I have a 160gal tank with a 20 gallon sump (I plan on making a 40 gallon sump). What wattage do I need?
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How strong of a heater do I need?
- Thread starter Mfowlie626
- Start date
depends on how warm your house is. If you keep the tank in an area that is a little cooler I say shoot for 2 heaters, if you keep it warm try one. I hate heaters running a ton and find it will burn out a heater faster. but sometimes having the one run and then having one to replace it when it finally goes it good as well.
I have a 500gal and a 200gal in a very cold basement during the winter time. I use a 800w titanium heater for my 500gal. and its in my 75gallon sump, and a 500w titanium heater in my 200 gal there both set at 79.5 degrees. I never have any issues
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Hello; Some will depend on the environment around the tank. If in a house living area the tank heater will only have to make up the difference between the ambient room temp and the desired tank temp. In a garage, basement or such the ambient temp may be much lower so the heater may need to be a higher wattage.
I like to have two smaller wattage heaters inplace of one stronger. This way there is some protection from heater failures. I have had heaters fail by being stuck on and also by not heating at all. With one strong heater the tank can be overheated if it sticks on. With two smaller heaters it takes much longer for one stuck on to heat up the water and the max temp should be lower. If one smaller heater fails the other can usually keep the tank from getting too cold.
I also like to use a smaller wattage I can get away with. I have had strong heaters cook tanks. The smaller heaters may have to stay on more often to maintain the temp but the temp swings are more moderate.
I know that I have not answered your question. If the fish room is cold then 300 watts total may be best. If the fish room is warm then smaller wattage may work.
One other thing. The heaters do not have to be matched. Over the decades I have used heaters of different wattages in tanks many times. Not so much by plan as by what I had around that worked. So if you start with two 100 watt heaters and they are not enough, you can replace one with a 150 watt heater and have a 150 and a 100 in the tank. Or any number of combinations.
I also tend to adjust the thermostat of the weaker heater to come on first and most days that heater does most of the work. The stronger heater adjusted to come on a few degrees cooler. Say the small heater set at 75 F and the strong heater set at 72 F. I also place the two heaters some distance apart.
Good luck
I like to have two smaller wattage heaters inplace of one stronger. This way there is some protection from heater failures. I have had heaters fail by being stuck on and also by not heating at all. With one strong heater the tank can be overheated if it sticks on. With two smaller heaters it takes much longer for one stuck on to heat up the water and the max temp should be lower. If one smaller heater fails the other can usually keep the tank from getting too cold.
I also like to use a smaller wattage I can get away with. I have had strong heaters cook tanks. The smaller heaters may have to stay on more often to maintain the temp but the temp swings are more moderate.
I know that I have not answered your question. If the fish room is cold then 300 watts total may be best. If the fish room is warm then smaller wattage may work.
One other thing. The heaters do not have to be matched. Over the decades I have used heaters of different wattages in tanks many times. Not so much by plan as by what I had around that worked. So if you start with two 100 watt heaters and they are not enough, you can replace one with a 150 watt heater and have a 150 and a 100 in the tank. Or any number of combinations.
I also tend to adjust the thermostat of the weaker heater to come on first and most days that heater does most of the work. The stronger heater adjusted to come on a few degrees cooler. Say the small heater set at 75 F and the strong heater set at 72 F. I also place the two heaters some distance apart.
Good luck
3 watts per gallon to raise tank temp 10F above room temp (in your case I'd use 2x 250w heaters)
4 watts per gallon to raise tank temp 20F above room temp (in your case I'd use 2x 300w heaters)
Just a general rule I've used over the years. I recommend 2 heaters that equal the wattage you need because if a big boy goes out it will cook your fish.
4 watts per gallon to raise tank temp 20F above room temp (in your case I'd use 2x 300w heaters)
Just a general rule I've used over the years. I recommend 2 heaters that equal the wattage you need because if a big boy goes out it will cook your fish.
glass or acrylic?
ambient room temp?
covered tank?
covered sump?
too many factors to randomly throw out a number, on the other hand heaters are cheap, buy higher wattage ones and don't forget a good controller. I suggest a ranco.
ambient room temp?
covered tank?
covered sump?
too many factors to randomly throw out a number, on the other hand heaters are cheap, buy higher wattage ones and don't forget a good controller. I suggest a ranco.
Glass
Tanks covered but not the sump
Room temp around 75
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Tanks covered but not the sump
Room temp around 75
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