Room Temps and Tanks

[Str8linespeed]

I'm in the process of starting up a second tank and Im debating about which level to put the tank in. My main tank is on the main level of the house, winter months its about 66*, Summer months about 72*. The only spot left on the main level is in the same room and Im not real excited to put it there. Not to mention it will also be on the same circuit as the other tank.

So that leaves my lower level. In the winter it is about 66*, in the summer about 62*. I will have a controller on the tank for temp but Im concerned about the summer temps in the basement. Should I be? What temps are the rooms you have your tanks in?

 

[BrettDS]

The pumps and lights add some heat to the tank, so even with no heater it will usually be a degree or two above the ambient air temp. However, with a low of 62 you'll definitely need a heater as well, perhaps a bigger heater than normally recommended based on tank size since you'll need to be close to 20 degrees above ambient, but that's certainly possible to do.

You might even want to go with two heaters so you have a backup in the event that one fails.

Frankly adding heat to the water is pretty easy... it's trying to cool the tank when the ambient temp is too high that's difficult.

 

[mcgyvr]

huh? is there a typo there?
You crank your AC to 62 deg F in the summer? Thats pretty cold...

The further the ambient temperature of the room to the desired tank temperature the more energy required to heat or cool the tank.. Plain and simple.. If you aren't concerned about the cost of electricity then it doesn't matter..

 

[kfisc]

I would say the stability of temperature, and very much humidity, are the biggest factors. The temps you describe are ideal short of some clammy period the likes of which we get here: it may be 62, but the humidity will be extreme.

 

[mcgyvr]

The temps you describe are ideal short of some clammy period the likes of which we get here: it may be 62, but the humidity will be extreme.

Ideal for humans maybe...
Typically tanks are maintained in the 76-83 deg F range.. (78F for me)

 

[Str8linespeed]

huh? is there a typo there?
You crank your AC to 62 deg F in the summer? Thats pretty cold...

The further the ambient temperature of the room to the desired tank temperature the more energy required to heat or cool the tank.. Plain and simple.. If you aren't concerned about the cost of electricity then it doesn't matter..

Nope not a typo, just a misunderstanding. The basement is naturally cooler, the ducts are actually closed to the basement during the summer months. If I didnt open the ducts in the winter it would be abut 62* year round in the basement. The A/C is set to 72* during summer months, but even with ducts closed its about 10* cooler in the basement.

I would say the stability of temperature, and very much humidity, are the biggest factors. The temps you describe are ideal short of some clammy period the likes of which we get here: it may be 62, but the humidity will be extreme.

Basement is not humid at all, and the temp you see doesnt vary much.

Ideal for humans maybe...
Typically tanks are maintained in the 76-83 deg F range.. (78F for me)

I run my tank @ 78* also.

 

[nereefpat]

My room with the tank is basically normal room temp, about 70 +/- 2 the whole year.

I wouldn't be concerned if I were you, but you will have to take some extra steps. It may be as simple as an extra heater or a bigger heater. You may also want to look into some other things like: insulating the sump, glass lids on the display, getting the sump off the floor, using a submersible return pump, etc.

 

[mcgyvr]

Nope not a typo, just a misunderstanding.

Gotcha thought it might be a basement..

So as stated its just going to cost you quite a bit more in energy (heaters) to maintain the tank at the temp you want.. And yes do all you can to retain/recycle the heat,etc..

 

[Sgt Jonny Cat]

If I can chime in here, I'm in New England and I have to run a heater in my tank pretty much 8 months out of the year. Not a very big deal, and interestingly enough I was going to ask the same question about putting a tank in my basement where my wife will eave me alone to hang out with my fish!!!! In winter it gets pretty cool down there.

 

[kfisc]

Just to clarify, I meant room temperature, not water temp.

 

[Str8linespeed]

I appreciate all the input, thanks everyone. Now I just have to decide where to put it.

 

[Sk8r]

If you need to cool a tank, a strong fan on the agitated water surface or waterfall area will knock the temperature down as much as 10 degrees depending on pumps and water volume. They make fan arrays for tanks. I have a basement sump and find one heater does nicely for the system, given a cool basement and central air. In the winter we keep the whole house at 66 F, and the tank stays an even 80.