temp troubles

[SnkChrmr650]

i live in a really old house that is very poorly insulated which means my room temps flucuate 10-12 degrees which means im constantly switching bulbs for day and night (day is lower wattage to combat summer temps night is high watt to combat the a/c that only cools at night it seems) any suggestions other than the obvious get a t-stat to help this situation? i move to a house that is better insulated in 3 weeks its just drivin me crazy right now

[mrshawt]

I did three things:
insulate the tanks sides with foam board and Reflectix
insulate the walls around the tank with Reflectix
stick a layer of Plexiglas over the glass front of the tank

Here's a pic:


And here's a link to Reflectix:
bubble wrap and aluminum foil in an oh so harmonious relationship

[Neal]

That work's or you can do something a bit easier. Get a room heater, and make sure its very secure where you put it. If you get cold at night get one of those window units that have heat and such. The easiest thing you can do however is goto lowes or home depot, and get a dimmer switch, put it where you need to for the day, mark it, and then put it where you need to for night and mark it. Then just move it from day to night as needed. It's cheap, it works great.

[mrshawt]

That work's or you can do something a bit easier. Get a room heater, and make sure its very secure where you put it. If you get cold at night get one of those window units that have heat and such. The easiest thing you can do however is goto lowes or home depot, and get a dimmer switch, put it where you need to for the day, mark it, and then put it where you need to for night and mark it. Then just move it from day to night as needed. It's cheap, it works great.

My parents wouldn't let me use a room heater, so I had to try anything haha to get the temps up.

[Neal]

You still have the option for a dimmer switch. The house I live in is 99 years old, so I have close to the same issue you do. I use a dimmer switch though.

[SnkChrmr650]

you know the dimmer swicth idea has crossed my mind and may be the way to go for now. i have the tank insulated right now but its done with cardboard which gets the job done for now but will be switched to foam board as soon as i can get it. i need the insulation to stabalize the temps, it had alot more flucuation before i put the cardboard on. the problem is its getting into the 95 degree area during the early to mid afternoon then dropping to 83 at night (hot side temps) so i think that dimmer will work till i can get a t-stat.

[Neal]

Really if you monitor it and check on it daily, no need to get a T-Stat, as long as you know what the temperatures are during what day, so that way the tank doesn't get too hot.

[SnkChrmr650]

i just went and bought one and ive got the lamp on it now, so all thats left is dial it in.