What do you think of my in-line heater setup?

[Gotfrogs]

What are your thoughts on my setup? I am setting up a 58 gallon tank and want/need the heater to be external. I am using a Fulval FX5 and have it T-off into two return lines, one of which passes over a 200 watt jager heater. I got the idea from a DYI thread over at the plantedtank.net but made some moifications do the size of my filter. I have not glued everything together yet but want to do so tomorrow. My fear is that air is going to get traped in the top of the heater section and not provide enough water contact with the heater.

 

[csa dad]

hey where did you get your 3d background

 

[dawnmarie]

Nice setup. Where did you get the background ?
It should work although it will trap air as you say. Just a couple of thoughts, You might consider flipping the whole assembly upside down. Bring the heater in from the bottom up and split the flow after the heater. This would solve the trapped air problem and heat the entire return water supply not to mention you won't have to hide the heater sticking up on top of the tank.You might want to add ball valves on either side to make replacing the heater easier.

 

[turtlesrock]

i totally agree^^

 

[turtlesrock]

if thats to much work i guess it will work the way it is. but your only heating have the outflow, not all the water. it would be 10x as effective if you go the guy above me way.

 

[bob965]

I would have just bought a Hydor ETH inline heater.

 

[dawnmarie]

I would have just bought a Hydor ETH inline heater.

That's way to easy and far more expensive. Part of the reason for doing it yourself is the fun of engineering and construction. Of course time is money.

 

[Gotfrogs]

I ended up adding a bleeder valve at the top that I can use to purge any trapped air. I finished all of the plumbing and sliliconed the background (from www.notjustfish.com) in place. Hopefully I will have the tank full of water with no leaks this weekend!