tanks on top of mantlepiece, good idea ???

We live in Bethlehem, Eastern Freestate. This is a cold place in Winter, so the anthracite stove is alwys on fire at night.

The mantlepiece is a solid slab of concrete, 2,7m x 0.43m. It will carry the weight.

I have 2x tanks 1m x 0.4m x 0.5m

Does anyone have a tank on top of a fireplace, or similiar to this.
Is this a stupid idea? Or is this possible?

 

Does the concrete get very warm above that stove? Dont want to cook your fish!

 

Easy to check...take the temp on top of the slab with a thermometer....if it doesn't go above 28 degree - ish,it should be fine....Run temp test over a week or so to see differances between a stoked or banked fire.....Maybe also consider a thicker layer of polystyrene under the tanks as further insulation....

 

even if it is possible, u'll start to find tank maintenance and water changes a pain in the u know where..

 

I think the heat moving past the mantle and then past the front of the tank would cause a problem (possibly cracking the tank.

 

There is wood, covering the concrete, at the bottom the concrete heats up a bit. ( thought I might isolate the concrete ) to prevent fish from boiling.

Also thought, I must do a test. ( it will be flippen hot in the house, summer with a stove going!!! )

Im a tall guy, almost 2m. wouldn't be a problem.

Heat moving past the mantle is my biggest concern, changing the temp to much. The glass is 10mm thick, possible to crack?

Thanx for all the advice. Will do a test. Im actually looking for someone with experience with this problem, someone who already tried it and succeeded or failed.

 

Any further advice, or experience???

 

My advice... Don't do it. The heat coming off that fireplace is astronimical. You should know how much heat that heater gives. I'd be very wary of doing it.

 

i dont think any one has experience because no one has done it.. i also advise not to do it.. if the fireplace is on, then heats the glass and a gust of winter wind blows onto the glass, it'll crack imediately.. not nice having liters of water to clean up..

 

Thank you, all for the advice. would not do it.

Now I must restart and make new plans. Because my current tank is on the left hand side of the photo (attached) and that was location B. Build a neat wooden stand ( steal reinforced ). That will have enough space for two 200L tanks(malawi) one +/- 110L (comunity) and four fry 20L tanks (one of then might become a NANO )

PS : dit is vrek koud in Bethlehem, you need a HEATER in the winter.

Thanks, I started July with this hobby and learned alot. I LOVE IT !!!

 

cool man! good luck with the tanks