humvee Posted March 15, 2009 Report Share Posted March 15, 2009 Just in the process of arranging a new tank to be built it will be 145cm L x 39cm W x 45cm H so quite long compared to its width and was wonder about heating the tank from underneath instead of 2 internal heaters. Has any one used under floor heating like hotwire or warmup to make a custom sized under tank heater? If so how did you do it what is your setup like what brands/products did you use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted March 15, 2009 Report Share Posted March 15, 2009 Just in the process of arranging a new tank to be built it will be 145cm L x 39cm W x 45cm H so quite long compared to its width and was wonder about heating the tank from underneath instead of 2 internal heaters. Has any one used under floor heating like hotwire or warmup to make a custom sized under tank heater? If so how did you do it what is your setup like what brands/products did you use? There's a thread somewhere on here explaining how Caryl did it... I can't seem to find it at the moment but it is there somewhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 15, 2009 Report Share Posted March 15, 2009 Yeah we built our own using wire, like that in electric blankets, laid out on Pinex. We went to Argus Heating (I think) told them the length and the power required and they worked out the suitable cable to do that, put the mains on, and sealed it (you need special tools to do that). Your biggest problem will be finding a thermostat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted March 15, 2009 Report Share Posted March 15, 2009 It will be fine if there's no gravel or if an under gravel filter is used. If there's just gravel with no water flow through it there may be too much insulation to the water. Then the base glass will get too hot and you risk cracking the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted March 15, 2009 Report Share Posted March 15, 2009 saw a huge fishroom years ago done by a Reg Adams here in tauranga 8 guage fencing wire in sandbed with tanks on top run off a young arc welder, temp was determined by the length of wire he used don't know how long it lasted though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted March 15, 2009 Report Share Posted March 15, 2009 I saw that also but didn't know that was how it was heated. I have two tanks heated with undertank heaters made by Argosy with thermostats by love from Homershams. One is divided int 6 bare bottom breeding tanks and the other with about 40mm of sand for growing plants. The thermostat has a hysteresis of 1 deg C but the temperature range is way more than that because of the insulating effect of the sand. You would need to not add too much gravel/sand and keep it spread evenly rather than landscaped or you will get different heats and therefore expansion/contraction on the base glass and risk breakage. Mine both work well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 15, 2009 Report Share Posted March 15, 2009 Argosy,that was the name, not Argus (I almost got it right!). Our wires sit on top of the Pinex, evenly coiled over the whole base. Tank sits on top with a lot of gravel init. It has been running over 10 years now. Only problem we had was recently the thermostat cooked a few fish and had to be replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simian Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 I use a mirror demister for one of mine, only about the equivalent of 100watts but it seems to work pretty well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 They made mine up to the footprint and wattage I requested and the wires were all encased in foil like an electric blanket. Works well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humvee Posted March 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 What do you use as a thermostat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 The cheapest would be an old bimetalic aquarium thermostat. I use an electronic love one from Homershams which was around $120 I think. It regulates the temperature with a hysteresis of one degree and displays the actual temperature. I have one tank divided into 6 compartments and controlled by one thermostat. The temperature can be regulated by having different depths of water. The tanks are 1200x450x400 and the heater is 300watts and the same size as the tank footprint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 Ours is using the old bimetallic thermostat but I'm not sure if you can buy them anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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