Undersized heater for tank

[DopeCantWin]

I'd like to place an undersized heater in my tank. The heater is for a 30 gallon, but the tank is a 90. It will be controlled by a controller. If I just set it to the highest setting, will I be risking a fire or an explosion. I don't care much if it doesn't heat the tank enough. I just need a few degrees. Any recommendations?

 

[James77]

Why not add a more appropriate sized heater and let the controller handle it? Or 2 smaller sized heaters in case on flakes you still ahve some heat?

If the heater ran non stop 24/7, there would be negligible( cya statement ) of fire or explosion....assuming it was being run inside a tank where it can receive "cooling" and do its job.

 

[DopeCantWin]

Why not add a more appropriate sized heater and let the controller handle it? Or 2 smaller sized heaters in case on flakes you still ahve some heat?

If the heater ran non stop 24/7, there would be negligible( cya statement ) of fire or explosion....assuming it was being run inside a tank where it can receive "cooling" and do its job.

Don't feel like buying another one. I doubt it will run non-stop. The heater in question is an old Aqueon 100 watts. I think it's for a 20 gallon actually.

 

[wolfador]

Don't feel like buying another one.

Good luck to you and your tank. I suggest running two heaters on a controller. In case one fails off you still have another so your tank doesn't cool too much and if one sticks on the controller will cut off the power.

 

[DopeCantWin]

Good luck to you and your tank. I suggest running two heaters on a controller. In case one fails off you still have another so your tank doesn't cool too much and if one sticks on the controller will cut off the power.

I'm thinking if that one fails, it's still going to cool off only about a degree or two. I've also set the heater to turn off at the same temperature as the controller is set to turn it off, so double protection on that end. I put it up last night, and so far the temperature is on the dot.

 

[ReefBeforeGirls]

Not sure what the weather is like over there but during the winter I run 2 oversized heaters on a controller. It gets cold enough in my apartment that if 1 heater craps out, I'd come home to a nice ice cube.

 

[ek9vboi]

I agree with either running two or just buy a new one. Dr. F&S were having a sale on the Eheim units.

 

[moondoggy4]

I have a Jager 100 watt heater that was stuck on. It was getting cold for a week so I put it on a appliance timer on for 15 minutes every hour, the next morning the water was in the low 70's I had to put in on every other 15 minutes. The tank is a 33 gallon tank with 10 gallons in the sump.