I need some advice on what heater setup to use. I will be buying a 360g 96"x30"x30" and I keep my aquarium at 81.5 degrees Fahrenheit. I most likely will not be using a sump so an in sump heater wont be a possibility. I am currently using 2 Fluval E300 Digital Display Heaters and I have been EXTREMELY happy with them. They tell you what your current temp is, what it is set up, if the tank is too hot or too cold (red green and blue LED backlight) and flashes the backlight if the temp changes too rapidly to get your attention, and also flash LF if you have low water flow on the heater. They also seem very good for "tankbusters" because they come with a full length plastic guard and 3 strong suction cups to keep it in place. Each unit is rated for 100g. What I'm thinking of is just getting 2 more of these guys and evenly spacing them on the back wall. Any other thoughts or ideas?
What Heater To Use???
- Thread starter ExPeNsIvE AdDiCtIoN
- Start date
HrHagel;4159551; said:
just out of curiosity, what do wc's have to do with a heaters rating or capacity?
When you do water changes your temperature will fluctuate, and depending on how powerful your heaters are, it takes time to get the tank back to a steady temperature.
It's often not a problem to keep the tank heated at say 81,5, since your room temperature is about 65-70? So the heaters really only have to heat the tank from 65-70 to 81,5.
The problem is when the temperature swings down, the more powerful heatrt setup will get it back to the correct temperature faster
It's often not a problem to keep the tank heated at say 81,5, since your room temperature is about 65-70? So the heaters really only have to heat the tank from 65-70 to 81,5.
The problem is when the temperature swings down, the more powerful heatrt setup will get it back to the correct temperature faster
If you're happy with what you've got , stick with it.
$50 is a little pricey for me when you can buy an Ebo Jager 300 for $30.
You live in Modesto, isn't 1200 watts a little overkill ?
I would think 600 watts would be plenty.
I am biased in that I don't want to look at heaters in the tank regardless of brand.
$50 is a little pricey for me when you can buy an Ebo Jager 300 for $30.
You live in Modesto, isn't 1200 watts a little overkill ?
I would think 600 watts would be plenty.
I am biased in that I don't want to look at heaters in the tank regardless of brand.
Do you already have the filtration for the tank?
If you are not going to do a sump, then I assume,
HOB's and Canisters?
If you are not going to do a sump, then I assume,
HOB's and Canisters?
zennzzo;4165074; said:Do you already have the filtration for the tank?
If you are not going to do a sump, then I assume,
HOB's and Canisters?
I've actually done a little bit of thinking, and have almost certainly made up my mind about the sump or no sump issue. I believe I will be using a sump. The 135g tank I am currently using will make a splendid sump and will up my water capacity to almost 500 gallons. I know a 135g sump is overkill, but I'm not doing one simply for filtration, I am gonna do one for added capacity. The filtration factor will just be a nice side effect
as for the heater dilemma, I think I will prolly just buy one or two more E300's. The display and half degree settings are consistent and convenient. More likely than not I will put just one in the tank, to warn me of any temperature problems, and the others in the sump...Capacity is the name of the game for sure...If you are going to run a sump then put all the heaters in the same place either the tank or the sump not in each...there is a slight heat loss from sump to tank like 2-3 degrees F.ExPeNsIvE AdDiCtIoN;4166185; said:I've actually done a little bit of thinking, and have almost certainly made up my mind about the sump or no sump issue. I believe I will be using a sump. The 135g tank I am currently using will make a splendid sump and will up my water capacity to almost 500 gallons. I know a 135g sump is overkill, but I'm not doing one simply for filtration, I am gonna do one for added capacity. The filtration factor will just be a nice side effect
Also if you are going to run multiple heaters, I would use an external heater controller.
This way you won't have one running and one idle when you get close to the desired temp...How they work is just like the thermostat on a single heater.
There is a thermo-probe to sense the tank temp, and then based on the controller setting it will power up to 1000 watts of heaters until the desired temp is reached, then it will power off the heaters, when the temp is reached...
The Blue Line controller I have, will run up to 1000watts of heaters. You just turn the thermostat on the individual heaters all the way up and connect them to the controller.
Drop the thermo-probe in the tank and set the desired tank temp on the controller...When the tank temp drops to 1 degree below the set temp it sends power to all the heaters, when the set temp is reached, it shuts off the power to the heaters...This way they all share the load equally, and there is no problem trying to calibrate the individual thermostats to come on and shut off all at once... You'd be surprised how much less the heaters are on especially when you approach the desired set temp...About the price of a premium heater and you'll always know what the tank temp is and what the set temp is as well as the current status of the power draw.
(if it is running or not)
With a controller I was able to run my 225g acrylic at 82-86F in a room that was 68-70f with just 2 x 250 watt stealths in the bottom of my 90 gallon sump that was turning over at 2600GPH....
