heater and temp stability?

[addicted2reefin]

hey guys, just wondering what ur take on this would be. in my 75 gallon, i have a 200 watt stealth heater. i was just wondering if adding another 100 or 50 watt heater would
1. make the water warmer
2. make the temp more stable
or 3. do nothing and just be stupid
. i am looking to better stable my temp out, i dont know if my temp is stable, as i do not have a thermometer. yes i know im an idiot, but i just have beef with all the hobbyist grade thermometers. the 10 dollar digital coralife/jbj are just junk, and the glass/lcd strips are just as bad. i am gonna get a pinpoint digital here in a little bit.
also how about if i hooke dthe one heater to a temp controller. would i just jack the heat up to the max or leave it at 80 if sometning were to go wrong. if i left it at 80, and the heater shuts off cuz of its internal controller and the tank is only 76, would the temp controller keep it running?
i have a TON of heaters and was just wondering if adding another would keep water temp more stable.

 

[Fish_wiz2]

For me it helps in 2 ways: 1. More stability. 2. Faster heating. Hooking it to a controller i always follow their instructions and it usually says to put it 1 or 2 degrees higher than what you set your controller to (my heaters are at 81 instead of the set 80). This way if your controller fails, your tank will only be slight bit warmer than your preferred setting instead of overheated from the max setting or, if it is function properly it will allow the heater to perform better as the internal thermometers usually suck and the controller will shut it down at the right temp instead of the heater cutting off at the wrong temp. Hope that helps, Wiz

 

[iFisch]

Re: heater and temp stability?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15572252#post15572252 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by addicted2reefin
i am looking to better stable my temp out

You would need a controller, and IMO a 300w heater.

http://www.aquacave.com/finnex-300w-titanium-br-heater-with-hc810-digital-br-controller-2343.html


OR

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3743+13967&pcatid=13967

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3743+12060&pcatid=12060

^ Is a really popular combo.

 

[Tang Salad]

Temperature stability is overrated and unnecessary. As long as it stays between (about) 75 and 84ish, the corals will be fine.

 

[iFisch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15574094#post15574094 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tang Salad
Temperature stability is overrated and unnecessary. As long as it stays between (about) 75 and 84ish, the corals will be fine.

What if it drops below 75 (doesn't turn on) or get's stuck and goes well beyond 84? Then what?

 

[Tang Salad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15574106#post15574106 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iFisch
What if it drops below 75 (doesn't turn on) or get's stuck and goes well beyond 84? Then what?

Then, obviously, that would be bad.

My point is that heaters are often unnecessary, especially for those of us in warmer climates. In many cases they can be an added and unnecessary risk, as you mention, they sometimes fail in the on position. The OP would be wise to figure out what his temperature range is now, before figuring out how to fix a problem he may not even have.

 

[sjfishguy]

Um, you live in TX, he lives in DE, heaters are necessary up here.

I would not add another heater, just one more thing that can malfunction, but that is just me.

 

[addicted2reefin]

ya, my temp with the heater is about 78 or so. and i have the heater set to 79. but when i put my hand in the tank throughout the day it is slightly cooler or warmer. my topoff water is VERY cold, i would say 73 and that has no heater.
i was thinkin about a rkl and solving many a problem

 

[Toadally]

I've been thinking about a controller as well. The problem I have is that my heater, I have to of the same brand, do not control the heat in the tank at the desired level. You can set it at 83 degrees and the tank temp will only register 78.6.

So I guess in my case I would have to set the controller at the desired temp and crank up the heater to achieve the temp I want.