Tanks in basement

president89 · 12/13/2009, 04:01 PM

Hi,

I'm setting up 3 10 gallon tanks and a 15 gallon tank in my basement. During the winter months my basement gets to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. My concern is with my heates. I've currently got 1 jager 75w heater in each tank. Should i be concerned about this heater keeping the tanks warm enough? It's rated for 15+Gallon tanks.

Sandee · 12/13/2009, 04:05 PM

The Jager heaters are ok - but I've gone with the Rena units - no more glass for me!

I currently have about 18 active tanks in my fish room (aka basement). I have heaters in all of them ... but I have found in the winter - when my furnance is on, it keeps the whole room between 75 and 78. The heaters kick in, as needed. In the summer, I have a stand-alone A/C unit to keep the room cool. Thankfully, I haven't needed to run a chiller on my reef tank ...

president89 · 12/13/2009, 04:08 PM

Ok. But my furnace does not heat my entire basement. I suppose if I put the tanks closer to it, it might warm up a bit in that area of the basement. But where my tanks are stationed, it will not. I was just down there with a thermometer =)

Indymann99 · 12/13/2009, 04:51 PM

If your basement gets down to 50deg I assume it is unfinished.

I dont think I would want to spend too much time with my tank if the room temp was 50 deg... but thats just me.

I would eval why you are putting the tank in the basement. If you are never down there to enjoy (because it is 50deg) you might be better off putting at least the DT in a finished part of the house (mail floor?). You could put the SUMP in your unfinished basement. The tank heater(s) should be able to keep the tank at 80deg in the winter and the 50deg ambient temp of the basement will help cool the tank in the summer. The heaters may still have to run when your lights are out.

When I finished my basement we decided to do a tank in place of a direct vent gas fireplace to help heat the space. The basement is a great place for a tank as the temps stay stable in summer and winter.

Again I dont know how much time I would spend in the room with the fish tank if the room temp was 50deg.

B-Willz · 12/13/2009, 04:59 PM

I would keep at least two heaters in each tank just in case one goes out. You can get insulation pretty inexpensive and get and electric space heater also.

Fretfreak13 · 12/13/2009, 05:02 PM

Just wondering, why so many small tanks? Why not just go for one larger tank? Then you can get a different variety of fish instead of just like...two that an go in a 10 gallon. Seeing tank after tank of just tiny fish would get boring, IMO. Plus, would you have to buy lighting for all of those tanks? o.O

Or are they breeding/food tanks? lol

mudbone · 12/13/2009, 05:54 PM

I think that the heaters will be fine

president89 · 12/14/2009, 12:11 AM

JUst doing 1 breeding pair of clowns per tank. The basement gives me lots of space, access to the sink and allows me to not be running around with buckets on water changes.

It really only hits 50 when its REALLY cold out. Like 10-20 degrees out.

Frick-n-Frags · 12/14/2009, 06:09 AM

the basement is great, especially in the summer heat.

75w will roast a 10gal so you should be good to go. I roasted 100 gallons for 3 weeks at 95 with 4 100 or 150w heaters when my thermometer stuck. it was during the dead of winter when the basement hits the upper 60's.

so, i think if you possess 4+ watts per gallon like i have, you can cook your stuff no sweat

12/13/2009, 04:01 PM	#1
president89 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 466	Tanks in basement Hi, I'm setting up 3 10 gallon tanks and a 15 gallon tank in my basement. During the winter months my basement gets to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. My concern is with my heates. I've currently got 1 jager 75w heater in each tank. Should i be concerned about this heater keeping the tanks warm enough? It's rated for 15+Gallon tanks.

12/13/2009, 04:05 PM	#2
Sandee Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 3	Tanks in basement too ... The Jager heaters are ok - but I've gone with the Rena units - no more glass for me! I currently have about 18 active tanks in my fish room (aka basement). I have heaters in all of them ... but I have found in the winter - when my furnance is on, it keeps the whole room between 75 and 78. The heaters kick in, as needed. In the summer, I have a stand-alone A/C unit to keep the room cool. Thankfully, I haven't needed to run a chiller on my reef tank ... __________________ Sandee \| Wayne, NJ Saltwater :: Reef :: Freshwater :: Ton of Tanks Current Tank Info: I have 18+ tanks - OMG.

12/13/2009, 04:51 PM	#4
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	If your basement gets down to 50deg I assume it is unfinished. I dont think I would want to spend too much time with my tank if the room temp was 50 deg... but thats just me. I would eval why you are putting the tank in the basement. If you are never down there to enjoy (because it is 50deg) you might be better off putting at least the DT in a finished part of the house (mail floor?). You could put the SUMP in your unfinished basement. The tank heater(s) should be able to keep the tank at 80deg in the winter and the 50deg ambient temp of the basement will help cool the tank in the summer. The heaters may still have to run when your lights are out. When I finished my basement we decided to do a tank in place of a direct vent gas fireplace to help heat the space. The basement is a great place for a tank as the temps stay stable in summer and winter. Again I dont know how much time I would spend in the room with the fish tank if the room temp was 50deg. __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

12/14/2009, 06:09 AM	#9
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	the basement is great, especially in the summer heat. 75w will roast a 10gal so you should be good to go. I roasted 100 gallons for 3 weeks at 95 with 4 100 or 150w heaters when my thermometer stuck. it was during the dead of winter when the basement hits the upper 60's. so, i think if you possess 4+ watts per gallon like i have, you can cook your stuff no sweat __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

12/13/2009, 04:08 PM	#3
president89 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 466	Ok. But my furnace does not heat my entire basement. I suppose if I put the tanks closer to it, it might warm up a bit in that area of the basement. But where my tanks are stationed, it will not. I was just down there with a thermometer =)

12/13/2009, 04:59 PM	#5
B-Willz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Aurora Co Posts: 420	I would keep at least two heaters in each tank just in case one goes out. You can get insulation pretty inexpensive and get and electric space heater also.

12/13/2009, 05:02 PM	#6
Fretfreak13 I am not a boy! Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,114	Just wondering, why so many small tanks? Why not just go for one larger tank? Then you can get a different variety of fish instead of just like...two that an go in a 10 gallon. Seeing tank after tank of just tiny fish would get boring, IMO. Plus, would you have to buy lighting for all of those tanks? o.O Or are they breeding/food tanks? lol

12/13/2009, 05:54 PM	#7
mudbone Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 62	I think that the heaters will be fine

12/14/2009, 12:11 AM	#8
president89 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 466	JUst doing 1 breeding pair of clowns per tank. The basement gives me lots of space, access to the sink and allows me to not be running around with buckets on water changes. It really only hits 50 when its REALLY cold out. Like 10-20 degrees out.