how cold is too cold for basement reef tank

[slayerhellfire]

Hey everyone so I recently set up a propagation tank up in my basement, 50 rubbermaid attached to a 73 gallon custom acrylic sump. I am currently running 2 eheim 300 watt heaters which will be on apex this weekend. My basement stays right now about 57 give or take which i am guessing it will be little higher once I install a door at the bottom on my stairs. Is this too cold I have both my heaters cranked to max and its at 66 right now its only been couple hours though.

 

[slayerhellfire]

Here is the set up

 

[Coralfuture]

If you get enough heaters in the water you can maintain a reef at whatever temperature you want...my basement gets to like 65 at times and I have 800gal but it’s heated to 79degrees by 3 800watt finnex titanium heaters

 

[slayerhellfire]

If you get enough heaters in the water you can maintain a reef at whatever temperature you want...my basement gets to like 65 at times and I have 800gal but it’s heated to 79degrees by 3 800watt finnex titanium heaters

yeah I was thinking 2 300 watts would be plenty but also its not on the controller yet and its only been a few hours of them being cranked so I guess we will see

 

[dansreef]

I have a 100 gal rubbermaid tub in my basement which is the sump for my 180 display on the first floor above it. I would say my basement is in the low 60's as I have been closing off the heat vents. I have two large titanium heaters controlled on my apex to maintain tank temp. They hold the overall system tank proably +/- 1 degree at any time....in otherwords very stable.

The problems I have been wrestling with is humidity in the basement and the colder temps.... I have found condensation on plumbing pipes particularly the drains. This is causing some corrosion in some other interesting places too. To solve somewhat, I have basically turned off my furnace's humidifier to help dry out the air... and then opened up the heat registers and return vents. This is creating much more circulation in the basement. The temp of the basement has come up a bit as well....and I am seeing less condensation. Of course, this may then mean more top off being used. But.. it may be something to consider as you tweak your system.

 

[slayerhellfire]

I have a 100 gal rubbermaid tub in my basement which is the sump for my 180 display on the first floor above it. I would say my basement is in the low 60's as I have been closing off the heat vents. I have two large titanium heaters controlled on my apex to maintain tank temp. They hold the overall system tank proably +/- 1 degree at any time....in otherwords very stable.

The problems I have been wrestling with is humidity in the basement and the colder temps.... I have found condensation on plumbing pipes particularly the drains. This is causing some corrosion in some other interesting places too. To solve somewhat, I have basically turned off my furnace's humidifier to help dry out the air... and then opened up the heat registers and return vents. This is creating much more circulation in the basement. The temp of the basement has come up a bit as well....and I am seeing less condensation. Of course, this may then mean more top off being used. But.. it may be something to consider as you tweak your system.

my humidity in my basement is like 22% right now, in the summer months I will just run a dehumidifier

 

[dansreef]

I actually find the colder weather is the bigger issue for me. Colder air retains lower amounts of humidity...so i see more condensation. In the summer months, I also run a dehumidifier, but not much.

 

[ihavecrabs]

Yeah my dehumidifier runs during the summer but hasn't kicked on in the winter.

My 2x 300w heaters maintain 265g in my basement at 77F (my seasonal low temp in winter) just fine but I will tell you then run very very often and the electricity bill shows it!

 

[slayerhellfire]

Yeah my dehumidifier runs during the summer but hasn't kicked on in the winter.

My 2x 300w heaters maintain 265g in my basement at 77F (my seasonal low temp in winter) just fine but I will tell you then run very very often and the electricity bill shows it!

whats your basement temp though?

 

[ca1ore]

Cranking heaters won't get the water up to temperature any better than just setting them to the desired temperature LOL. Same as a car heater.

 

[slayerhellfire]

Cranking heaters won't get the water up to temperature any better than just setting them to the desired temperature LOL. Same as a car heater.

oh I was unaware of that ..

 

[ca1ore]

Heater is either full on or full off - there's no gradations.

 

[ihavecrabs]

whats your basement temp though?

I can let you know when I get home. It is cool, but I do open the vents in the winter to keep it heated.

 

[ihavecrabs]

whats your basement temp though?

64F