Heaters for large tanks
- Thread starter Doug864
- Start date
stunreefer
Reef Hugger
Mark, out of curiosity what do you use to control them?
On my shallow system, I use a ranco.
Reefer Brian
In Memoriam
How did you do that?
Doug I assume by the fact that you live in Florida you have central heat and air, or at least central air?
I ask this only because if you do then chances are you usually maintain a stable temperature in your home year round. I too live in Florida and on my 300 gallon tank I have 2 300 watt heaters. That is it. Contrary to popular belief you don't necessarily need mega watts of heat to keep a large tank at a stable temperature. My tank is living proof.
My heaters rarely even come on. Sure they were on for a bit when the tank was first filled but since then, between my central a/c and heat, my T5 lights and the fact that larger tanks tend to maintain a more stable temperature than smaller tanks my heaters just hardly ever come on.
77 is my target, during the day its gone up as high as 78.5 but overnight it usually drifts back towards 77. Even with 25 degree weather outside only twice in the last 2 days has it gone below 77, then my heaters kick on and I dunno, 15 mins later its back to 77 and from what I can observe it tends to stay their throughout the night.
I already know there are people that will say, ZOMG, 300 gallons, man you need 3000watts of heater. However I can prove that you can do it with 600 watts.
In the end it comes down to the environment that the tank will sit in. If your home is super insulated with central heat and air as mine is then you don't need giant amounts of heaters. If your home is an Igloo in Alaska then yeah you probably need a lot more heater.
Only observation and evaluation by you, of the area you want to put your tank, can truly determine how much heater you need.
Oh and I use the ViaAqua Titanium Heaters.
I ask this only because if you do then chances are you usually maintain a stable temperature in your home year round. I too live in Florida and on my 300 gallon tank I have 2 300 watt heaters. That is it. Contrary to popular belief you don't necessarily need mega watts of heat to keep a large tank at a stable temperature. My tank is living proof.
My heaters rarely even come on. Sure they were on for a bit when the tank was first filled but since then, between my central a/c and heat, my T5 lights and the fact that larger tanks tend to maintain a more stable temperature than smaller tanks my heaters just hardly ever come on.
77 is my target, during the day its gone up as high as 78.5 but overnight it usually drifts back towards 77. Even with 25 degree weather outside only twice in the last 2 days has it gone below 77, then my heaters kick on and I dunno, 15 mins later its back to 77 and from what I can observe it tends to stay their throughout the night.
I already know there are people that will say, ZOMG, 300 gallons, man you need 3000watts of heater. However I can prove that you can do it with 600 watts.
In the end it comes down to the environment that the tank will sit in. If your home is super insulated with central heat and air as mine is then you don't need giant amounts of heaters. If your home is an Igloo in Alaska then yeah you probably need a lot more heater.
Only observation and evaluation by you, of the area you want to put your tank, can truly determine how much heater you need.Oh and I use the ViaAqua Titanium Heaters.
Eric the half-bee
Passer of gasses
I have 2 1kw titanium heaters in my 400. I also live on Fl w/ usual warm temps but they occassionally fire up. One would probably sufficed.
I run two 800w Finnex titanium heaters controlled by my RKE system for my 450g system. All of my filtration, sump, skimmer, etc. is out back in a Tuff Shed so I need the heaters at night about 3 months out of the year.
Thanks for all the responses everyone. This house is not super insulated 
I have a 250w and a 300w on my temporary 150g rubbermaid. We keep the temp around 70-72 at night and these heaters are struggling a bit. I'm in the process of a 300g system build mol and was more concerned with heat for that system. been pretty chilly down here at night. I don't know if my heat shut off at all last night.
Regards,
Doug
I have a 250w and a 300w on my temporary 150g rubbermaid. We keep the temp around 70-72 at night and these heaters are struggling a bit. I'm in the process of a 300g system build mol and was more concerned with heat for that system. been pretty chilly down here at night. I don't know if my heat shut off at all last night.
Regards,
Doug
Yes. I use a pair of submersible 300W Hydors controlled by my Apex controller. They come on at 76.5 - go off at 77.5. They might run an hour a day in the winter time. The T5 lights will then warm the water to 78 - 78.5 at their peak. The volume of the water does a good job maintaining a stable temp, even when the room temp is 68-70.
JME.
LL
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