Size of heater?
- Thread starter Layne Conitz
- Start date
What does this mean? As long as its in the water the water temperature will be maintained. The previous post he meant since he puts it in his sump the water flows through it and maintains the temps.
I have two 150 watt heaters in my 200 gallon. I had the tank for about 5 years or so and the heaters been used for another tank prior. Never failed on me once. I did have one actually in my tank and not in my sump and one of my fish rammed through it and broke the glass. It was cracked thank god it didn't do any damage to my tank. I think it would still work but a heater isn't too expensive. I have hardy fish and even if all my heaters god forbid stopped working it would stay around 74 . I keep my tank at 80-86 depends if I want to spawn my fish and etc.
Without knowing your average ambient room temperature, I'm not too sure how anyone can tell you what size of heater you require for that size of tank? I've never used the following calculator, but that should give you a rough idea of what one has, or should have.
http://www.kernsanalysis.com/HeaterCalculator.cgi
Having said that I agree, those two heaters should be plenty good, unless you keep your tank in an unheated room, or the heaters are a crap brand. I can't keep a 90 gallon at 78F with a 300W Fluval E heater (ambient room temp of 68-70F), and that seems to be a common problem with that brand.
I would also second what Xraycer said about using a controller, most heaters are overpriced electronic junk built from cheap Chinese components.
http://www.kernsanalysis.com/HeaterCalculator.cgi
Having said that I agree, those two heaters should be plenty good, unless you keep your tank in an unheated room, or the heaters are a crap brand. I can't keep a 90 gallon at 78F with a 300W Fluval E heater (ambient room temp of 68-70F), and that seems to be a common problem with that brand.
I would also second what Xraycer said about using a controller, most heaters are overpriced electronic junk built from cheap Chinese components.
Couldn't have said it better!
I have an aqueon I believe and I forgot the other brand. I kept two 150 watts just incase if I had a failure in one of the heaters.
The biggest mistake noobs due is when doing water changes they don't turn off their heaters unless its in your sump thats fine it is always filled with water anyways. It shorts it out and can cause some serious damage.
Best thing is to get one heater hook it up and see if you need another. I would say get a 150 watt heater and go from there.
Didn't read this correctly I think that is over kill on a 120 gallon. 400 watt heater? Unless your tank gets really cold thats not worth it. I run 300 watt on a 200 gallon tank and I'm fine I just set it at 82 and usually get 81-82 but I don't have a digital thermometer so its pretty damn accurate if your off 1 degrees
I keep mine at 81-82 and it consistently stays there so I'm not concerned I was just seeing if I should upgrade or anything
No you don't need to but it is a good idea to have a spare incase of a failure. I have a few just in case mind you they are not new and dont need to be just same watt and work
You probably should get a controller as 400 watts will over heat a tank fast. We don't have any but have paid the price for it. It is usually better if the heater quits but it seems they prefer to stick on and that goes south real fast.
I have a 300 watt and a 150 or 200 watt can't remember off the top of my head and both are set at 82. temp is between 81-82 and it hasn't budged
