Heater inside overflow

[The Saltman]

Hi guys,

I have the megaflows by aga on my 210 gallon. Anyone ever put heaters in them?

 

[victor90]

I put mine in there one in each side but make sure you have a stand pipe in there

 

[The Saltman]

I wanted to do this in case my return quit working and the display had no way of heating. Would the heater still only heat the water inside the megaflow if the return stopped working?

 

[maroun.c]

I wouldn't think it would be very efficient in heating the tank. Some heat would reach in through the glass however it'll be very slow not to mention that your heater will wuicly turn off as with the ilmited water volum in the overflow it would not take too much time to heat it up then heater would turn on waiting for water to cool off and only a fraction of the heat would be transmited to the tank.

 

[SaltyStlouis]

i always see the local fish stores do it this way but ive always wondered if it was a good idea..

i would like to know how people use there heaters in the oveflows on their home display tanks ??

 

[power boat jim]

I put a heater in the overflows on mine. They do flow continually though.

 

[rickh]

I have had the heater in the overflow for years.
When the return pump is running it is the same as having it in the tank or sump. If the return pump dies it will keep the tank warm, but not as efficiently as if it were in the main tank area. A heater in the sump is useless if the return pump dies. R

 

[Bigfishy]

I keep mine in the sump and if the return pump dies its most likely from a power outage. It is also more likely for a heater to become faulty than a pump. Its also easier to see if it is working in the sump, easier access as well.

 

[spamreefnew]

my heater is in the overflow box,,when i get my new sump up and running it will go in there

 

[Ncastro1981]

I keep mine in the last stage of the sump. That way it has regular flow by and is able to better acclimate to change in temp. jmo

 

[Reefer08]

I don't understand why a return pipe would die? If their is a power outtage then your heater is also going to be off. I also don't understand how you think a heater in the overflow is going to keep the tank warm incase the return pump goes out. How? Their is no water flowing through the overflow and the small amount of water in the overflow is not going to keep the tank warm because of the plastic seperating it from the DT.

 

[bradbmbj]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14093553#post14093553 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefer08
I don't understand why a return pipe would die? If their is a power outtage then your heater is also going to be off. I also don't understand how you think a heater in the overflow is going to keep the tank warm incase the return pump goes out. How? Their is no water flowing through the overflow and the small amount of water in the overflow is not going to keep the tank warm because of the plastic seperating it from the DT.

A return pump can fail for several reasons other than a power outage, and a heater in the overflow will keep that column of water warm, thus transfering the heat to the plastic where the tank water column will absorb the heat, just like any other type of boiler or heat exchanger would do, of course as already mentioned this will be less efficient but will transfer heat

 

[oldsaltman]

I have ask this before, didn't get an answer. I have two heaters in my 55 and they are on a controller with a sensor. I don't want them in the display of my new 90g so the question is where does the sensor go if the heaters are in the sump? Does the temp change between the sump and display?