Best heater setup for 500g?

[Sphack]

I've been searching for a while but have not gotten much information on heater choices for large tanks, hence the question here.

What heater setup are people running?

I'm planning a 400g display/550ish total volume system. The sump will be in a cold basement and we keep our house pretty cold in the winter (upper sixties). Recommendations would be appreciated!

I see many people using the finnex with a ranco controller.

Thanks!
Steve

 

[Psirex]

Finnex makes good reliable units

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[sfsuphysics]

Well you're going to see your electric bill absolutely skyrocket in the winter as most of your energy is going to be heating the tank. That said, using a 2nd controller is always a good bet since the internal ones on heaters seem to be the cheapest parts out there.

That said, I would say multiple heaters instead of one big 1000 watt one, and whatever you do make sure they get plugged into a wall socket or something you know can take a rather large electrical load. I've lost a few outlets on DJ power strips where a 300watt heater was plugged in, they might have a trip at 15 amps, but they sure as hell don't like the constant large load (melted insides)

 

[Psirex]

Good call on the outlet load

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[ravi197699]

I use Titanium coil for my 500 gal tank that is connected via low flow pump that takes water from my hotwater tank and dumps back in the tank and pump is 115v and that is controlled via apex, Never had an issue, Once time investment and it is reliable

 

[Breadman03]

I use an Apex to control 250, 500, and 1000 watt heater elements. The 1000 essentially never comes on and the 500 very rarely ever since I began wrapping my sump with foam insulation panels during the winter.

 

[Raoul5Duke]

I have 3 500 watt Finnex Titanium heaters connected to 2 Ranco controllers and it has been bullet proof so far. (Knock on wood) Probably a little overkill on redundancy and safety but I figured it was a good place to spend extra since heater malfunctions are one of the main problems of tank crashes. Approx. 450 gallon system.

 

[Sphack]

Thanks for all the feedback.

I've used finnex hmo's on fresh water tanks and that was my starting point. Someone at a LFS recommended GLH or GXH or something like that (can't remember and the LFS was in ca not co). Anyway, Google searching hasn't turned up much.

I like the foam insulation abound the sump. Since I usually make the back panels opaque, I might start attaching some 1" insulation. Top covers will be a must as well.