100w heater in a 14g biocube?

Ssteve · 09/27/2013, 08:13 AM

I just got my tank up and running, and have a 100w eheim jäger heater in it. I was told by the LFS that it may be too big and would allow for too much of a temp swing.. I need to buy another heater anyways for water changes, so I'm wondering if I should go down to a 50w or 75w and use the 100w for water changes?

So far I have set it at 78deg and I haven't seen the temps go over 78 or under about 77. When the heater comes on it stays on for a fair amount of time, but I was taking that as it's bringing the temp up slowly, and wouldn't shock any livestock with a drastic swing in temps.

FZhang · 09/27/2013, 09:19 AM

I've never heard of problems with larger heaters in small tanks. But I know a lot of people like 2 smaller heaters for redundancy.

Ssteve · 09/27/2013, 09:22 AM

I wouldn't be able to fit two small heaters in the rear compartment, but I could see where that might be beneficial for larger tanks. In theory anyways.

Quick_Ben · 09/27/2013, 09:44 AM

I'm a big fan of Cobalt's Neotherm heaters. They're slim and flat and fit easily. Thrown away a ton of heaters and these seem to be dependable. Come in most popular wattages and have a 50 in my biocube with no issues.

Ssteve · 09/27/2013, 10:29 AM

I've never heard any bad things with the eheim jäger sand am not experiencing any issues at all so far. More just curious if I should replace it with something for the sake of temps rising/falling too quickly.

browning_boy20 · 09/27/2013, 10:52 AM

Bad thing about an oversized heater is if it sticks on, your tank will rapidly get well over 90 deg. and kill everything in the tank.

thegrun · 09/27/2013, 10:55 AM

Ideally I would run two 25 watt heaters (one 50 watt if you don't have the space for two 25 watt heaters) unless you let your house get very cold in the winter in which case I would run one 50 watt and one 25 watt heaters (or a single 75).

Ssteve · 09/27/2013, 11:00 AM

Sounds good. I'll grab a 50w and just use the 100w for water changes.

cloak · 09/27/2013, 02:55 PM

IMO, the 100 watt heater is fine. It's powerful enough that on the coldest day in winter the tank shouldn't drop below a certain temperature, and if it's working correctly, it should turn off when the set temperature is reached. FWIW, I've been using an old 300 watt heater on my 20 gallon tank for about 4 years now without any problems.

SBGRAD24 · 09/27/2013, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by browning_boy20

Bad thing about an oversized heater is if it sticks on, your tank will rapidly get well over 90 deg. and kill everything in the tank.

This. I cooked a bunch of frogs in a terrarium once because the oversized heater got stuck on. Awful scene.

BradMugs · 09/27/2013, 06:49 PM

Heaters - always use multiple - things happen, if you have one and it shuts down the temp drops - quickly. If it sticks on - FISH SOUP. with multiple one shuts down the other ones can usually maintain the temp or at least slow down the cool off quite a bit. If one sticks on it usually will take awhile to over heat. If you think you need 100W I'd get three at 33W or four at 25W. After ending up with both frozen fish and fish soup I made the change to four and had heaters go bad with no issues.

Ssteve · 09/27/2013, 06:54 PM

There isn't room for multiple in a biocube for the most part.

BradMugs · 09/27/2013, 07:03 PM

Agreed about space - but IF you end up with a sump keep it in mind. Nothing hurts more than coming home to fish soup...

09/27/2013, 08:13 AM	#1
Ssteve Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 2,087	100w heater in a 14g biocube? I just got my tank up and running, and have a 100w eheim jäger heater in it. I was told by the LFS that it may be too big and would allow for too much of a temp swing.. I need to buy another heater anyways for water changes, so I'm wondering if I should go down to a 50w or 75w and use the 100w for water changes? So far I have set it at 78deg and I haven't seen the temps go over 78 or under about 77. When the heater comes on it stays on for a fair amount of time, but I was taking that as it's bringing the temp up slowly, and wouldn't shock any livestock with a drastic swing in temps.

09/27/2013, 09:19 AM	#2
FZhang Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 10	I've never heard of problems with larger heaters in small tanks. But I know a lot of people like 2 smaller heaters for redundancy.

09/27/2013, 09:22 AM	#3
Ssteve Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 2,087	I wouldn't be able to fit two small heaters in the rear compartment, but I could see where that might be beneficial for larger tanks. In theory anyways.

09/27/2013, 09:44 AM	#4
Quick_Ben Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 80	I'm a big fan of Cobalt's Neotherm heaters. They're slim and flat and fit easily. Thrown away a ton of heaters and these seem to be dependable. Come in most popular wattages and have a 50 in my biocube with no issues.

09/27/2013, 10:29 AM	#5
Ssteve Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 2,087	I've never heard any bad things with the eheim jäger sand am not experiencing any issues at all so far. More just curious if I should replace it with something for the sake of temps rising/falling too quickly.

09/27/2013, 10:52 AM	#6
browning_boy20 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 425	Bad thing about an oversized heater is if it sticks on, your tank will rapidly get well over 90 deg. and kill everything in the tank.

09/27/2013, 10:55 AM	#7
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Ideally I would run two 25 watt heaters (one 50 watt if you don't have the space for two 25 watt heaters) unless you let your house get very cold in the winter in which case I would run one 50 watt and one 25 watt heaters (or a single 75).

09/27/2013, 11:00 AM	#8
Ssteve Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 2,087	Sounds good. I'll grab a 50w and just use the 100w for water changes.

09/27/2013, 02:55 PM	#9
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	IMO, the 100 watt heater is fine. It's powerful enough that on the coldest day in winter the tank shouldn't drop below a certain temperature, and if it's working correctly, it should turn off when the set temperature is reached. FWIW, I've been using an old 300 watt heater on my 20 gallon tank for about 4 years now without any problems.

09/27/2013, 06:49 PM	#11
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	Heaters - always use multiple - things happen, if you have one and it shuts down the temp drops - quickly. If it sticks on - FISH SOUP. with multiple one shuts down the other ones can usually maintain the temp or at least slow down the cool off quite a bit. If one sticks on it usually will take awhile to over heat. If you think you need 100W I'd get three at 33W or four at 25W. After ending up with both frozen fish and fish soup I made the change to four and had heaters go bad with no issues.

09/27/2013, 06:54 PM	#12
Ssteve Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 2,087	There isn't room for multiple in a biocube for the most part.

09/27/2013, 07:03 PM	#13
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	Agreed about space - but IF you end up with a sump keep it in mind. Nothing hurts more than coming home to fish soup...