Question on in wall tank

[pchromis]

I have been toying with the idea of putting a 125g or a 150g saltwater tank in a wall that adjoins an unheated attached garage. Basically the tank would be IN the garage with the viewing side to the den. My question pertains to heat. I am in the northeast where the winters can be on the cold side. Would multiple in-tank/or sump heaters be sufficient to heat the tank even though the garage is unheated.
thanks for any input!

 

[joncat24]

i would insulate the garage, buy a big space heater for the garage and see what kind of temps u r running in there first before I started cutting holes in walls....just my .02

 

[el bob]

sounds like a pain in the butt to me. I think the temp in the garage would fluxuate too much to have a successful tank. I would find a diff local.

 

[jacksonpt]

I also live in the northeast, and I have an attached/unheated garage. I can't imagine how much wattage/how many heaters it would take to keep the temp in a tank that size stable.
Can it be done? Probably... but considering how much money you're going to have invested in rock, inverts, fish, etc... that's a HUUUUUGE risk to take. And you could never leave the garage door open for more than a few minutes...

 

[jpa0741]

Your best bet would be to build a small fish room in your garage then heat it to keep temp stable.

 

[larryndana]

Originally Posted by jpa0741
Your best bet would be to build a small fish room in your garage then heat it to keep temp stable.

I agree, a small fish room of sorts would work. Well insulated and heated.

 

[grips]

I would also suggest making a small fish room. You have to keep in mind that you are not only dealing with the cold of winter, but also the heat in the summer (I'm assuming that you don't have your garage air conditioned).
Check this out for a GREAT reference:
http://www.melevsreef.com/days127.html

 

[larryndana]

Thanks, great site grips. Lots if info.

 

[f14peter]

Originally Posted by jpa0741
Your best bet would be to build a small fish room in your garage then heat it to keep temp stable.

If not an entire "room", then at the very least build an insulated cabinet-like structure around it with doors that open up allowing access.

 

[pchromis]

Thanks for the input. That is why I am currently just "toying" with the idea. But I think I can actually bump out the wall to accomodate the tank, essentially expanding the den. I think is do-able by doing this and insulating the garage side of the tank..
Thanks again, all. It gives me a place to start and think about!

 

[larryndana]

Post a layout of what your thinking about doing. I'm curious, I've been thinking of building a fish room of sorts when I buy a new home(although it seems it will be years away). Maybe someone can help with what all is needed in a room.

Just a thought ***)

 

[pchromis]

Here's the link posted by Grips
http://www.melevsreef.com/days127.html
Basically, what I may wind up doing is basically taking the wall where the tank would go and building an enclosure around it in the garage so heat wouldn't not be a factor. Then accessing the tank from their for maintenance.

 

[larryndana]

Will you be able to put a sink or drain to get rid of water easier? Top off system or way of aging your water?

 

[pchromis]

Yes, I can have access to drain and fill....The only big problem would be the heating of the tank....having the tank go into garage makes things easy.