on the roof or in the ceiling for the winter? Can you plant some screening stuff on the windy side to keep some wind off the fish room? Maybe some polystyrene panels inside on the south wall? (like that expol stuff they sell?) or some straw bales stacked outside the south just for the winter to keep wind off the shed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 We use oil column heaters in our house when needed during winter. We just put a thermostat on the wall. Don't know about the power cost though- we don't pay power bills. Probably the reason I can get away with adding more tanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 You can get digital room thermostats for $50-150 (bi-metal ones for $30), which need to be wired in manually, but connect to a electric fan heater, and your fishroom will always be kept at the same temp. If you dont want to use too much power, set it at 20C, that way it'll only be on when the room gets real cold. I know its not super cheap, but its a permanent solution, and much cheaper than individual heaters. Alternatively as a temporary measure for the cold only nights, then just a room heater on low, you'd just want to watch the temp the first night so you knew what the temp was like, or get one that has a proper thermostat on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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