Comment

Comment by Jeff S on October 18, 2014 at 6:59am

If you have severe cold like Leo you can't afford to have a heater failure but no matter how much you spend there's always a chance of failure. If this is a concern then I would just buy 2 $15 heaters and use them both so if one fails the other will sustain you.

Comment by Leo White Bear on October 18, 2014 at 4:44am

I'm an advocate that you go cheap, you end up paying the price.  But I'm also on a limited budget.  If you don't have a DIY stash, then go out and pay the cash and do it right the first time.

  You can use the 200W heater and insulate the FT and GB, but you run the risk of stress on the heater.  One cold night and your fish may die.

  Insulate the outside of the FT, use a swirl filter and an appropriate air pump along with bubble wrap and another sheet of foam insulation on top of that resting on top of the FT water, you may get away with it.  Don't worry too much about growing veggies until the temp warms up in the spring. 

  If you insist on trying to grow during the cold months then. insulate the GB and use a hoop house enclosure over the top.  This will trap some of the warmer air from the FT in the GB enclosure and it may work.

  I'm in Central Wisconsin and the temps dip down to -20°F and hold -teens for months, so working in the winter is not an option without a greenhouse and then it is a bit touchy.

Comment by Jeff S on October 17, 2014 at 8:14pm

I don't remember the brand but most any one will work. I go cheap. http://www.amazon.com/SunSun-JRB-230-300-watt-Submersible-Heater/dp...

Comment by Butch Pornebo on October 17, 2014 at 6:59pm

@jeff what brand of aquarium heater are you using ?

Comment by Jeff S on October 17, 2014 at 5:43pm

I use a 300w aqaurium heater on my 45 gallon tanks here in Michigan with no problems but they are in my house. If yours is outside you'll need to insulate the tank with 1" styrofoam and the aquarium heater should suffice. Your grow bed should be insulated as well.

Comment by Butch Pornebo on October 17, 2014 at 5:05pm

so I'm debating if I want to built that water heater. it could be built at a reasonable price BUT the thermostat is an additional cost. DIY thermostat will cost another $35. However, since my FT is about 45 gallons, a 200 watt aquarium heater should do the trick. for one thing those aquarium heater only cost $16 and comes with a built in thermostat.

The question is how durable those aquarium heater. During winter here in Northern California while trying to maintain 70f. Will those aquarium water here last the winter season from December to maybe February or March at the most ?

Comment by Leo White Bear on October 17, 2014 at 5:49am

Butch-

 I have attached a couple of links to other groups here on the Aquaponics source.  I feel safe on directing you to these links being the same group source.  Go to the "other group" and send me an email and I will try to download a few videos and more info on heaters

http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/diy-heater-bui...

 

http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/diy-heater-sub...

Comment by Butch Pornebo on October 16, 2014 at 11:32pm

don't have a basement and indoor AP is not an available option. my AP is outside in the kitchen porch. I saw your reply on the other group about submersible heater. interested on know how to do those. also, I'm no green thumb but I have heard the term "overwinter" a few times already and not sure what that exactly meant. gotta check wikipedia I guess

Comment by Leo White Bear on October 16, 2014 at 9:50pm

A friend of mine put his set up in his basement, this may be an option.  I over-winter my fish in a 55-gallon aquarium with 2   30-gallon grow beds in my dining room, another option.  I don't remember if I have any pics on my face page but you can check it out by clicking on my bear picture on the left.

Comment by Butch Pornebo on October 16, 2014 at 5:17pm

any other suggestions is highly appreciated folks. greenhouse could be out of reach right now BUT I do plan to make a hoop house for the grow bed next month.

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