Via Aqua Aquarium Heater

[TheEelKing]

Does anyone know anything about these? I just got one for free. It came along with the used tank I purchaced. I put the heater in the sump tank underneat the main tank to keep the main tank free of all pipes, hoses and chords. Here is a picture of what I have:

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3743+20161&pcatid=20161

What is the small object in the picture? Its the one at the very bottom. I am referring to the third object in the picture with the temperature adjuster being object #1, the elongated thing being the heater itself as object #2, but I don't know what the third small object under object #2 in the picture is or how to use it. I'm thinking that it may be a heat probe, but I have no idea.

1) Does it have a purpose? If so, how do I use it?

2) Do I submerge it in the water or does it remain outside of the tank?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[West1]

If your talking about the Black rubber pc... it suppos detects the Temp of the water telling the Heater when to turn on and off.

Here is my Post about my 300watt with some positive responses. Still working good for me

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=368208

 

[TheEelKing]

Thanks! So I was right to submerge that popsicle-shaped rubber thing in the water as well. So how many watts would I need to heat up my 300 gallon aquarium? I have a 250 watt right now, is this sufficient or do I need to add another heater? I was unsure on your post about the tanksize/wattage ratio. I know that you have a 300 watt heater. You said that its the only heater in your 300 plus tank w/sump? So the 300 watt is enough for all of that?

 

[DaveB]

Depends on how hot and how reliable you want it. A tank that big should have more than one heater, even if one can do the job.

 

[aclockworkorange]

I would go for at least 2 watts of heater for every gallon of water to be on the safe side. So a 300 gallon would need a minimum of 600 watts. If it gets significantly colder in the room the tank is in, you need to bump it up to at least 3-4 watts per gallon.

 

[West1]

Thanks! So I was right to submerge that popsicle-shaped rubber thing in the water as well. So how many watts would I need to heat up my 300 gallon aquarium? I have a 250 watt right now, is this sufficient or do I need to add another heater? I was unsure on your post about the tanksize/wattage ratio. I know that you have a 300 watt heater. You said that its the only heater in your 300 plus tank w/sump? So the 300 watt is enough for all of that?

It depends on your Weather conditions. Best way to find out is buy hooking it up... Let the Heater tell you your answer or just go buy multiple Heaters until you get the heat your tank needs.

Best way to go is Titanium though