Heating my tank with my Natural gas Hot Water tank!!!

[Codie]

You could use something like a inkbird with a powerbar. This would be one thing controlling all the heaters the same. IIdeally down the road you will end up with some type of controller like an Apex which will resolve these types of issues along with many others.

I was actually looking at the inkbird so would I turn the heaters up a little higher then what I would want the temp and just let the controller cycle the heat?

 

[Niagarafirecorals]

Yes that is correct

 

[Luigi]

I was actually looking at the inkbird so would I turn the heaters up a little higher then what I would want the temp and just let the controller cycle the heat?

I love inkbird controller
I have 2 one just heat controller
And one its a dual controller
Temp and humidity i use it for my meat curing chamber

 

[Codie]

I love inkbird controller
I have 2 one just heat controller
And one its a dual controller
Temp and humidity i use it for my meat curing chamber

I am ordering one right now lol but the real question is what do I need to heat my tank I read a lot of things online. So right now I have two 100 watt heaters and 1 150watt and usually only two kick on so could I get away with two 150watt heaters? It’s a 90 gallon and with the sump and all the rocks I have a total of 90 gallons of water flowing through it.

 

[Luigi]

I am ordering one right now lol but the real question is what do I need to heat my tank I read a lot of things online. So right now I have two 100 watt heaters and 1 150watt and usually only two kick on so could I get away with two 150watt heaters? It’s a 90 gallon and with the sump and all the rocks I have a total of 90 gallons of water flowing through it.

2 x150 its fine unless a very cold environment..and if one fails the other one at least Will keep a certain degree of water imo

 

[Niagarafirecorals]

Update yesterday as you all know was freezing -17 or so and look how tight the system stayed for temp all day. Love this gas heating



















 

[Luigi]

That is very tight 1\10th of degree is almost being precise as a pharmacist Lol

 

[Luke_L]

I love it also... -30c last night... sump.on an unfinished basement...

 

[Luigi]

Very nice , well let me tell you as diy guy
Nice thoughts are going around right now..
Lol but not going to happen any time soon

 

[Luke_L]

UPDATE my last electricity bill is down almost $100

 

[Luigi]

What was before?

 

[Luke_L]

What was before?

I don't know as I don't pay the bills the wife just said "whatever you did to the fish tank is good the hydro bill dropped a hundred bucks"

 

[Luigi]

Lol

 

[Limey]

great thread lots of info and certainly a lot to ponder as always Luke and Luigi feeding this forum with useful DIY builds to save $$$ and keep reefing affordable

 

[Luke_L]

Little update: heating system is working great. Very happy with it.

Turns out the check valve on cold water inlet side is NOT necessary, as a matter of fact, it's bad. It isolates the hot water side of the house, and doesn't allow for expansion. If you plan on using the system do not add that check valve on the cold water inlet side of the hot water tank. The rest of the water in the system acts as a check valve.

 

[Luigi]

Thanks Luke good to know

 

[Luke_L]

Update, 2 years later, this heating system is amazing, trouble free, nice tight tank temp swing!

 

[Will Penfold]

Update, 2 years later, this heating system is amazing, trouble free, nice tight tank temp

I’m reading through the whole rundown on the set up and it’s fascinating!

 

[coachV]

Yes i finally had the opportunity to hook up a loop between my sump and hot water tank... and it works TOO good! im working on the programming to slow it down a bit... using the osc command i am going to slow down the heating. VERY happy with it so far.... i hate electric heaters with a PASSION ...

i am using a grundfus circulation pump. max allowable fluid temp is 230F
two half inch check valves from amazon.. (designed for Campers) they werent labeled for max temp but they are designed for hot water tanks on Campers so i figured i was safe.
i have two quarter turn valves to i can shut it in.
and a 50 foot coil of 1/2 inch PEX pipe in my sump.

here is the pump...
View attachment 815View attachment 816




Here the checkvalve down stream of the coil, going back in to the hot water tank.
View attachment 817

this is the cold inlet to my hot water tank. notice another check valve Above my T (stopping flow of warm water from loop going back into the cold water side of the house....)
View attachment 818

Here is the loop in the sump.
View attachment 819

Below: you can see exatcly when i started testing.... on the sump temp and dt temp...
View attachment 820



and finally my attempt to slow it down using the OSC command...
View attachment 821

Im looking into doing this. Thank you.

 

[Luke_L]

Im looking into doing this. Thank you.

Hopefully @Rickerman can share the pump he used, my pump is not available