Interesting and hard dilema, need assistance

[Reef Wellington]

OK, I am returning to the hobby as I now have a bit more room and time on my hands to enjoy it.

I have a problem that I am hoping someone else has solved in the past. I finished my basement but there are no heat ducts leaving me with issues of keeping the tank warm enough for a reef system. I do have a in wall electric shop heater that heats the place up in seconds but I do not want to keep the unit going all winter.

The basement stays cool in the summer but is very cold in the winter, not freezing but I imagine it gets into the mid to upper 40's. The tank is in the basement and the sump will be in a closet next to the tank. Any ideas??????

I have ZERO ideas and am looking to see if there is someone out there with some sort of solution.

 

[NateHanson]

Is the basement finished? Are you interested in finishing it?

I know this isn't the quickest solution for you, but it would have many benefits for your house as well as your tank. If you finished the basement you'd put foam insulation along the walls behind the wallboard, and I think you can lay insulation under the floor, on the slab too. This might be enough to keep the basement at a more livable temperature without heat in the winter, or require less energy to bring it up to mid-60s.

Also, 40s seems very cold even for an unfinished basement. Are there any leaky windows or doors in your basement? Sealing them up or replacing them might go a long way to moderating the temp of the basement.

Nate

 

[Scuba_Dave]

My basement the 1st year I moved in was dipping to below 49
I insulated the sill plate all the way around, replaced 3 single pane windows, sealed the other 2 (will adjoin the new garage), sealed the basement door

Now my basement (unheated) stays around 63 normally - dipping to 60 on cold days. Next step is to frame & insulate the East & North basement walls
The South wall will be "insulated" by a greenhouse & sunroom
The West wall will be bordered by the new garage - insulated

Is the ceiling of the basement insulated? That will keep the upstairs warmer & downstairs colder

 

[naturebatslast]

I remember seeing a basement setup (maybe RC), where the person had the same problem. I think his solution was a small space heater and a encasement of very thick and dense sytrofoam(at least 6"). He would setup in the fall and break it down in the summer.

 

[Reef Wellington]

The basement is finished with a drop ceiling no insulation. I need to get to insulating as much as possible it seems. There is no insulation as of yet and maybe I can kick it up 10-15 degrees with the right plan. I wish it was still winter so I could see.....did I just write that??????? Anyway thanks....if there are any other ideas please let me know.

 

[Greg Hiller]

Hell, put in a large enough tank with enough lights and your basement will heat itself.