Temperature control - 2 heaters

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H

Headrush

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 10, 2007
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Upstate New York
I have a 90 gallon Fresh water tank with 4 SA/CA cichlids, and I am using 2 submersible 250 watt heaters. I want both to run off the same thermostat and turn on and off together. Is there a mechanism I can buy, plug them into, and this will work? DIY ideas?:confused:

All ideas are appreciated. thanks to all in advance!
 
There are heater controllers available that will control a couple to many heaters off the one controller. These are expensive and require their own heater modules to connect to.
Also, trying to control 2 heaters off one thermostat, in a home aquarium, defeats the purpose of the 2nd heater which is intended as a backup should one of the heaters fail. If the problem is the thermostat, then both heaters will turn off and defeat the redundant backup.
 
Do a search on google or ebay for

Biotherm Heater Controller

or

Won Brothers Heater Controller
 
you use the second as a back-up? That is a pretty good idea, but my thought was to use both at the same time so they're on less frequently, and heat the tank evenly. I was assuming thats how most people do it.

Right now, one heater will be on one minute then the other is on etc.... Seems like its wasting a bunch of electricity

I suppose though, that once the tank is up to temp, it should'nt ever drop so far that one heater couldn't catch up right?

So I should just keep them both plugged in and running? How will I know if one goes bad or stops working?

:confused: help
 
I think I'll use the second as a back-up per oddball's advice, and set the temp a little lower than the "master" heater. This way its not on and off all the time and when it comes on I know I have a problem with the other one.

Thanks to all for your help!!
 
I run two 300w and leave them set at the same level. You're not wasting electricity by having them set that way, as they'll only run enough either way to keep your tank at the set temperature. If one would have run for 10 min/hour to keep temp, then two are going to run at approx 5 min/hour each.

As it is, both of mine cycle on and off every 20 min or so at keep the tank at a fairly steady 77-78.
 
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