is this ok? the guy at the fish store started flipping out on me saying it would fry my fish. It was an LFS that i never go to but they had cheap heaters so I got one. I just thought this was weird
300W heater for 50g tank
- Thread starter juneblood3
- Start date
thats exactly what I thought. Its not like its going to go over 80 degrees if I set it at that degree correct?
The problem with using a higher wattage heater in a smaller tank is the POTENTIAL for 'cooking' your fish if the heater fails in the ON position. I prefer to size my heater using 2 watts per gallon.
I agree. I would not go that high of a wattage, if it gets stuck in the "ON" position, you won't notice in time and your fish are cooked.
go with about half that - 3w per gallon is plenty.
hot enough to properly heat your tank
but not high enough that if it ever failed in the on position it will cook your fish in no time.
fact is, a 300w heater stuck on would heat up a tank that size to lethal levels very very quickly.
they guy at the LFS was correct in recommending a lower wattage but not because it will fry your fish when it is working normally.
the problem is if it ever failed in the 'on' position, you lose the time factor that you need to save your fish...
using two smaller heaters is even better - both have to fail at the same time to run into fish killing trouble, the chances of which are almost zero.
go with about half that - 3w per gallon is plenty.
hot enough to properly heat your tank
but not high enough that if it ever failed in the on position it will cook your fish in no time.
fact is, a 300w heater stuck on would heat up a tank that size to lethal levels very very quickly.
they guy at the LFS was correct in recommending a lower wattage but not because it will fry your fish when it is working normally.
the problem is if it ever failed in the 'on' position, you lose the time factor that you need to save your fish...
using two smaller heaters is even better - both have to fail at the same time to run into fish killing trouble, the chances of which are almost zero.
fishaddict401;4020364; said:
I thoroughly and completely disagree with this response...
deeda;4020404; said:
I thoroughly and completely agree with this response...
I target 2W per gal for heating and this has worked great for me for many years... My 125 gal stays very stable at 80*F with a Visi Therm Stealth 250W heater...
The higher the wattage of a heater, the higher the temperature of the heating element...
Thus the faster it heats up the water around it... thus the less time it is "on"...
The more it turns on, then off, the faster the on/off controlling mechanism will wear out...
When it wears out, the heater will be stuck in the "on" position...
The stronger the heater the higher the temperature will be...
The LFS guy you talked to is well informed and is sharing the benefit of his experience with you... The suggestion he is "inszne" is based on a poor understanding of the elements at work...
I wish people were as eager to understand things aas they were to advise others on what to do
Have a question about trying to get a 55gal tank temp to rise to 84 deg f. Currently tank with lights turned off, heater set as high as it will go. Temp reads 81.9 deg f. This is a new 300w heater, which is rated for up to 65gal. Any suggestions. juneblood3 is asking about heating his 50gal tank. What are some elements that interfere with performance?