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Marcoss 
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 Topic: Basement Aquariums
Posted: February 18 2015 at 10:59am |
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Hello
Does anyone have their tanks in an unfinished basement? I'm taking a slightly different approach to my new tanks and need them in the basement. But my concern is that it gets very cold during the winter and I don't have a way of heating it, realistically anyway.
I plan on doing about 200 gallons of total water. And I will add a couple of large heaters.
Marcos
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Nick801
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Posted: February 18 2015 at 11:20am |
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My basements warmer than the upstairs in the winter because the tanks put off radiant heat
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ReefdUp
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Posted: February 18 2015 at 11:21am |
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All my tanks are in the basement, with most in an unfinished unheated section. I had to use slightly larger heaters, but nothing crazy. Low pH is more of an issue.
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www.reefdup.com
Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987
200g, 75g, & 15g Systems
PADI Advanced Open Water
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Marcoss
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Posted: February 18 2015 at 11:21am |
Thanks Nick. Do you run LEDs? I plan on running just LEDs so I don't know that I would generate a ton of heat.
Marcos
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Marcoss
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Posted: February 18 2015 at 11:24am |
Thanks ReefdUp!
Sounds like I need to research the pH issue. Is that something to do with the cold?
I plan on running a couple of 250W heaters. Do you have a rule of thumb on it? Like 1/3 more wattage for the tank being in the cold?
Thanks!
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Molli
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Posted: February 18 2015 at 12:39pm |
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Other thing that just came to mind is whether your humidity level might go up in an unheated basement with all that warm water?
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Marcoss
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Posted: February 18 2015 at 12:45pm |
Molli, that makes a ton of sense. Does anyone have a hot tub? I see most people use them during the winter and am curious to know if those evaporate a ton. Not sure how those things are measured.
The basement is not freezing though; I do some hobby stuff down there and forget bottles of water, etc. They never freeze. Its not to the point where I see steam rising from coffee when I'm down there.
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Krazie4Acans
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Posted: February 18 2015 at 1:17pm |
 Marcoss wrote:
Thanks ReefdUp!
Sounds like I need to research the pH issue. Is that something to do with the cold?
I plan on running a couple of 250W heaters. Do you have a rule of thumb on it? Like 1/3 more wattage for the tank being in the cold?
Thanks! |
The PH is effected due to higher levels of C02 in basements compared to the upstairs levels in homes. The C02 is heavier than other air elements and settles in the lower portions of our homes causing lower PH in aquariums. Krazie 
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My ocean. 90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water Tank Thread:
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Marcoss
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Posted: February 18 2015 at 6:06pm |
Krazie4Acans wrote:
... The C02 is heavier than other air elements and settles in the lower portions of our homes causing lower PH in aquariums. Krazie
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Krazie, thank you very much for the insight. This is exactly why I posed this question. I imagine the change to the pH is subtle though, right? We have carbon dioxide detecters down there that never go off.
Thanks!
Marcos
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ReefdUp
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Posted: February 18 2015 at 6:23pm |
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My pH never goes above 8.2, no matter how hard I try. I stay around 8.0. It's just something you need to keep in mind. Some people have a much harder time keeping it even at 7.8.
The humidity is a concern as well. We occasionally run a dehumidifier, but most of the time we just enjoy the higher humidity.
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Marcoss
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Posted: February 18 2015 at 6:30pm |
ReefdUp wrote:
My pH never goes above 8.2, no matter how hard I try. I stay around 8.0. It's just something you need to keep in mind. Some people have a much harder time keeping it even at 7.8.
The humidity is a concern as well. We occasionally run a dehumidifier, but most of the time we just enjoy the higher humidity. |
Thank you! Last question, about how many gallons are down there? I'm just debating if I should get a dehumidifier too. Marcos
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LaRue
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Posted: February 18 2015 at 7:27pm |
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I have 150 in my basement I just vent my skimmer to outside air and it keeps my pH at about 8.4 and I Run a dehumidifier I go through about 1.5 gallons a day
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ReefdUp
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Posted: February 18 2015 at 7:43pm |
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I have about 400 gallons in about 2300 square feet. I can't vent to the outside, so I run a CO2 scrubber. It only boosts up the pH about 0.2.
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www.reefdup.com
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Nick801
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Posted: February 18 2015 at 7:55pm |
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I installed ventilation fans that just kick on at a certain humidity or you can also just set how long they run each hour
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Nick801
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Posted: February 18 2015 at 7:55pm |
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Having the air pulled through with those fans also boosted ph
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Marcoss
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Posted: February 22 2015 at 12:59pm |
Wow. Thanks everyone for helping! Your information has really helped me and guided me through finding more information about this. I have research this subject further and have run into what you are saying about pH and about evaporation. It has helped me determine where to keep it, etc.
Thanks again!
Marcos
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phys
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Posted: February 22 2015 at 7:03pm |
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You can always get some foam panel insulation to put around the walls in the basement to help hold heat in also. Especially around the tank walls. The ground and concrete acts as a huge heat sink so adding it near the tank will help with the absorption there. Also be sure to insulate around windows in the basement.
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SharkByteShaz
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Posted: February 22 2015 at 7:33pm |
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I prefer mine in the basement. This time it's going upstairs. If Adam and Dion can do it, right?
Edited by SharkByteShaz - February 22 2015 at 7:37pm
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HOLD MY BEER, I WANT TO TRY SOMETHING...
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Marcoss
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Posted: February 24 2015 at 6:34pm |
phys wrote:
You can always get some foam panel insulation to put around the walls in the basement to help hold heat in also. Especially around the tank walls. The ground and concrete acts as a huge heat sink so adding it near the tank will help with the absorption there. Also be sure to insulate around windows in the basement. |
Great suggestions! I am actually rethinking this idea. I figured if its cold down there, I am not going to be motivated enough to go deal with it.
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Marcoss
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Posted: February 24 2015 at 6:35pm |
SharkByteShaz wrote:
I prefer mine in the basement. This time it's going upstairs. If Adam and Dion can do it, right? |
I want one in my room, however, my addiction is starting to piss my wife off. Haha. I just started a couple of months ago with a smaller tank and am getting a second smaller tank this weekend and one next week. This hobby is dangerous...
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