Setting up a large in-wall system (~ 1000G of water total) and planning to have 3-4 separate heaters but am forgetting and cannot find the recommended Watts per Gallon to determine what size heaters I should buy. Also not sure if the standard rule-of-thumb applies now that I am finally upgrading to a larger system (which will include 6 x 400W MH in addition to T5 actinics which will add some heat). Perhaps related: all but 1/4 of the (in-wall) display tank will be in a dedicated sump room which will be kept a constant 75 degrees by a dedicated room AC/heater. Thanks, Steve.
Watts per Gallon for Heaters?
- Thread starter Steve175
- Start date
RicksReefs
New member
the old watts per gallon rule is/was 5 watts per gallon.
RicksReefs
New member
I ran around 1200 gallons on a central sump and used 4-400 watt heaters with the system in a CBS garage to take the nip out for a month or two.
you could probably get away with something similar or even less if most of your system is in a climate controlled room. I've since moved my prop into a minihouse with an AC unit in the window. the system stays at 79-80 and the room is 76* (AC setting). I run a few halides and one is a 1000 watter. on the rare occasion when I need more heat, I just run the 1000 for an extra hour or two.
you could probably get away with something similar or even less if most of your system is in a climate controlled room. I've since moved my prop into a minihouse with an AC unit in the window. the system stays at 79-80 and the room is 76* (AC setting). I run a few halides and one is a 1000 watter. on the rare occasion when I need more heat, I just run the 1000 for an extra hour or two.
Similar threads
