Heater not heating Display Tank

Well when I got home I first checked the temps in both the DT and Sump...Both were the same... this leads me to thinking that the heater in the sump is not heating up so hot it is shutting down because of flow.

I measured my Return pump... it is the 264GPH version of the unit. Yes it is saltwater safe. I have a 700GPH Glass-Holes Overflow Box so I will get a Mag 7 on the tank asap, but as of right now this does not solve the problem.

I am not entirely sure if this is the issue, but I switched the power switch the heater was plugged into and moved it onto the same strip my lights are on. Every time I have opened the stand door the heater was "ON" - so this is kind of a good sign. I am not sure if the other switch has issues, but it runs my skimmer and return and wave maker just fine....???

I went to bed and the temp was at 76.3F at 11pm and I woke up at 5:30am and the temp was 73.4F - I removed the 300w heater and only have the 100w in the tank atm which ran last night.

I also tried to put the 300w in the DT while it was still hooked into the other power strip and it would turn on for a minute and back off. I went as far cranking it up to 86F on this heater and it would still turn off with a tank temp of 76F.

I am not sure if the 100w heater has an enough *** to keep the tank heated and that's why it dropped or if I am still having a weird powering issue... When I get home from work today I will be swapping the 100w out for the 300w hooked to the new power strip and see what happens.

If this solution does not fix it, I am going to purchase a new reliable heater and of course a new return pump regardless.

Suggestions?
 
I am assuming a new pump would allow for more flow, but if the lower tank is the same temp as the top...wouldn't it be a heater issue?
 
I would say you need both a larger return pump and new/better brand heater. If the heater is in the DT and still shutting off even set at 86 with a tank temp of 76, then you do NOT have a reliable heater. Even with a separate controller, your heater won't stay on.
 
idisc said:
I am assuming a new pump would allow for more flow, but if the lower tank is the same temp as the top...wouldn't it be a heater issue?
Click to expand...

wait until the new pump comes in.

The pump you have is rated at ~260gph at 0 head? That means at at least 3' head it's pushing barely anything, which means the sump turnover into the tank is so low the heater just isn't on enough to affect the upper tank.

When the new pump comes in, let the turnover establish, then check temperatures.

Make sure to put a union and valve on the return line from the new pump in case you need to dial it down or close it and adjust for whatever reason.
 
Well just a little update to this entire thing.

I now put both heaters on a new power source, turned up both heaters to 82F and before lights went off and I turned the heater down in the house the tank was at 78.5F

Woke up in the am and it was 77.6F

BTW: I have the 100W in the sump and the 300W in the DT. I just got a Mag 7 return and will be plumbing it in this Friday. Hopefully with this combo I can keep my water at a decent level. Hopefully the Return pump will fix the vast part of all this and I can at least remove one possible cause for all of this.

I appreciate all your help and suggestions. Will keep you posted...also..still wondering how 400W of heater(s) can't keep my tank steady..or bring it to 82F (Not that I want it 82F) . .. Must be a flow issue.
 
It sounds like your 300w heater has a faulty internal thermostat and shouldn't be trusted.

300w is a lot of heating capacity for ~50 gallons of tank capacity, probably less actual water due to displacement. Why such a powerful heater? Do you run an unusually cold house? If that thing sticks in the ON position your tank might cook pretty quickly.

Mag drive pumps are said to run hitter then others so you may get a small temperature boost just from that.
 
I've been following this from the beginning. Not sure if you mentioned what you are using for a thermometer. If I miss it I'm sorry. What are you using and did you try another?
 
After reading the entire thread, I had the same idea, check your thermometer.

400W of heater is huge for your water volume and should very easily be heating your tank, regardless of flow through the sump(you mentioned you put the 300W in the DT, and your thermometer still said 77?).
 
ViaAqua 300-Watt Quartz Glass Submersible Heater with Built-In Thermostat and according to amazon - it is rated for 80 Gallons - This heater came with the setup when I got it. Past owner said it was 1 month old.

Aqueon - 100W is the one currently in the sump.


For Thermometers I am using a Petco Thermometer with Suction Cup which is basically a mercury one (Glass) that I have in my sump and I have a HDE LCD Digital Fish Tank Aquarium Thermometer that is reading the temp of the DT. I do have the probe close to the top of the tank. I am not sure if this plays any roles. (ALSO - I have changed out the battery on the digital)

Regardless - The digital and glass one read the same temps.
 
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Did you check the temp in the sump itself? Could be that the Sump is at temp and just not enough flow at the DT. I run two 300 watt Finnex Titanium heaters for my 120 and control them with an STC1000 controller. The thermometer for the controller is in the DT and the heaters are in the sump.
 
Yes I have checked the temp is sump. It is the same temp as the DT. I will look into this controller you guys are talking about.
 
Okay - Update!!! 1-5-16

I am sorry that I am very busy and finally getting back to this. I have switched out the return pump for a mag 7 and of course had to dial it down a bit (or tank would have overflown) - The flow is much better than before.

Temp Update - - - I have the 300w and 100w set to 82F - Tank is around 78.5F during the day and 77.8 during the night.

House Temp - 68F during the day and 70F during the night for the most part.

So...the temps have not changed one bit since changing out the return pump... Is it safe to say that the heaters are both shot?? I mean...they are both set to 82 and tank won't go over 79F (not that I'm complaining I don't want it over 79F), but just the fact.

All I know for certain atm is that the rate of flow did not change the temp in the tank. Suggestions?
 
Have you tried a different thermometer? I asked a few replies back (post # 29) sorry if I missed a response.
I'm courious, your tank temp is ok as is, but do me a favor, without doing anything else, try turning the 300 watt heater up 2 degrees and see it the tank raises the same. Give it a few hours, but before you go to bed, return it to the prior setting.
Please report results.
 
Member No. 1 said:
Have you tried a different thermometer? I asked a few replies back (post # 29) sorry if I missed a response.
snip .
Click to expand...

idisc said:
For Thermometers I am using a Petco Thermometer with Suction Cup which is basically a mercury one (Glass) that I have in my sump and I have a HDE LCD Digital Fish Tank Aquarium Thermometer that is reading the temp of the DT. I do have the probe close to the top of the tank. I am not sure if this plays any roles. (ALSO - I have changed out the battery on the digital)
Click to expand...

I would venture to guess that it's not the thermometers based on this his initial reply.

- ryan
 
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When I get home tonight at 8pm I will increase the 300w to 84F and see if the temp raises.

Will be interesting to find out myself.
 
So I ended up cleaning the tank and what have you. I still have the 100w on 82F and I turned the 300w to 86. Over the course of an hour the temp on the digital only went up 0.1F... So I am gonna assume.. Faulty heater? I am going to let it run all night.. Well till 5am when I get up..

9pm to 5am... So if I don't see any higher Temps.. Safe to assume the 100w I have isn't enough and the 300w is useless?? Thoughts?
 
Okay Update 01-06-15

I woke up at 5am and the tank temp was 78.8F after turning the 300w heater to 86 - up "2" degrees higher than it was before.

Although I don't think I have seen the tank at this temp before... a 2 degree raise should yield more than .3F over the course of 8 hours.

Broken Heater?
 
what overflow do you have for the tank? How much did you have to dial back the mag 7?

Have you checked with a different thermometer?
 
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