It requires 1 btu to heat 1 lb of water 1 degree F. 600 gallons of water weighs 5000 lbs, therefore 5000 btus are required to raise the temperature of the tank 1 degree. For example if the water comes out of your well at 50 degrees, to heat the tank to 75 degrees would require 125,000 btus (5000 x 25).
If electricity is available, 1000 watts for 1 hour is 3410 btus. A stock tank heater is typically 1500 watts and would require 24.4 hours [125,000 / (1.5 x 3410)] to heat the tank from 50 to 75 degrees. This assumes no heat loss so you would want to up size the heater (use two stock tank heaters) to account for a cold windy day. Also keeping the tank covered until use would reduce the heat loss.
If electricity is not available, propane contains approximately 90,000 btu per gallon. Assuming a heater efficiency of 70% approximately 2 gallons [125,000 / (90,000 x 0.7)] of propane are required to deliver the 125,000 btus to the water. If the propane heater is rated at 10,000 btu/hr it would require 12.5 hours (125,000 / 10,000) to heat the water to 75 degrees, again assuming no heat loss. A standard 20 lb propane cylinder contains a little less than 5 gallons of propane. Again I would keep the tank covered to prevent/minimize heat loss.
Hopefully this helps in selecting or fabricating your heater.
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Today's Featured Article - Sunday Drives - by Cowboy. Summer was finally upon us here in Northern Maine. We have two types of industry up here, one being "Forestry" (Wood Products) and the other "Farming" (Potatoes). There is no shortage of farm tractors and equipment around here! I have been restoring old Farm Tractors for the past 6 years, and have found it easier and less expensive to hit all the auctions and purchase whole tractors for parts needed. My wife who works at a local school, and only has weekends and summers off, while on t
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