heating a 300G
- Thread starter hurley420
- Start date
The rule of thumb for number of watts per gallon is 2-4 watts. You may need to increase the number of watts per gallon. You could also try to insulate the tank a little. Does the tank have a completely covered top?
You need about 1500 watts to properly heat a 300gal. Keep in mind that using smaller (300watt) heaters in tandem will pose a problem due to the size of the heating cores in each smaller heater. I use a 1000watt and a 500watt titanium heater in my 36" tall 300gal and they get the job done without being in the "ON" sequence 24/7.
Oddball;3611221; said:
Wow... I used 3 x 300W heaters in a 5.5' round 300 gal Rubbermaid (opentop) to keep the water at a steady 80*F... So be it I like the house to stay warm (low 70s)... but 1500 W sounds outrageous to me...
Keeping the tank covered will help hold in heat... Insulating the back/sides of the tank will be cheaper in the long run than adding excessive heaters...
Basically it comes down to this: The difference of temperature between the room and your desired water temperature and insulation. Also you may try to move your heater into some water flow, sometimes just changing the position helps. Most heat is lost from the top of the tank, make sure you have a tight cover. Here in Arizona I'm always trying to keep my tanks cool so the opposite will work for you. Keep your lights on longer. Use submersible pumps if possible. Keep your surface area water flow as calm as possible. Think about trying to maintain cooler temps for the winter, even just a few degrees will make it easer for your heater to maintain and most likely this will not hurt your fish.
Getting a bigger heater is fine, eventually you will have enough heaters in your tank to maintain any temp you want.
Good luck!
Getting a bigger heater is fine, eventually you will have enough heaters in your tank to maintain any temp you want.
Good luck!
Oddball;3611501; said:
I've always felt that 5W per gallon was an excessive suggestion for typical conditions... even if it is a common suggestion...
As described, the difference in temperature between the room and the water is a critical point... as well as how well the top of the tank is sealed... as well as what the tank is made of and if the tank is insulated...
I use 2W per gal for my aquariums in the house... and 3W per gal did fine in my 300 gal rubbermaid that didn't have any sort of a top on it...
The thing with heaters... if you "need" 2W per gal... but you "use" 5W per gal... either way you will have the same basic result... your tank will be warm enough...
But in my experience, using "to much" heater, causes the heater to turn itself on/off much more frequently... thus causing the "on'off mechanism" wear out faster... which is the most common and most destructive failure in a heater...
I'm not saying you are wrong, just sharing what I think and why I think it...