Summer vs Winter prep

[geno]

<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I'll be experiencing my first winter season with my 125g reef tank. I've learned a lot over the past few months and one thing was that I needed a chiller (which I purchased). So, the tank temp has been stable during the summer months.</span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Now, as we get closer to cool temps -- I'm thinking about how to best maintain the water temp. I have 2 heaters -- and as you know these babies eat some serious wattage.</span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So, my big question is do you use a backup system for your heaters? </span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">During the summer, if we have a power outage, most of us have tricks to keep water circulating, and cool....</span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In the winter, however, keeping the heaters going could be a major issue.</span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Any thoughts as I look ahead to managing my tank through my first winter season?</span>
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[drnecropolis]

I never worry about winter.. I look at it as a blessing that I don't have to run my chiller..I have never even had heaters. *knock on wood*

 

[kwl1763]

As long as you keep it in a climate conrolled environment (i.e. not in in an unheated basement) rarely would a temp drop of a couple degrees cause any real issues. I would worry about backing up pumps and such way before heaters.

 

[flyingarmy]

Speaking of unheated basements....that's my next project. Tie into the central air for the fishroom in the basement.

 

[skriz]

I've never worried about the temp in the tank dropping. As keith said, as long as your house isn't freezing, your tank will be okay.

 

[geno]

Thanks for the experience.

I'll be glad to shut down this chiller :thumbs: -- it's rough on the electric bill