Heater set up question(s)

[Fishing4Answers]

I am working on planning out a new 30 gallon reef set up. I am working on the heater set-up and was thinking of going with a simple heater controller. To start I was thinking of going with either the Hydor Theo 50W (x2) or the Eheim Jager 50W (x2).

Now my question comes with the set up of the controller(s). Would there be any benefit to having one heater set to say 79 degrees and the other set to around 73 degrees (via the controller)? In my head this would "aid" the first heater in heating closer to the range I would like the tank to run at if conditions were cold enough that the first heater could not do the job and the temp was getting to low. It would create a system where two heaters were working to keep the temp above minimum when needed, but only the one would function during minor fluctuations.

Would I be better of just having both set to the 79 temp?

I hope this makes sense, I am bad at putting my thoughts and questions into words. The heaters will be in the main display tank as a sump is not a option at this point. It will be a sand, live rock and fish tank to start with the addition of corals later down the road a few months. Any help or other ideas is appreciated!!

 

[homer1475]

What your doing is exactly what most of us do.

Set one heater slightly higher then the first. If one dies, the other will at least keep the water within temp ranges.

Your thinking if I read it correctly is slightly flawed though. If one is set at 73 and the other at 79, the heater set to 73 will never come on as your water will always be above 73. Nothing wrong with that setup, but I personally would set your heaters within a few degrees of each other, just so if one does die, theres not such a huge temp swing. Probably one at 79 and the other at 76 to 77.

 

[fishchef]

If you are using a controller the heater thermostat will be out of the loop.

 

[thegrun]

If you are using a controller the heater thermostat will be out of the loop.

I still set my heaters at 1 degree below the temperature I have my controller set at as an added safety back up in case the controller ever goes haywire.

 

[fishchef]

With a Ranco controller we set the heaters above the setting of the controller. The controller does it all. 100 dollar commercial grade controller vs low cost heater thermostat. I trust the Ranco. Many years of service of which I've replaced the heaters twice during that time. Jagers are recommended.