How are you guys heating your Saltwater bins that are outside?

[bozoreefer]

My two bins are outside in my backyard in a mini shed.

Due to this "winter" we've been having, the fluids are cold.


Id like to know how you guys are keeping your bins warm?

I'm trying to do daily 1.5 gallon saltwater changes and also ATO straight from the bin (going to hook up 2 high fail switches in a series to prevent the whole tank becoming FW tanks lol)

I have a 125 gallon tank + 40 gals in the sump. Will 1 gallon of cold NSW matter? I'm trying to just go for softies and hardy LPS at this point.


Thanks!

 

[m0nkie]

won't make a difference imo.. 1 gallon out of 165 is nothing

 

[bozoreefer]

won't make a difference imo.. 1 gallon out of 165 is nothing

Thanks for the response! Much appreciated!

Thats what I was thinking as well. I feel much better knowing that I dont have to spend more energy on heaters for each of the bins!


One thing less to worry about!


Thanks again!

 

[ChefZilla]

Thanks for the response! Much appreciated!

Thats what I was thinking as well. I feel much better knowing that I dont have to spend more energy on heaters for each of the bins!


One thing less to worry about!


Thanks again!

If it's in a shed.. go to harbor freight and buy a solar panel and hook up a heater. Sure it's pricey but don't need to worry about heating prices lol or just insulate the shed and use a space heater... or just get a heater.. but yeah 1 gallon of water shouldn't be too big of a issue unless it's near freezing numbers

 

[m0nkie]

or hook up a small 5-10 gallon container near the tank that automatically refills from the bin. That water would remain room temperature. Ready to use anytime and always full.

 

[iluvmyfishes]

I bring what I need to add inside in a bucket the night before so it's room temp.

 

[Roger30]

I bring what I need to add inside in a bucket the night before so it's room temp.

+1 I fill my 5 gallon jug and bring into my house the night before. Then fill my ato the next morning. I've had no problems with temp drops

 

[thetedinator]

I am keeping about 30 gallons heated and ready to go in case I have to make an emergency water change. My brute is in my attached garage. Without heat and with the weather lately, the temperature drops to the high 50's low 60's so I am using a small Finnex to keep at tank temperature.

 

[liquidgold]

I use the apex DOS for 5 gallon daily water change throughout the day. No need to heat saltwater if you are making frequent small volume water changes.

 

[keepLearning]

The water outside can be as cold as 40F. You have about 100 gallons at 80F. Here is a math problem for you.

What is the final temperature of the water if 1.5 gallons at 40F is poured into 100 gallons of water at 80F?

 

[m0nkie]

The water outside can be as cold as 40F. You have about 100 gallons at 80F. Here is a math problem for you.

What is the final temperature of the water if 1.5 gallons at 40F is poured into 100 gallons of water at 80F?

drops pencil... steps out of classroom. I'm here to fish, not to math!

 

[keepLearning]

Someone might be interested ; We reefers come from all different back ground. You never know.

drops pencil... steps out of classroom. I'm here to fish, not to math!

 

[laverda]

I have 200 gallon bin that was originally just to cure live rock for my new tank. I ended getting 6 fish and some large zoa rocks at RAP. I did not have room in my 29 gallon for them. The rock had been curing for a few months allready, so into the live rock bin they went. Sadly my new tank is still not set up, so they are in the bin still. I wraped the bin with three layers of insulation and cover it at night with a 1" sheet of styrofoam. It has two 300 watt heaters snd stays a nice 76 degrees.

 

[bozoreefer]

If it's in a shed.. go to harbor freight and buy a solar panel and hook up a heater. Sure it's pricey but don't need to worry about heating prices lol or just insulate the shed and use a space heater... or just get a heater.. but yeah 1 gallon of water shouldn't be too big of a issue unless it's near freezing numbers

or hook up a small 5-10 gallon container near the tank that automatically refills from the bin. That water would remain room temperature. Ready to use anytime and always full.

I think a better idea is to pump from bin to a RODI reservoir inside the house like m0nkie said! Thanks for the tips! Just need to work the float switch wiring!

 

[bozoreefer]

I bring what I need to add inside in a bucket the night before so it's room temp.

+1 I fill my 5 gallon jug and bring into my house the night before. Then fill my ato the next morning. I've had no problems with temp drops

This is what i've been doing as well haha! Great habit for maintenance and routine! But My back is bad and I cant be carrying stuff any more

I'm going to route it to a container thats sitting inside via BoB and float switches!

Thanks for the tip!

 

[MrSandman]

I also keep my saltwater in a storage shed outside but I don't let it sit for very long. I mix it the day before with a heater and Eheim pump and the most it will stay out there is 24 hours before I use it. I do 20% water changes every 2 weeks and if I don't heat it, it will be around 46 degrees. This will drop my tank temp around 6 degrees which is a little too much for me. Plus, I need to get it up to temperature if I want it to mix properly and adjust salinity.

 

[bozoreefer]

The water outside can be as cold as 40F. You have about 100 gallons at 80F. Here is a math problem for you.

What is the final temperature of the water if 1.5 gallons at 40F is poured into 100 gallons of water at 80F?

I want to see the answers people come up with! Takes me back to college days!

 

[bozoreefer]

I have 200 gallon bin that was originally just to cure live rock for my new tank. I ended getting 6 fish and some large zoa rocks at RAP. I did not have room in my 29 gallon for them. The rock had been curing for a few months allready, so into the live rock bin they went. Sadly my new tank is still not set up, so they are in the bin still. I wraped the bin with three layers of insulation and cover it at night with a 1" sheet of styrofoam. It has two 300 watt heaters snd stays a nice 76 degrees.

Nice! You covered all 5 sides. Around and top?


Thanks!

 

[bozoreefer]

I also keep my saltwater in a storage shed outside but I don't let it sit for very long. I mix it the day before with a heater and Eheim pump and the most it will stay out there is 24 hours before I use it. I do 20% water changes every 2 weeks and if I don't heat it, it will be around 46 degrees. This will drop my tank temp around 6 degrees which is a little too much for me. Plus, I need to get it up to temperature if I want it to mix properly and adjust salinity.

Ah! Very good point! I forgot about larger water changes! I will need to plan accordingly!

dang totally forgot about this!

Thanks for the input!

 

[MrSandman]

FYI. I just found this calculator online for large water changes. Use this as a guideline. It correlates pretty closely with what I'm seeing.

http://www.onlineconversion.com/mixing_water.htm

If you want to get accurate, saltwater has a density of about 136.8 oz/gallon. Multiply that by the volume (in gallons) of each body of water to get to the mass in oz. Enter the temperatures of each body to get the final mixed temperature.