Heaters??

[tspors]

I live in cold and snow country to start. In October last year I upgraded my 80g to a 150g. I had all my equipment under the tank. I struggled then to keep the temperature down in the acceptable high range. I took all pumps and sumps to the basement. Now during the summer I struggled to keep the water in the low range of acceptable. I have not been running a heater (obviously). The Halides and actinics did the heating job. Now, I have installed two new 20amp circuits so I can add a few new things. So the question is, best recomendations for a heater in Oceanic 150 reef system. I would lilke to put it or them in the overflow. Recomendations please??
Thanks

 

[quixand]

You mean the sump right?

 

[Kellie in CA]

I really like Stealth heaters (no glass!). I would put a couple of those in the sump.

 

[pjf]

A Stealth heater has no LED to indicate if it is ON or OFF. I prefer the Eheim Jager heater because it has an LED and can be field-calibrated should it drift. I recommend two small heaters to provide a margin of safety in case one fails in either the ON or OFF mode. Two Eheim Jager 150-watt heaters and a glass thermometer for calibration should work for you.

 

[tspors]

Actually I did mean the overflow. The oceanic tanks have two built in overflows and has room for the heaters. Unless it would pos a big issue. Price is also not an issue. I try not to skimp that seems to only cause problems.

 

[JayB1224]

If you put the heaters in the overflow you will be heating water going to the sump, that will inturn allow the heated water to cool on its way to the sump and cool more during the dwell time in the sump. Once pumped back into the DT the water will not be as warm making it inefficient.

It would be better to put the heater(s) in the sump so the warmed water goes directly to the DT with little cooling. IMHO

 

[tspors]

Thanks Jay, at first thought it seemed like a good place.... Then as I read your response it hit me. It got cooler in the basement and the sump is in the basement. Of my brain fart went away. Sump it is. I guess I am still questioning also do I need 2 heaters or one?

 

[patsfan1130]

Its always better to have 2 heaters in case of failure

 

[pjf]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13294534#post13294534 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tspors
I guess I am still questioning also do I need 2 heaters or one?

You mentioned that you "struggled" to keep your aquarium temperatures within an acceptable range. This is a common issue as heater failures can cool or overheat your system.

The normal guideline is at least 2 watts of heating capacity for each gallon of water. If you split that into two heaters, each providing 1 watt of heating capacity for each gallon, you will be protected against a failure of a single heater. This gives you time to note if a heater's LED is not turning ON or turning OFF as it should and take action to replace it.

Alternatively, you can place a temperature controller in series with a single large heater. I have a Medusa HC-150 controller in series with a single 200-watt Eheim Jager heater. A single failure of either the controller or the heater will not overheat my tank.

 

[an411]

I like the visitherm heater. Sump is the spot to put it and I recommend 2 also for failure reasons. whatever you decide to do Forget about getting a glass one. I had one break in a QT tank what a nightmare never again.

 

[pjf]

Both Visitherm and Jager heaters are glass heaters. I think you meant to recommend the Stealth heaters that do not have LED indicators. I prefer the Jager heaters because they can be re-calibrated in case the thermostat and temperature dial get out of sync.

 

[an411]

pjf you are right I did mean stealth the visitherm is what I had that broke. guess i need more coffee.