anyone run 2 heaters?

blackthunda77 · 02/17/2010, 09:20 PM

i am having trouble with the cold temps.....yes i do live in florida.........so my tank has been dropping in temp. do any of you run more than one heater? have 2 300 watt heaters and am thinking of just running them both at the same time instead of just one or running out to get 1 bigger heater. they will not be run on a controller which i know would be the best route but dont have the dough to buy a controller right now.

Zebodog · 02/17/2010, 09:22 PM

A lot of people, myself included, will run 2 heaters rated at half of the needed wattage each. If one sticks open, it won't cook your tank but you still have enough juice to keep the tank within a safe temperature range in the event one cuts out.

bhammer · 02/17/2010, 09:23 PM

I run two of them. I have mine on an Apex, but before I had the apex, I had them both running as well. Now, I just set one to 1 degree warmer to start.

If you have two, you have a backup incase one fails to start. On the downside without a controller, you can cook your tank twice as fast.

rkb · 02/17/2010, 09:33 PM

This may not be what you want to hear but I run two on a RKL controller and it is a great system.

blackthunda77 · 02/17/2010, 09:37 PM

yup, i know running them on a controller would be ideal, maybe one day, but until then, ill have to do with what i have. i have 2 300 watters and i have about 80-90 gals total

Zebodog · 02/17/2010, 09:43 PM

Run the second heater (or both if you wish) opposite your main lighting. I doubt you'll need the heat with your lights on, and it further reduces the risk of problems.

I'm surprised a 300 watt isn't providing enough heat, especially in Florida. Have you verified the accuracy of your temp readings?

noahm · 02/17/2010, 09:43 PM

I run 2 x250 EJ no controller...yet.

Metal Man 1221 · 02/17/2010, 09:44 PM

i have a 300w and a 250w , i put them in my unoccupied QT and set them individually so they kept the tank at the same temp, then with out changing the dial put them into my system

sdc19982002 · 02/17/2010, 10:29 PM

I had to run two this last weekend due to a 3 day power outage and no heat in the house. I would just pull it out when the weather warms up. I have my main on a controller and the temp heater I set to about 78 degrees ( 2 degrees lower than the other).

blackthunda77 · 02/17/2010, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zebodog

Run the second heater (or both if you wish) opposite your main lighting. I doubt you'll need the heat with your lights on, and it further reduces the risk of problems.

I'm surprised a 300 watt isn't providing enough heat, especially in Florida. Have you verified the accuracy of your temp readings?

so are you saying that a 300 watter should be enough for 80-90 gal of water volume?

sdc19982002 · 02/17/2010, 10:56 PM

300 watts should heat your tank fine if your room temp that the tanks in isnt really cool. If it is it's going to struggle.

blackthunda77 · 02/17/2010, 11:03 PM

need the tank at about 78-79 and my ambient room temp right now is somewhere around 70-72ish. might run out to get another digital thermometer tomorrow to see if my thermometer is alil off.

sdc19982002 · 02/17/2010, 11:05 PM

You should be fine with that high of an ambient. I have a 300 watt on 75 gallons and only had trouble when my room temp got below 60 deg this past weekend.

fishchef · 02/18/2010, 03:43 PM

Wow, I have a total of 125 gal and I run only 2- 150's. Its been really cold this year and I've decided to put them on a Ranco Controller. One's been hanging up and I've been getting too much fluctuation. I've had some high readings that were of concern.

BigRedSpecial · 02/18/2010, 05:19 PM

2x Ebo 50w in a 20, no controller. Works perfectly, temp hasn't budged a degree since I've had the tank; indoor temp can range from 15 c to 25c.

InsaneClownFish · 02/18/2010, 05:37 PM

I'm a big fan of multiple heaters. If one malfunctions it is less likely to nuke the tank. Right now I run 4-5 100w -150w heaters on my 8 foot reef- aprox 200g total water volume.

lordofthereef · 02/18/2010, 06:24 PM

Running multiple heaters is the smartest idea IMO especially if they are not on a controller. If one gets stuck on, chances are you won't cook the tank. You should still size the TOTAL wattage accordingly to your tank.

02/17/2010, 09:20 PM	#1
blackthunda77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: East Coast/West Coast Posts: 4,887	anyone run 2 heaters? i am having trouble with the cold temps.....yes i do live in florida.........so my tank has been dropping in temp. do any of you run more than one heater? have 2 300 watt heaters and am thinking of just running them both at the same time instead of just one or running out to get 1 bigger heater. they will not be run on a controller which i know would be the best route but dont have the dough to buy a controller right now.

02/17/2010, 09:33 PM	#4
rkb Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Western Hemisphere Posts: 578	This may not be what you want to hear but I run two on a RKL controller and it is a great system. __________________ Current tank: Eleventy billion gallon tank with a DSB of rainbow gravel and one tiny blue tang...

02/17/2010, 09:44 PM	#8
Metal Man 1221 FMMAS Executive Director Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Fargo ND Posts: 1,504	i have a 300w and a 250w , i put them in my unoccupied QT and set them individually so they kept the tank at the same temp, then with out changing the dial put them into my system __________________ "My advise is, always look at their aquarium before you take their advise. Because alot of people give advise and they havnt got a clue" ~David Saxby~ "Only after the last tree's cut and the last river poisoned only after the last fish is caught will you find that money cannot be eaten" ~Lamb of God~ Current Tank Info: 125g DT, 45g sump ---- 57g Illuminata, custom sump

02/18/2010, 05:19 PM	#15
BigRedSpecial Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St. John's, Newfoundland Posts: 405	2x Ebo 50w in a 20, no controller. Works perfectly, temp hasn't budged a degree since I've had the tank; indoor temp can range from 15 c to 25c. __________________ My progression: 10g/T8 NO to PC; 20h/PC to T5; 45 corner/55 sump/kessil

02/18/2010, 05:37 PM	#16
InsaneClownFish Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,069	I'm a big fan of multiple heaters. If one malfunctions it is less likely to nuke the tank. Right now I run 4-5 100w -150w heaters on my 8 foot reef- aprox 200g total water volume. __________________ 7 Years Reefing and Many Fresh 8 Foot Envisions

02/17/2010, 09:22 PM	#2
Zebodog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mississauga, ON Posts: 692	A lot of people, myself included, will run 2 heaters rated at half of the needed wattage each. If one sticks open, it won't cook your tank but you still have enough juice to keep the tank within a safe temperature range in the event one cuts out.

02/17/2010, 09:23 PM	#3
bhammer Addicted User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 743	I run two of them. I have mine on an Apex, but before I had the apex, I had them both running as well. Now, I just set one to 1 degree warmer to start. If you have two, you have a backup incase one fails to start. On the downside without a controller, you can cook your tank twice as fast.

02/17/2010, 09:37 PM	#5
blackthunda77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: East Coast/West Coast Posts: 4,887	yup, i know running them on a controller would be ideal, maybe one day, but until then, ill have to do with what i have. i have 2 300 watters and i have about 80-90 gals total

02/17/2010, 09:43 PM	#6
Zebodog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mississauga, ON Posts: 692	Run the second heater (or both if you wish) opposite your main lighting. I doubt you'll need the heat with your lights on, and it further reduces the risk of problems. I'm surprised a 300 watt isn't providing enough heat, especially in Florida. Have you verified the accuracy of your temp readings?

02/17/2010, 09:43 PM	#7
noahm Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,736	I run 2 x250 EJ no controller...yet.

02/17/2010, 10:29 PM	#9
sdc19982002 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Wills Point,Texas Posts: 925	I had to run two this last weekend due to a 3 day power outage and no heat in the house. I would just pull it out when the weather warms up. I have my main on a controller and the temp heater I set to about 78 degrees ( 2 degrees lower than the other).

02/17/2010, 10:56 PM	#11
sdc19982002 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Wills Point,Texas Posts: 925	300 watts should heat your tank fine if your room temp that the tanks in isnt really cool. If it is it's going to struggle.

02/17/2010, 11:03 PM	#12
blackthunda77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: East Coast/West Coast Posts: 4,887	need the tank at about 78-79 and my ambient room temp right now is somewhere around 70-72ish. might run out to get another digital thermometer tomorrow to see if my thermometer is alil off.

02/17/2010, 11:05 PM	#13
sdc19982002 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Wills Point,Texas Posts: 925	You should be fine with that high of an ambient. I have a 300 watt on 75 gallons and only had trouble when my room temp got below 60 deg this past weekend.

02/18/2010, 03:43 PM	#14
fishchef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,222	Wow, I have a total of 125 gal and I run only 2- 150's. Its been really cold this year and I've decided to put them on a Ranco Controller. One's been hanging up and I've been getting too much fluctuation. I've had some high readings that were of concern.

02/18/2010, 06:24 PM	#17
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	Running multiple heaters is the smartest idea IMO especially if they are not on a controller. If one gets stuck on, chances are you won't cook the tank. You should still size the TOTAL wattage accordingly to your tank. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!