Just about ready to join this forum. One question.

[Drewcipher]

I am about ready to begin my build thread. When I designed the system, I lived in Los Angeles and had no worries about heat. It was all about having a chiller. Now I live in Colorado and am trying to figure out how to keep the tank warm. How do you guys heat an acrylic aquarium of 180 gallons or bigger?

Thanks

 

[Untamed12]

Use the same heaters that you use in a glass tank. Use two, smaller heaters and run them on a temperature controller. Don't depend on the thermostat on most heaters.

 

[Drewcipher]

The biggest heater I can find with insulation is 400 watts. I would think I would need at least 2, if not 3 for this tank. The titanium heaters, I have seen are not insulated. I have heard of these hitting the side of the acrylic and melting it.

 

[Ed Reef]

As Untamed12 advice, try to used 2 x 200w (for 180g) or 2 x 300w (200g and larger) instead of 1 x 400w so in case one multifunction, you still won't cooked your fishes...

Look for reliable brand name heater to used - i.e. jager, hydor, etc

 

[NexDog]

I use 2 x 500w titanium and I still have a tank.

 

[porthios]

i use 4 250w ebo-jagers on my 900g ish system and had no problems over the winter (i'm in broomfield). probably could have gotten away with 3 if i felt the need.

 

[Drewcipher]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14913666#post14913666 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by porthios
i use 4 250w ebo-jagers on my 900g ish system and had no problems over the winter (i'm in broomfield). probably could have gotten away with 3 if i felt the need.

Are they on all the time? Do you use halides? We will have T5 lighting, and our pumps aren't all that hot either. I have always used Ebo-Jagers, but mostly I see 250 watts is only good up to 100 gallons or so. I suppose I can put some in and see what happens. I might have a couple extra.

 

[wetWolger]

multiple heaters is the way to go....in case one fails you wont cook everything.

Right now on my tank I run 2x400watt's....and plan to use 3x400watts on my new tank (I also live in colorado, and don't run much heat in the winter, the tank heats the room just fine.)

 

[monotreme_man]

wow! you guys are lucky!

i have a 200gal DT plus 50gal sump and during this last winter,
3 250W stealth vistherms could only maintain 75F. (i guess it matters
how cold the basement is and how cool you keep the house!)
i know have 5 250W heaters in the sump which can easily cope
(and would do so even if one stopped working).

 

[Discustopia]

for a tank this size you should be fine.
I'm not at 5000ft but I'm still further north than you.
My tank is similar size, also t5's (about 450w) and only ONE 250W heater. I have a second, but it never comes on so I keep it as a spare. Tank runs at 78.3 all winter long.
Plus - my tank is glass, not acrylic. my hood has styrofoam insulation above the lights, works great to save the heat from the t5's. I didn't even have to remove them during the summer yet.