How to insulate aquarium...?

[Lillyan]

So, my 90 & 40breeder are in the garage. I need to find a way to insulate them, the heater I bought will have to work too hard to keep the tank warm and I wanted to make less heat wasted.

I went to Lowes and found 16x48in rolls of the stuff below. Will that work?
http://www.lowes.com/pd_35136-1722-B777CT_4294858103_4294937087_?productId=3032773&Ns=p_product_price|0&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_Fiberglass%2BInsulation_4294858103_4294937087_%3FNs%3Dp_product_price|0

 

[drunkenmastera]

you can always wrap it with a nice warm blanket.....

 

[OrionGirl]

Yep. Wrapping them with blankets/styrofoam, covering them to reduce evaporation and heat loss. Just make sure it's not too air tight, as you'll want fresh O2 to get in.

 

[Lillyan]

But what about what I bought already? Can I use it? I was going to tape it on 3 sides, more or less, permanently.

 

[wesleydnunder]

It'll work but I wouldn't use it. Unfaced fiberglass blankets will shed fibers every time you touch it or a breeze blows against it... makes me itch just lookin' at it.

Mark

 

[sarajean80]

I personally wouldn't want fiberglass near my tank, just because I'd be afraid some would fall in and the fish would try to eat it. They sell insulated sheathing at Lowe's, sometimes called pinkboard (some with a reflective coating on one side) that might be better. You could cut and tape together four pieces to enclose the tank, then when it gets warmer just cut the tape and stack together until you need it again. It would be a lot less messy than trying to work with fiberglass.

 

[Lillyan]

Foam board insulates poorly compared to other things.
What about things from craft stores or walmart, like cotton or something?

 

[thebrandon]

I think styrofoam would do better than you think. Many people use it for that very purpose on their tanks. Or you could get one of those portable, plug in the wall heaters.

 

[Lillyan]

No, not heating the garage...lol
Yea, will go back to Lowes tomorrow and exchange the stuff.
Not sure which is the best for the least $.

 

[Cerianthus]

Can you somehow erect temporary partitions (all the way to ceiling) for winter with insulation for these two tanks (Fish room)? If you can separate tank room from rest of garage, it may do the trick otherwise no matter what you do, your tanks will try to heat the entire garage continuously.