Keeping tanks in the garage?

[winn0923]

Thinking about adding some tanks in the garage. Anybody here does that? How does the fish do in the summer vs winter? Especially with regards to African cichlids. I think it'd be too hot in the summer (as in right now) and too cold in the winter (ice storm), but I know some people who keeps big tanks (75-240) in the garage and they said it works out fine. Any thought?

[OOwl]

My garage is AC'd and heated, so I have in the past, but that's different than what you indicate you have so not likely to help you much. I think Iron keeps a big tank in his garage. You might PM him and ask him how he does that successfully. Not sure how much he reads all the posts anymore and he might not see this. Good luck to you.

[khrister]

I have lots of tanks in my garage, 40s 55s, 30 squares, 75s and 20s. Summer is not a problem for my Africans and plecos. It's winter that needs most attention and heating.

[winn0923]

How does the African do when temp drop to freezing range outside?

Does your garage insulated at all?

I think you know Kurtis and Erik right khirster? I got some of my stock from them.

[Holey_Rock_of_Texas]

How does the African do when temp drop to freezing range outside?

Does your garage insulated at all?

I think you know Kurtis and Erik right khirster? I got some of my stock from them.

they die

yes

cool

[khrister]

Yeah I know those folks from OKC :) I insulated my garage and use space heaters in addition to tank heaters. I don't let the temp fall below 70 during winter time. I also use warm water when doing WC .

[winn0923]

That means I need extra tanks in the house just in case. I didnt think heater can keep the tank warm in an uninsulated garage at 30f.

Haha what's up David. Did Ronnie ever give you some extra cash for te trade-ins?

[khrister]

they die, yes cool

:D not cool lol!

[winn0923]

I better get some insulation done then :(

[alta678]

I know that Iron used a bunch of aquarium heaters in his garage tank. His Oscars did well with this last winter. His garage is unheated.

[winn0923]

Tank temp shot up to 92F today. Unfortunately I was not home at the time and lost a few prized fish. Funny thing is, my WC group of ethylwynnae sp chitande start doing the mating dance... both males are going after females like crazy which they have never done the tanks inside the house. While 2 of the bigger haps go belly up...

Anyone care to chime in? It's strange. Gonna add a couple of fan over the water surface but all nice fish will be back in the cramped space in the house for now except for the breeding chitande.

I got 2 waves maker in the 75 in the garage, 2 eheim, and plenty of airstones for surface agitation. Good thing I only add 1 testing 75 gallon tank before I move all my stocks to the garage...

[Typical Tony]

buy one of those portable A/C unit, cost about $150-$200 but will do the job of cooling the garage.

[Adroit]

I went to walmart and bought a small fan for 6 dollars. It lowered the temperature from 94F to around 86F. The only thing I've lost so far are otocinclus. They don't like the heat.
The fan will increase the rate of evaporation, so I top off every other day now.

[hsverma]

I went to walmart and bought a small fan for 6 dollars. It lowered the temperature from 94F to around 86F. The only thing I've lost so far are otocinclus. They don't like the heat.
The fan will increase the rate of evaporation, so I top off every other day now.

Are you pointing the fan directly at the water surface? Are you using a screen cover versus a glass canopy or are you keeping the top open?

Also, if it is not too much trouble, can you tell me if this a small fan that attaches with a big clip? any quick reference picks you can post?

[winn0923]

I added a fan on top of the screen cover. Blowing directly parallel to the water surface and it works. It kept the temp between 86-88f which is fine w my africans. The water does evaporate a lot faster so yo do have to top off every other day or so.

[flamenco-t]

If you get a BIG surface breaker, you'll lower your temp greatly...

I connect the return pump to a spray bar to the entire width of the tank (2feet), I place the spray bar right at the water level at full force.

It's noisy obviously, but it'll keep the water temp to 82 degrees while the garage is over 100. The garage is not insulated at all...

Air stone is not enough to break the tension. You can also run a close loop to a spray bar, place the pump inside the tank and run PVC on the outlet to the water level and let it exit out that way

Stan

[hsverma]

If you get a BIG surface breaker, you'll lower your temp greatly...

I connect the return pump to a spray bar to the entire width of the tank (2feet), I place the spray bar right at the water level at full force.

It's noisy obviously, but it'll keep the water temp to 82 degrees while the garage is over 100. The garage is not insulated at all...

Air stone is not enough to break the tension. You can also run a close loop to a spray bar, place the pump inside the tank and run PVC on the outlet to the water level and let it exit out that way

Stan

Thanks Stan. One more question: did you do this spraybar under a closed glass canopy or an open screen?

[flamenco-t]

Thanks Stan. One more question: did you do this spraybar under a closed glass canopy or an open screen?

Glass canopy...my fish are jumpers !

Obviously the larger body of water, the easier it is to get the temp down...but it does work wonder nonetheless

Think of this: what do you do before you drink a HOT cup of coffee ? :)

[hsverma]

Glass canopy...my fish are jumpers !

Obviously the larger body of water, the easier it is to get the temp down...but it does work wonder nonetheless

Think of this: what do you do before you drink a HOT cup of coffee ? :)

Aha!! Thank you so much for the analogy, it definitely helped.

I will set this up and monitor the temp overnight. Do you think I can achieve the same effect by using a canister filter attached to a big spraybar?

My garage is not insulated so the temp is around 100 and the tank shot up to almost 92. I had moved all my brichardi's inside, but they are not too happy in a smaller tank and would like to move back out to their bigger habitat.

[flamenco-t]

Aha!! Thank you so much for the analogy, it definitely helped.

I will set this up and monitor the temp overnight. Do you think I can achieve the same effect by using a canister filter attached to a big spraybar?

My garage is not insulated so the temp is around 100 and the tank shot up to almost 92. I had moved all my brichardi's inside, but they are not too happy in a smaller tank and would like to move back out to their bigger habitat.

Yep that'd work as well, the last time I setup anoter 180G when we moved to the new house (it was in August of 09), I ran 2 - Eheim 2262 with both spray bars on the surface at water level opposite of each other....

The temp inside my garage is 100deg mid day, and I came home one day to check on the water temp, it was 82 degree :)

You can also fill a big gallon zip loc bag with dechlorinated water and put them in the freezer, when you get home in the evening (hottest temp is usually around 4-6 PM) throw the frozen ice in the tank...it'll help to manage the temp SLOWLY..

The key in temp change is GRADUALLY. The hotter the water, the lesser the oxygen, the spray bar will take care of that for you while keeping the water cool

[Adroit]

I bought the metal fan with the rubber grommets at the bottom.
My tank is open top with just a light fixture overhead.
I point the fan directly at the surface.
Tank swings from 81-86F.

[juice04]

I have a stack of 40's in the garage. I don't have problems in the summer. Actually my garage is stays pretty cool. What sucks is that the water coming out of the faucet is 89 degrees!

The winter is tough, i've been using in tank heaters cause the garage gets down to mid 50's when during several days of extreme cold.

[winn0923]

Man tank situation in the garage is good now, I'm planning for winter to see what I have to do... Space heaters sounds good but I might just have to move the tank inside the house...

[hsverma]

First, thanks to Stan and Adroit for suggestions on keeping the temp down. I tried both methods and was able to bring the temp down to about 88 (from about 94) but not lower.

So, here is what I did in addition to the methods above: Got one of those styrofoam coolers from walmart, created two small holes towards the top on the front side, inserted a good length of tubing in there to form several loops, filled with one bag of ice, connected the outlet of the filter to this tube so the return water goes through the ice box. After 6 hours, the temperature went down to between 80-84 degrees :)

To replace the ice, I have filled 4, two liter bottles with water and freeze them. I put two bottles in the cooler in the morning and replace with the next two in the night. Working good so far....

[bristlenosedude]

I run 40 tanks to 200 gallons in my garage. I built an isulated wall across the single bay and isulated the garage door and ceiling. I use natural air flow under the single garage door, through the man door and out the double garage door when possible. There is also a 14000 BTU portable A/C unit when absolutely necessary but it hasn't been used this summer. Temps are running now at about 86-88. In winter I use a dehumidifier to produce heat and reduce the humidity. There are no heaters in any of the tanks. Winter will run down to 72-74 and all the fish do just fine.

[juice04]

I run 40 tanks to 200 gallons in my garage. I built an isulated wall across the single bay and isulated the garage door and ceiling. I use natural air flow under the single garage door, through the man door and out the double garage door when possible. There is also a 14000 BTU portable A/C unit when absolutely necessary but it hasn't been used this summer. Temps are running now at about 86-88. In winter I use a dehumidifier to produce heat and reduce the humidity. There are no heaters in any of the tanks. Winter will run down to 72-74 and all the fish do just fine.

How much does your dehumidier increase the garage temperature? Is the heat just from the operation of the unit... I guess I never really thought about using a dehumifier to bring up the temps by much. What kind or how large of a unit do you suggest for the garage? Cost?

[winn0923]

Ok guys so I think we got the summer portion ready... now how to keep tank warm in the winter. Brainstorming, ideas, let them rip guys...

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