What do you use to heat you tank?
- Thread starter BlackTip
- Start date
I have a 200g rimless peninsula with a 90g sump. Everything is plumbed out into my garage and I heat my tank with a 300w won Bros & a 500w via Agua titanium heaters. Keeps my tank consistently at 78.0 even through the winter. I would use a combination of different wattage heaters instead of 1 massive heater. Plus if you have more than one and one decides to malfunction you have a backup heater In the tank.*
daplatapus
New member
I'm running 4 - 300W via aqua titanium heaters in my total of 300ish gallons. I too subscribe to the belief more is better than larger. Ask yourself what happens when one of those 800W heaters sticks on (which seems to be the case generally). An independent controller certainly will help in that case, but a 300W heaters running wild on me for a bit, won't cook my tank (or at least not nearly as fast). And the reverse is true as well, if one fails by not coming on at all, again, not nearly as potentially catastrophic.
That's my take on it anyway...
That's my take on it anyway...
I have three 800w Finnex Deluxe Titanium heating tubes.
I have them on their own controller, that is set to 81.
I have that plugged in to my apex power strip (EB8) that is controlled by tank thermometer that is set to 80.1
That way if they ever got stuck the controller would turn it off.
It is an acceptable practice to set the tank controller to a bit lower than desirable set point as long as it has its own controller.
How well do they work?
I have 300g with about 75g sump.
They turn on 16 times in a 24 hour peroid to keep the temp between:
If Temp < 79.5 Then ON
If Temp > 80.1 Then OFF
Two of my heaters could handle the tank if one fails.
The ambient temp here in winter is 30f and 100f in the summer. I also have LED lights and submersible pumps.
I have them on their own controller, that is set to 81.
I have that plugged in to my apex power strip (EB8) that is controlled by tank thermometer that is set to 80.1
That way if they ever got stuck the controller would turn it off.
It is an acceptable practice to set the tank controller to a bit lower than desirable set point as long as it has its own controller.
How well do they work?
I have 300g with about 75g sump.
They turn on 16 times in a 24 hour peroid to keep the temp between:
If Temp < 79.5 Then ON
If Temp > 80.1 Then OFF
Two of my heaters could handle the tank if one fails.
The ambient temp here in winter is 30f and 100f in the summer. I also have LED lights and submersible pumps.
Great, thanks guys. I will go for 2x 800W Finnex Deluxe Titanium each will have its own Finnex controller, and both will be hooked to Apex.
Worm5406:
I am sure you didn't you mean that your ambient temp 30f in winter and 100f in summer. You probably meant the average weather temp.
Dmorty217:
Neat idea, but I am just starting, and I have too much to learn already. Also, I have a tankless water heater.
Worm5406:
I am sure you didn't you mean that your ambient temp 30f in winter and 100f in summer. You probably meant the average weather temp.
Dmorty217:
Neat idea, but I am just starting, and I have too much to learn already. Also, I have a tankless water heater.
Last edited:
o2manyfish
o2manyfish
I have used the Finnex 800w and not found them to have a long life span. It seems they are good for 18-24 months and then they just stop heating (personal experience gone thru 8-10 in past 8 years, using 3 at a time).
If you have room in your sump look for a Process Technology Titanium Immersion heater. They come in a variety sizes up to 8500w. You can find smaller ones starting as low as 1000w. Some are available in 220v which makes them a little more efficient to run.
You can easily make a 220v relay controlled by a Ranco (first choice) and have the Ranco controlled by an Apex.
The ViaAqua 300w titanium heaters are really amazing cheap little heaters. They run forever. The controller is the problem I had with the Via Aqua. But if you cut the controller off of the Via Aqua and put a plug on the end you can plug them directly into a Ranco or Apex (or the combo of both).
Dave B
If you have room in your sump look for a Process Technology Titanium Immersion heater. They come in a variety sizes up to 8500w. You can find smaller ones starting as low as 1000w. Some are available in 220v which makes them a little more efficient to run.
You can easily make a 220v relay controlled by a Ranco (first choice) and have the Ranco controlled by an Apex.
The ViaAqua 300w titanium heaters are really amazing cheap little heaters. They run forever. The controller is the problem I had with the Via Aqua. But if you cut the controller off of the Via Aqua and put a plug on the end you can plug them directly into a Ranco or Apex (or the combo of both).
Dave B
Dmorty217
Saltwater Addict
Running 1000w or 2 800w heaters isn't going to help your power bill in the least bit
sfsuphysics
Active member
Well if you need to heat your tank, doesn't matter if you use 5000w heaters or a bunch of 50w heaters, the same amount of power is going to be used.
ravi197699
Member
I am using titanium coil that is hooked up to the hot water tank and i am using taco low flow pump that we use for baseboard heat to circulate hot water through coil. It is just like have another zone in the house except it is being use to heat the water. Never had issue running from 6 months and controlled via apex.
Dmorty217
Saltwater Addict
This is true but if you use a closed pex loop from your water heater you won't use anywhere near the amount of power to heat the tank. If you have a gas water heater then your much better off
Raoul5Duke
Active member
I am using 3x500w Finnex Deluxe Titanium tubes controlled by 2 Ranco Controllers on a 360 Gall DT, 80 gall sump and 40 gall Frag tank all plumbed together. I used the Rancos because I have heard they are the most reliable. I also realized that 3 of these heaters at 4.5A would come pretty close to maxing out the amperage on an EB8 so I chose the Rancos over that. I could have used one Ranco but I though I might need 4 heaters eventually. That has not proven to be the case, my tank stays between 78-79 degrees even on days like today when its 4 degrees and a negative windchill here in Cleveland.
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
Somehow my 210 (( with about 50 gallon sump, give or take )), gets by with 1 150 watt and 1 250 watt Eheim heaters.
I do have 8*80 T5s, with a canopy (( open back, clip on fan keeping the air flowing in there )), that adds some heat.
The thermostat is set for 68/65. Even with outside temps in the 10's, the "great room" (( both the tank and thermostat on in there )), will get up to 72* from the heat that the tank puts off. Great in the winter, but gonna suck come summer.
I do have 8*80 T5s, with a canopy (( open back, clip on fan keeping the air flowing in there )), that adds some heat.
The thermostat is set for 68/65. Even with outside temps in the 10's, the "great room" (( both the tank and thermostat on in there )), will get up to 72* from the heat that the tank puts off. Great in the winter, but gonna suck come summer.
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