Placing heater in overflow ok?
- Thread starter aleonn
- Start date
Bloodritual
New member
Got me into thinking. A lot of those types of overflows are set so water is high up to reduce noise thereby creating a dead zone at the bottom where toxic substances might accumulate. wonder if a little circulation caused by the heater warming up the water at the bottom thereby rising to the surface would actually be good?
AaronM
New member
I reckon it'd be fine.
Heres a thread i remember which relates to your question:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1912344
Heres a thread i remember which relates to your question:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1912344
Dustin1300
Reefaholic
Yeah, I'd agree that this should be fine as long as you have lots of flow. If its slow it might just turn off because it heats up so quickly
lordofthereef
One reef to rule them all
It is fine, but do remember that these units are most efficient when placed horizontally rather than vertically. I have actually read that some people believe a lot (not all) malfunctions have to do with vertical placement.
aleonn
New member
Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I didn't think of the deadzone at the bottom, but hopefully my 1.5" drain will provide enough flow.
My overflow will use a Durso standpipe, so even in the event of a blackout and water flows to my sump, my overflow should still have water and keep the heater from exposure to air.
On a related note, I think I'll place my temperature probe in the same overflow as well. Thanks again, all!
My overflow will use a Durso standpipe, so even in the event of a blackout and water flows to my sump, my overflow should still have water and keep the heater from exposure to air.
On a related note, I think I'll place my temperature probe in the same overflow as well. Thanks again, all!
lordofthereef
One reef to rule them all
I would actually place it elsewhere, especially since there is that dead zone. If it gets warmer than you want by a little bit in the overflow you don;t have to worry about it. But if your heater is turning off because JUST the the water in the overflow is warm enough, you aren't heating the entire tank as much as you need to be.
isildursbane
New member
I agree to put the temp probe somewhere else. That way, if you monitor the tank temp, you will have warning if there is ever a problem with your heater setup. Like my thermodynamics professor always said, "Heat transfer is a slow process."
mike_cmu04
New member
I think you are taking a big risk especially with a 800w. If the return pump fails the heater could start on fire if it gets out of the water. or super heat the water causing other problems
T Diddy
Happy to be here
Nothing wrong with a heater in the overflow. That's where I have always kept mine. As for the "dead spot", there will be plenty of flow unless your return pump is dialed way back...no dead spots in mine. As for the possible blackout, the heater isn't going to be running either.
aleonn
New member
That's a good point, I now think it's better to get two 400W heaters to place in each overflow for redundancy. It's past my 30 days to return the JBJ 800W, but maybe I'll have some luck selling it in the marketplace once I have access to it.
lordofthereef
One reef to rule them all
I don't see how this would be any different a risk in an overflow versus in the sump. My overflow is only about an inch higher (water level) with pumps running than with the pumps off. It sounded to me like your overflow is tall rather than wide? If so, I don't see this being any more a problem than it would be if you had them in the sump.
Aqua_expert19
New member
heaters in overflow
heaters in overflow
Hey!
I have a 180g tank with a large sump but my sump doesnt seem to house the ehiem heaters well. They take up a whole section just to fit. I would like to put my 2 250w ehiems in the overflow boxes, 1 in each and then have my 500w titanium heater in the sump. I would use my 250's as backups if the 500w cant keep up. They will all be on an Apex. Or do i scratch the 2 250's and buy another 500w?
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I meant to start a new topic not bump this!
heaters in overflow
Hey!
I have a 180g tank with a large sump but my sump doesnt seem to house the ehiem heaters well. They take up a whole section just to fit. I would like to put my 2 250w ehiems in the overflow boxes, 1 in each and then have my 500w titanium heater in the sump. I would use my 250's as backups if the 500w cant keep up. They will all be on an Apex. Or do i scratch the 2 250's and buy another 500w?
*******************
I meant to start a new topic not bump this!
GimpyFin
Active member
I agree with this. I've generally kept mine in the overflow as well with no issues. (It's an Eheim Jager as well.)
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