Keeping Temp stable in garage???

Reef Aquarium & Tank Building Forum

Help Support Reef Aquarium & Tank Building Forum:

Basements usually hold pretty stable temperatures, so aren't that much of a problem.

Garages, if unheated and not insulated, could create a bit of a problem, especially during the winter months.

You'd need an over sized heater, since you'll have such a large difference, between ambient temperature and the temperature of the tank.

Right now, I have a large stock tank, in a completely unheated garage, that the door doesn't even close on. I currently have 2 heaters in it, and they're maintaining a good temperature. This is even with the 32-34 degree nights we've had, the last couple of nights. However, I plan to break down this stock tank, in the next few days, and move everything inside.
 
heaters on a controller and also I run my lights @ night as I am home to view my tank then anyways. I run halides on my system the only warm up the top of the water 400 watts x2 temps fluc with in 2 degrees.
 
If being semi-green or economical as in electricity is a concern, than basements are as good as it gets whereas most garages are as bad as it gets. If in the garage, it is good to have well insulated garage doors and excellent seals. Additionally, insulation on the tank. Below and along the back. Use a canopy. Do not rely on the thermostats on the heaters and chillers, use a separate Temp controller such as a Ranco. Also be sure to have redundant heaters in case of failure.
 
Last edited:
i have a 100g stock tank in the garage holding all my corals and livestock from my 120g. i resealed the weather seal on the bottom and installed top and side seals for the door as well. got it all at home depot. i also used the great stuff spray foam in all the cracks between the floor and the drywall. random cracks in the cement as well. then i sealled the garage floor with the garage floor epoxy. and the difference is night and day in there. temps are now extremely stable. i have a data log kept. before all the insulation in the garage 3-5 deg swing. after insulation .7 deg swing. hth

**edit i use a 300w heater
 
Last edited:
Jay,

I have a 375g tank in the garage for 4 yrs, and have had no issues with keeping temp stable. I have two 250w titanium heaters that are set to 75 degrees. My tank temp is around 77-78 during the day, and falls to 75 at night.

Send me a PM if you would like more detail (and there is an open invitation to come visit my tank anytime).

:)
 
Along with that I'd use a temp. controller like Ranco, goggle it! You'll never be sorry for the expense.
 
It can be a mess!!!!

I have a 180 built into my dinning room wall that is backed by my garage. The setup is killer the main problem that I ran into was all the condensation that is caused by the h20 evaporating off the tank. It destroyed a bunch of tools and caused about 500.00 bucks worth of Sheetrock damage. I had to build a room around the tank and install a fart fan to evacuate the wet air.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top