Insulation for outdoor aquarium

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J

janev

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
May 2, 2007
77
0
36
southern california
Hello All,

I have a 180 gal tank that I have currently outdoors under a covered patio. I have 3 heaters 200, and 2 250's heating it.

I need some ideas on how to keep tank warm and insulate it for the winter without going overboard on electrical cost.

Why so warm you ask?

I have FRT turtle living in it and keeping it at 80+ degrees F.

The tank is a used acrylic 72 x24x24 with old sump on a wood stand with canopy.

Thinking of styrofoam panels from Home Depot, or the bubble wrap stuff used for pool covers.

Thanks for your input. :)
 
I think you need the be thinking "R" values when it comes to insullation. IMO, buble wrap is nothing but air and the air will get cold making the bubble wrap cold. I dont think there is very much insullation value there. IF it were me, I'd be building a structure out of 2x4s or 2x6s better yet, and insullating the structure with a high "R" value insullation. I have no idea how cold it gets there in the winter.
 
southern california will get decently cold at night i would say that u prob done need a sturctue but maybe like an insulated blanket or covering. cuz u'll prob wanna take it off during the day i would guess....if not i say the structure is a great idea!
 
You should only need to wrap it in a sleeping bag or similar. Turn off the pumps, minimize water flow/circulation and agitation on the surface (increase heat exchange).
 
A sleeping bag seems like a good idea - on top of this you could put a plywood box with a core made of ceiling bats (the insulating material used in roofing).
 
Insulating the sides is a great idea, but it will be highly ineffective unless you insulate the top and bottom as well. Heat exchange will happen in all directions. I think you can assume that the heaters will run full time from the moment the sun goes down or the temp drops below 80. Water isn't a really good insulator. It's great at heat exchange though (think radiator, water cooled PCs, etc).

http://progress-energy.com/custservice/flares/billtoolkit/rvalues.asp
 
I'd probably just pick up some blue styrofoam and make a box out of it to fit over your tank. Be sure to separately insulate the bottom.

Blue styrofoam is hydrophobic, (it won't absorb water) and has a 5 R-value. You could achieve better R value by building a structure and insulating it with fiberglass, but if you spend $300 on a structure, its going to take you several years to realize a cost savings in your electric bill. If you save $10/mo on electricity, it would take you 30 months of use to pay for the structure.

A blue foam box would be easy to remove and put on, cheap to build, and is paint-able, meaning you could make it somewhat visually appealing.
 
If part of the tank is in the sun, You could use some large rocks to absorb and hold the heat and then releases it at night.
During the summer your heaters wouldn't work as hard.
 
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