Reef tank in the garage

Mstanker · Feb 6, 2018

I just moved and the garage is an option for my 100g tank. I’m going to put it in the wall. I have a storage room. Right now I have my 40g breeder in the garage and I’m controlling the cold right now with two 150w heaters. But my only concern is durning summer time. If I set my new tank up I don’t know how bad the heat issue will be.
I’m thinking that in the summer I would not need any heaters. Has anyone ran a tank with no heater or have a tank set up in the garage. In the storage room I can also install a small vent fan to bring fresh air in. Any input would be appreciated.

Mstanker · Feb 6, 2018

What size hole does everyone drill in a 100g long tank.

Daltrey · Feb 6, 2018

Here is what I did. Just insulate your garage door and install a mini split.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/daltreys-red-sea-reefer-750-xxl-build.351366/

Justfebreezeit · Feb 6, 2018

I used to have a through the wall in the garage. It worked great. Im in florida and needed a heater and chiller though.

pirate2876 · Feb 6, 2018

Insulate the garage door and add an exhaust fan to expel moisture. Helps a lot.

MSOEME2009 · Feb 6, 2018

I see you're in Memphis. I'd recommend against it. I do industrial refrigeration for a living and I'd assume the wet bulb temperature to be at least 80F in the summer without looking it up (meaning when you evaporate water, with good air flow, you're left with an 80F surface). With My garage in Knoxville will be over 100F ambient easily with the doors closed. Using cooling towers I get fluids close to wet bulb by using 100,000's of CFM and spray bars/ media to get surface area on the water to promote evaporation. You can never get a fluid lower than wet bulb without mechanical refrigeration. You won't have that luxury with a tank so while you won't be quite at ambient, you'll still be HOT HOT HOT.

Keep your heaters in the tank, even if they're not being "called on" they do no harm sitting as a backup. Because the evaporation of water causes it to cool down you might need on some days. Keep in mind, you'll need higher wattage heaters for when it's cold out too. Heat transfer increases with the larger difference between the tank temperature and surrounding area. That 300W of heating will not cut it if it's 45-50 in the garage.

In essence, you'll need more heat in the winter and cooling in the summer.

Put a friends/neighbors house, find room, LFS, or even sell your livestock. Anywhere but the garage; especially in the Mississippi valley.

Probably not what you wanted to hear but my $0.02

Heliarc19 · Feb 6, 2018

I have my sump and Refugium in the garage, it’s insulated as well as the door and my chiller runs quite a bit in the summer but is able to keep temp in range. West Texas so my garage gets +100 plenty