Keeping tanks warm

My 2 tanks are kept inside my brother's court yard. I have heard that I can insulate the tanks by attaching stryofoam around the outside of the tanks back & sides is it true?

 

lol!!!

 

In any case, could someone move the thread to the right place and actually help him?
To answer the question, I've heard the same about the styrofoam, and would add that you're losing most of the heat out of gaps in the canopy. Try to minimise those, but condensation may increase and make sure you don't cover everything up completely

 

All that effort will be rendered useless it you running an airpump. The airpump will be pumping cold air into the tank, and you will therefore be insulating the cold air INSIDE the tank... like a cooler box.

 

Henk I had asked for advice and not to be insulted. I am new at this and if this is how you treat new members sorry I do not need your advice. At least with the American live chatroom we do not insult ones questions.

 

Hi Keith 1964 i don't think that Henk was being insulting at all he just pointed out that you posted this thread in the wrong section.

 

yes Keith I don't think he meant it as an insult. I am sorry for my comment though. I did not mean it to be malicious or mean and I just thought the mix-up was amusing, I would have done the same thing (as in probably get mixed up that way). It was unnecessary though, and i apologize.

 

Just add an extra heater to your tank,mine does well in the summer with one heater on(not really needed in the summer),i have both on in the winter but only at night because it still gets hot here in pretoria in the day.

 

Thanks guys when being new at this one need to ask advice that is why I use the American chat forum live where help and answers are given to you I usually go early into work so I could get some advice for the short time breeding tanganyikans I had a success Try to keep my water chemistry as best I could with seachem products

 

We got glass to cover the tank completely, even with the air pump the water stays at an average of about 28/29 degrees, depending how high you want it. If you have a hood over your tank, why not throw blankets over them, that also works.

 

GG beat me to it
What we do in the winter is I cover the small tanks with a glass "lid" and if needed I get the blankets from PEP ( look like a dogs blanket but they are really warm) and I cover the tanks with that and it really help expecialy with the electricity bill as well.
with my big tanks I turn the heaters up a degree or 2 and also cover them at night to keep the heat in.

 

Move to Durban :bigsmile:

On a more serious note, I do as some of the others have mentioned. Keeping a good lid or a glass cover on the tank helps to keep the heat in. Heat is lost from the water when the water's surface is disturbed, and the hood/glass prevents the heat from escaping.

 

I got polystyrene from builders warehouse and I cover my whole tank with it during the nights. Even covered my sump with it and it holds the temperature very good, or does it keep the cold out...:idea: My 2 meter tank is in my Lapa outside and it gets damn cold in there during the winter

 

Done

Thread moved

 

I went to Sam's petshop and the owner said that I must cover my tanks with poly-foam to retain heat inside tank as my temp dropped to 21 I covered both tanks and sump and my temp went back to 25/26. I was also told to cover the outer surrounding glass.

 

Glad to hear you have a solution. I'll keep this thread in mind, it probably answers quite a few questions for others.

 

hey guys. Anyone know where i can get Polystyrene in bulk/big pieces, here in Cape Town?

 

Give Gert a PM! He knows a few places!!

Cheers
G!

 

Sagex in Bellville South sell polystyrene - they actually make it on site and they supply the building industry as well as most stockists of it!
You can go there and they sell new and offcuts and can also give it in different thickness and sizes.
Some of it even have a silver or white material on it for better isolation, and will also last longer, as it is stronger and protects it!
Hope this will help a few members! :blink1:
Gert.