[A-W-C]

Currently using a 1kw thermostatic aquarium heater (ebay £42) and heat retaining foil (type you'd use after a marathon etc) (amazon £4.99 for 3) heater drops straight into Wyedale 350l tank (does not damage tank even though in direct contact) and heats to 32 degrees, leave wrap on during day, water remains warm throughout. Really simple and really effective.

How long do you have it running ?

[gewindows]

http://shop.aquakoiaquatics.com/wei-pro-2kw-titanium-element-pond-heater-4050-p.asp

[nokmond]

Currently using a 1kw thermostatic aquarium heater (ebay £42) and heat retaining foil (type you'd use after a marathon etc) (amazon £4.99 for 3) heater drops straight into Wyedale 350l tank (does not damage tank even though in direct contact) and heats to 32 degrees, leave wrap on during day, water remains warm throughout. Really simple and really effective.

Do you have a link for the heater? Can't find it on eBay.... Cheers!

[Carl2009]

AWC - you say a 1kw keats your 350l tank to 32. Is it a flat tank or upright? How long does it take to raise it to that. Do you have a stat on it? 32 seems quite warm to me - is there a risk of shocking the glass or has it cooled sufficiently as it passes through the reel and hose. If so, how much heat has been dissipated?

Just trying to calculate what i'd need for a 500l tank.

1kw per hour x 16 hours (4 pm to 8 am) @ 12p per unit (kw) = £1.92 per day (worthwhile). If you wanted to save money, and say it took 5 hours to warm a 500l tank, you could of course nip out before bed at 10:30 and switch it off, but you risk it going cold overnight, which it would i'm sure. Alternatively you need it on a timer; so that it comes ON at, say, 2am and goes off at 8am, even though it's been plugged in at 4pm the day before (Alex - one for the notepad).

Things to think about boys whilst you are decorating people's windows with ice-art this morning!

[johnwillan]

This is the ebay item number:350661302052, I use the 1kw version (£42), it has a built in thermostat, max output 32 degrees. I switch it on around 5pm and leave till morning, no idea how long it tanks to heat the 350l flat tank but I doubt it's on all night. The heat wrap is listed on Amazon as: "Foil Survival Emergency Blanket", I leave this on all day. The heater sits on the bottom of the tank, it appears to heat the whole tank to 32 degrees without any cold spots. Not measured temp at brush, it's not "hot" but pleasantly warm, certainly would not crack glass. Main aim was to keep the hoses pliable which it does admirably, it also keeps the van defrosted (no need for my greenhouse heater).

[telfordwindowclnr]

The is plenty of talk about freezing tanks, which I can see.  But surely a more pressing problem is the problem of freezing hoses?  What is the point of having water at 20 degrees in your tank if the reels and DI vessels are frozen? Surely worrying about air temperature instead of water temperature will cure the problem of frozen tanks and frozen hoses?

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

The is plenty of talk about freezing tanks, which I can see.  But surely a more pressing problem is the problem of freezing hoses?  What is the point of having water at 20 degrees in your tank if the reels and DI vessels are frozen? Surely worrying about air temperature instead of water temperature will cure the problem of frozen tanks and frozen hoses?

Nothing in your van will freeze with a tank of hot water in there, as I said before, this is as big a benefit, if not bigger than the actual use of the hot water for cleaning!