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Before I set my tank up I have to choose which room to put it in. Its either the living room or the study. My main concern is fluctuating temperature

a) The living room gets very warm (80F) when we crank the stove up in winter and is lighter (South facing) in summer than the study, though I can put it in the darkest spot in the room, under the stairs.

b) Study is West facing, so much lower light but it can get very chilly in winter, but stays cooler in high summer. In winter the room can go down to nearly freezing at night in a really cold spell.
I will have a 200watt Hagen heater in a 22 US/18 UK gall tank, would that be good enough if I choose the study. How do heaters cope with fluctuating temps?

What do you think?

I'd go with the study.
My house is also rather cool in winter, I insulate the tanks with styro sheeting from the home improvements store, as well as cover the tank with a blanket.
I have a 150 watt heater set to 68F (lowest it'll go) in the winter. The house temp is set to 60F although it sometimes drifts down to the mid 50's ...not entirely sure how to regulate my house heat yet .

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The heater will be fine & when the temperature gets lower that the indicated temperature, the heater will swich on. In the study, the heater will stay on for a long time due to the freezing temperatures you mentioned. In the livingroom the heater will stay off most of the time, because of the stove & in summer it will be cooler & after all 80F isn't bad.

Take also notice for the water changes & cleaning of the tank. Which room is better for you to work in & in which room you'll be most, so you can enjoy your tank.



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shiftingsands

I would choose the living room reason being being in the study possibly not used too much in the winter you would be less likely to see if ant thing went wrong. Besides it just sounds too cold and to keep it at a safe tank temperature you certainly would have to make a permiment insulation during the colder months.

Also you could have better access to it in the living room as far as any regular work that has to be dome. Also every body could enjoy the tank.

Keith

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Thanks very much. I think the LR will be best.

I have to agree with Keith on this one. I would set it up in the livingroom. Yes, it might get warmer, when it does, you'll have to turn off the light on the tank, and put a fan on it if it gets too warm. And really 80* isn't that warm Right now I'm fighting to get my water cooler than 85*/86* at night just to do water changes, and this is coming out of the cold water tap at 2-3 am when the water is the coolest. I would be afraid that if you put it in the other room you won't be in there enough during the winter, and if something goes wrong it may be overlooked. heidi





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