Keeping 35 gallon in garage

vincemo22 · 07/28/2016, 01:40 PM

Who currently keeps an aquarium in their garage? Thinking about setting up a frag tank in the garage but my garage has no ventilation and I don't own a chiller. Is there even a chance the temp stays at a reasonable level?
Thanks!

laserjim · 07/28/2016, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vincemo22

Who currently keeps an aquarium in their garage? Thinking about setting up a frag tank in the garage but my garage has no ventilation and I don't own a chiller. Is there even a chance the temp stays at a reasonable level?
Thanks!

Put a thermometer in your garage. Will tell you all u need to know. In mine it would boil in a couple hours .lol

vincemo22 · 07/28/2016, 02:27 PM

ha so I guess that's one for bad idea. I figured as much but didnt know if anyone had any ideas or success with chillers, etc.

bwhit1406 · 07/28/2016, 02:41 PM

My mixing station stays in the low 80's with the lid off in the summer and requires a heater in winter in my garage.

vincemo22 · 07/28/2016, 02:58 PM

How many gallons is your mixing station? 35 gallon tank will prob absorb heat much quicker than larger volumes.

TURKLET0N · 07/28/2016, 02:58 PM

I was just at Bobbyv's and he has a frag tank in his garage with a chiller. It seems to be working really well. Without a chiller or air conditioning to your garage I doubt you would be able to have a tank in there.

laserjim · 07/28/2016, 03:09 PM

If you have a big enough chiller, you can put in there no problem

BobbyV · 07/28/2016, 03:38 PM

I experimented, without a chiller and only fans running, temperature rose to 84 degrees. But at night the temperature actually rose. (You would think the opposite.)

Keep in mind the coral you also tend to keep.

Zoa's as we know can be more tolerant of higher temperature swings.

There is a very popular Zoa Collector/Seller in South Florida who keeps a tank in the garage and he says it peaks at 87 and his zoas do fine. I would paste the thread, but it wasn't stated on RC. Google: "Zoa's and high temperature." Maybe you will stumble across it like I did.

Chillers are expensive and be prepared for them to add about $50 - $75 a month to your electric bill if continuously running in the garage. (I am running a 1/3 HP.)

I would suggest you setting one up without a chiller and fans and see if some zoa frags tolerate it and keep us posted on your findings.

I have some really nice SPS, Zoa's, Chalice & Rainbow Acan's in my system, so I am a bit too chicken to try it.

If you do go with a chiller, make sure to buy some extra fuses for the chiller when they blow. You can buy them on EBAY 5 for $5.

I wish you good success, if you go this route. Setting up new tanks are always fun. (I hope you stay within your budget .. .. ..

)

BobbyV · 07/28/2016, 03:48 PM

Pictures and graphs always help.

Chillers work awesome. (If you don't mind paying for awesome. I wish I didn't have to.)

You can see where I did a 70% water change a few days ago.

What is interesting the water itself wasn't super warm - but it was filled up in the garage and was mixing for about two hours. (interesting)

You can see how many times my chiller turns on and off. (Hope that fuse keeps up the good work!)

Also note, maybe the temp increase was when I left the garage door open. 6pm coming home from work doing random stuff in the garage.

bwhit1406 · 07/28/2016, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vincemo22

How many gallons is your mixing station? 35 gallon tank will prob absorb heat much quicker than larger volumes.

Each container is about 30 gallons, but i am only running a small pump to mix salt and not lights or a return pump. Like others have said Chiller is a must for stability, just dont get forget about the heaters for winter time.

Sent from my LG-D851 using Tapatalk

cprice · 07/28/2016, 05:56 PM

I keep my 80g frag/fuge tank in my garage without a chiller or A/C. I have about 130 total gallons in the garage and a 150g display tank in the living room behind it. With half in the garage and half in the house, my tank goes between 77 and 80. I have a fan on the DT that comes on when the tank hits 80 and it drops it to 79 within 90 minutes. Works great for me!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

vincemo22 · 07/29/2016, 08:33 AM

Thanks for all the great advice! I might give it a go!

07/28/2016, 01:40 PM	#1
vincemo22 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 327	Keeping 35 gallon in garage Who currently keeps an aquarium in their garage? Thinking about setting up a frag tank in the garage but my garage has no ventilation and I don't own a chiller. Is there even a chance the temp stays at a reasonable level? Thanks!

07/28/2016, 02:41 PM	#4
bwhit1406 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Land O Lakes, FL Posts: 851	My mixing station stays in the low 80's with the lid off in the summer and requires a heater in winter in my garage. __________________ 150 Gallon mixed reef mix of lighting Metal Halide, Led, and T5

07/28/2016, 02:58 PM	#6
TURKLET0N Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Westchase Posts: 334	I was just at Bobbyv's and he has a frag tank in his garage with a chiller. It seems to be working really well. Without a chiller or air conditioning to your garage I doubt you would be able to have a tank in there. __________________ 150 gallon aquarium 72x18x27. Refugium, 3 Radion Pros with wide angle lenses, 2 MP40 QD's, Vectra L1, I-Tech 200, Tunze 3155 & an Emperor Aquatics SMART UV 40 Watt Sterilizer.

07/28/2016, 03:09 PM	#7
laserjim Another Day In Paradise Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,956	If you have a big enough chiller, you can put in there no problem __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 430 gallon, 4 radion gen 3pro, 4 T5 bulbs, 60 inch Life Reef skimmer, Apex gold, 2 Dos dosers, ,80 gallon sump. 2 Cor pumps. 2 Ecotech MP 60 powerheads

07/28/2016, 02:27 PM	#3
vincemo22 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 327	ha so I guess that's one for bad idea. I figured as much but didnt know if anyone had any ideas or success with chillers, etc.

07/28/2016, 03:38 PM	#8
BobbyV Established since 2008 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Apollo Beach, FL Posts: 2,190	I experimented, without a chiller and only fans running, temperature rose to 84 degrees. But at night the temperature actually rose. (You would think the opposite.) Keep in mind the coral you also tend to keep. Zoa's as we know can be more tolerant of higher temperature swings. There is a very popular Zoa Collector/Seller in South Florida who keeps a tank in the garage and he says it peaks at 87 and his zoas do fine. I would paste the thread, but it wasn't stated on RC. Google: "Zoa's and high temperature." Maybe you will stumble across it like I did. Chillers are expensive and be prepared for them to add about $50 - $75 a month to your electric bill if continuously running in the garage. (I am running a 1/3 HP.) I would suggest you setting one up without a chiller and fans and see if some zoa frags tolerate it and keep us posted on your findings. I have some really nice SPS, Zoa's, Chalice & Rainbow Acan's in my system, so I am a bit too chicken to try it. If you do go with a chiller, make sure to buy some extra fuses for the chiller when they blow. You can buy them on EBAY 5 for $5. I wish you good success, if you go this route. Setting up new tanks are always fun. (I hope you stay within your budget .. .. .. )

07/28/2016, 03:48 PM	#9
BobbyV Established since 2008 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Apollo Beach, FL Posts: 2,190	Pictures and graphs always help. Chillers work awesome. (If you don't mind paying for awesome. I wish I didn't have to.) You can see where I did a 70% water change a few days ago. What is interesting the water itself wasn't super warm - but it was filled up in the garage and was mixing for about two hours. (interesting) You can see how many times my chiller turns on and off. (Hope that fuse keeps up the good work!) Also note, maybe the temp increase was when I left the garage door open. 6pm coming home from work doing random stuff in the garage.

07/28/2016, 05:56 PM	#11
cprice Moved On Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 313	I keep my 80g frag/fuge tank in my garage without a chiller or A/C. I have about 130 total gallons in the garage and a 150g display tank in the living room behind it. With half in the garage and half in the house, my tank goes between 77 and 80. I have a fan on the DT that comes on when the tank hits 80 and it drops it to 79 within 90 minutes. Works great for me! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07/29/2016, 08:33 AM	#12
vincemo22 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 327	Thanks for all the great advice! I might give it a go!