Heating a 140 gallon?

[Dispatch273]

I'm getting ready to finally set up my 140 gallon ACRYLIC tank. I've never had an acrylic tank before and I'm not sure if that makes a difference in what kind of heater I use. Can heaters melt the acrylic? What watt heater do I need for 140 gallons? The dimensions are 48x26x26. Is it better to use two heaters? One on each side? What do you guys have in your similar sized set ups? The tank will be home to ca/sa cichlids.

 

[Jamo3030]

I have no experience with acrylic so I can't help you there, BUT as far as two heaters vs one, you will get more even heat dispersion using two heaters. I have a friend who is setting up a new tank and is using some pretty powerful lighting that creates a lot of heat. He is going to try to put this to use by running tank water over the top of his lights (across a heat collection plate) and then back to the tank. This will both cool his lights and warm his water, thus saving energy.

 

[Aqualoon]

I use to have two inline heaters, one on each end. However when I upgraded my filters the inline heaters couldn't fit so I'm down to one. It seems to be doing the job just fine.

 

[ecoli73]

I use eheim jager 300 watts on my acrylic, no problems what so ever.

 

[Dispatch273]

I use eheim jager 300 watts on my acrylic, no problems what so ever.

Thanks! Would you suggest one or two for my 140?

 

[lipadj46]

1 is fine as long as the ambient temp is not too cold

 

[Chizzle]

I would put two in there incase one stops working. especially since its almost winter and if you live somewhere very cold.

 

[lipadj46]

If you do 2 heaters I would get lower wattage ones as 600 watts in a 140g is overkill.

 

[Dispatch273]

If you do 2 heaters I would get lower wattage ones as 600 watts in a 140g is overkill.

What wattage would you suggest if I do 2 heaters?

 

[Dispatch273]

What wattage would you suggest if I do 2 heaters?

Please?