Weatherproofing outdoor tanks

[peter5930]

Some ideas about how to protect outdoor tanks from extremes of heat and cold:

Make the substrate or water as deep as possible, to provide the greatest thermal mass.

(Picture is of a tank for Ambystoma opacum, thus the coconut fibre at one end for burrowing in and the clay that forms a muddy depression at the other end to give them the idea that it's a dry lake bed they can lay eggs in.)

Pack earth between and around tanks where possible, to increase the thermal mass and insulation. Packing the space between tanks also decreases the surface area available for heat transfer.

Radiant barrier foil-faced bubble insulation provides protection from the sun in the summer and helps to retain heat in the winter. Leave an air gap for ventilation if you're covering the top of the tank.

Polystyrene sheet provides heavy-duty insulation. It's vulnerable to UV light, so combine it with radiant barrier foil-faced bubble insulation to protect it. Fit it flush against your tanks.

 

[ACEPHONECHIC]

If you check my uploaded albums you will see that i used unsulated sheets to make an outer box to place my 3ft axie glass tank in. My 6 Adult Axies stayed in there with quite even temperatures, outside on the patio all winter in frost etc. It worked really well and will use it again each winter to protect them from the elements.
I have removed it now it is summer and placed their tank around the side of the house where it is coolest.

 

[peter5930]

Julia had some trouble finding where to buy the foil bubble insulation, so I'm posting links to the stuff I use:

B&Q Aluminium Thermal Foil M/P Insulation Silver Length 7.5m x Width 600mm, 0000003718001

Polystyrene sheet:

B & Q

 

[peter5930]

If you check my uploaded albums you will see that i used unsulated sheets to make an outer box to place my 3ft axie glass tank in. My 6 Adult Axies stayed in there with quite even temperatures, outside on the patio all winter in frost etc. It worked really well and will use it again each winter to protect them from the elements.
I have removed it now it is summer and placed their tank around the side of the house where it is coolest.

I had a look, and I'm really impressed. You did a really neat job with your tanks, and they must be incredibly well insulated. Those PIR boards are something like 50% better at insulating than polystyrene sheet for a given thickness, and they have the aluminium foil laminated onto them on both sides for a low-emissivity surface that also doubles as a UV and rain-proof barrier.

I had a look for them online and came up with this:

Ecotherm Insulation Boards | Rigid PIR Insulation Boards

Kingspan TP10 Thermapitch TP10 Roof Insulation Boards TP10

Celotex TB4000 Insulation Board | PIR Multi Purpose Insulation Board