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Hello all. Glad to be here on this forum. I have a decent knowledge of the various choices and systems available for domicile based water heating as well as pool heating, though I have assembled neither. I would like my first step into a solar water heating project to be towards my immediate need to heat water in an aquaponics system.
Aquaponics combines the hydroponic growth of plants with the aquaculture raising of fish. I am assembling a system in my basment and I am going to grow various greens and herbs year round on the plant side, and tilapia on the fish side. I will need to keep my fish water temp up to around 75-80 F. The fish tank size will be around 50-150 gallons. The air temps in the basement I would say hover around 55F in the winter and 75F in the summer. My heating needs will be greatest when it is coldest (the winter months). In effect, I am heating a small indoor pool.
I would like to build this myself and keep things as cheap as possible. I have at my dispoable the coils from the back of a fridge (I have seen DIY panels made from these). I have proper exposure (southern), with little shade throught out much of the day. The distance between where I would like to locate the panel and the water tank that needs heating is is less than 8ft. The Panel will be located on the ground level (as opposed to the roof, though I guess I could mount it on the roof if I needed too), but at a higher elevation than fish tank. In my planning I have seen the potential need for a water heater tank to be part of the system so that hot water can be stored and used to heat the fish tank. I live in North Central Indiana, so the winters are fairly cold. That is about as far as I have gotten. Any input into this project would be greatly appreciated.
Aquaponics combines the hydroponic growth of plants with the aquaculture raising of fish. I am assembling a system in my basment and I am going to grow various greens and herbs year round on the plant side, and tilapia on the fish side. I will need to keep my fish water temp up to around 75-80 F. The fish tank size will be around 50-150 gallons. The air temps in the basement I would say hover around 55F in the winter and 75F in the summer. My heating needs will be greatest when it is coldest (the winter months). In effect, I am heating a small indoor pool.
I would like to build this myself and keep things as cheap as possible. I have at my dispoable the coils from the back of a fridge (I have seen DIY panels made from these). I have proper exposure (southern), with little shade throught out much of the day. The distance between where I would like to locate the panel and the water tank that needs heating is is less than 8ft. The Panel will be located on the ground level (as opposed to the roof, though I guess I could mount it on the roof if I needed too), but at a higher elevation than fish tank. In my planning I have seen the potential need for a water heater tank to be part of the system so that hot water can be stored and used to heat the fish tank. I live in North Central Indiana, so the winters are fairly cold. That is about as far as I have gotten. Any input into this project would be greatly appreciated.
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