Alternate heat sources for large tanks

[wmilas]

So I'm laying out my 600 display/900 build and I realized I'll probably need half a circuit or a whole one just for the heaters. Display is in the basement and I'm in the north so the tanks going to drop when the lights go off.

As I was looking at where the fishroom will be and the adjoining mechanical room, It dawned on me that when the plumbers installed a new power vent hot water heater last year the also installed a sort of closed loop with a separate pump that circulates hot water through the hot water pipes upstairs to the second floor so there is "instant" hot water. This pump is on a timer so that hot water is available instantly in the morning and evening for showers, ect.

That got me thinking... Has anyone tried the same thing with a titanium element for their reef? I'm not sure how the plumbing would work as the house pipes are copper and I don't want copper anywhere near the sump. Interfacing the copper to titanium a ways out and back I guess is doable but I'm not sure of the cost.

The heater is extremely efficient (paid a ton for it) and runs off natural gas. I'm thinking heating the tank this way with a solonoid of some sort might save a bunch of energy... then again maybe I'm trying to over engineer this.

Any one try this or is this sound too silly?

 

[Harleyguy]

I think that sounds like a really cool idea. As for hooking it up. you could get a copper to PVC T fitting, then Hook the PVC up to the Titanium coil. The other thing you could do to help a little... If you are planning or having a grow-out tank, run it on reverse cycle.

 

[ReefingBuddha]

I think a titanium heat exchanger is exactly what your looking for. Aquatic eco has some

here's the link. There are a few options.
http://aquaticeco.resultspage.com/search?w=heat+exchanger&Image3.x=0&Image3.y=0&Image3=Go!

good luck man... though an excuse for a nice grow out tank sounds better to me

 

[wmilas]

I am planning on having separate tanks fro sump, fuge, and grow out (along with isolation). I was planning on having the fuge run a 16 to 18 hour cycle directly opposite the main display. The grow out will run opposite too, although in the beginning it wont have much of anything in it. The fuge will not have all that much light, the Main display will be primarily t5, as will the grow out. The tank will be acrylic so it will insulate better than glass.

I'm having a hard time judging exactly what the thermal load is going to be for both heating and cooling. At this point I think I'm going to set the system up with fresh water and watch the thermal load a week or two with the dehumidifier running (to load hot air into the fishroom) and see what happens. If I'm a net positive thermally I'll prolly just shove a few regular heaters in case of emergency. I'll then work on the cooling (leaning towards a split ac unit for summer and a fresh air intake/vent for winter). If I'm a net negative I think I'll try the heat exchanger.... Its got to be cheaper.