What heater or heaters for a 180g? Watts?

MarineGirl411 · 09/21/2009, 12:05 AM

Just wondering what a reliable heater is? What brand? How many watts? How many heaters should I use? Two? TY.

ludnix · 09/21/2009, 01:52 AM

I would use 2x 500watts. The most reliable setup is a 2 titanium heaters on ronco controllers, but it does get a little pricey that way.

MarineGirl411 · 09/21/2009, 01:55 AM

Yah i was looking at the ranco controllers. Does it not matter what heater is used then?

AHDOnline · 09/21/2009, 07:32 AM

I use 2 visi-therm stealth 200w heaters on my tank. They are probably 4 years old. Its the only heater i use anymore in any of my tanks, and have had great luck with them. They are all plastic, reliable. About 20$ each

Reef Bass · 09/21/2009, 08:36 AM

The general formula is about 5 watts per gallon. This is one place where watts per gallon is appropriate, compared with lighting, where wpg is not a good guide.

I've used Visi Therms and they had a pretty wide temperature variation range compared with the Jagers I much prefer. I've had Jagers last as long as 15 years.

For even more less temperature variation I control my Jagers with my ReefKeeper Elite. If the temp if below 78 (where I like my reef), the power to the heaters is on. If the temp is above 78, no more juice for the heaters. Keeps the tank within about 1/2 degree.

downhillbiker · 09/21/2009, 10:23 AM

Why would you spend money on just a temp controller, when you can get a aquacontroller or reefkeeper? reefkeeper lite is $99. Cant beat that.

I would use 2x500w or 2x800w.

MarineGirl411 · 09/21/2009, 10:24 AM

How the heck do you use 2 200 watt heaters on your 200 gallon tank? How does that keep it warm? I was thinking maybe 2 500 watt heaters. There are not many brands to choose from though.

AHDOnline · 09/21/2009, 10:30 AM

I guess its the location of the tank.

My tank is always in the 77 degree range +/- 2. I have never needed any more than this.

MarineGirl411 · 09/21/2009, 10:35 AM

Lucky! That's awesome.

1DeR9_3Hy · 09/21/2009, 11:04 AM

2 X 500 on some sort of controller (this would be a good time to get a $99 Reef keeper lite).

Amoore311 · 09/21/2009, 12:08 PM

I have (3) 250 Watt Visitherm Stealth Heaters on my 180.

I have them on a ACjr. I've used the ranco controllers in the past and they are very good as well.

MarineGirl411 · 09/21/2009, 12:17 PM

would two visitherm 150 watt heaters and a via aqua on a Reefkeeper lite be sufficient? Is the reef keeper lite able to handle 3 heaters?

Amoore311 · 09/21/2009, 02:30 PM

The ACjr and the RK Lite are pretty similar. I have my heaters on a 3 outlet extension cord, then have the cord plugged into a slot on my DC8.

I would think 300 Watts is a little lacking. It could keep the temperature fine, but your heaters are going to be on more often, for longer amounts of time.

I would do minimum 500 Watts, and even that is pushing it I think.

Michael · 09/21/2009, 02:36 PM

id say 2x 250 watt heaters, simply because you will heat the water via pumps etc, ok my tank is only 92 gallon, but i never use a heater, and i need a controller to bring on fans after lights on

MarineGirl411 · 09/21/2009, 02:37 PM

Sorry, I meant to put would 2 visitherm heaters rated at 150 watts with a via aqua that is rated 300 watts be enough? I apologize for the error. That would be 600 watts.

09/21/2009, 12:05 AM	#1
MarineGirl411 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,583	What heater or heaters for a 180g? Watts? Just wondering what a reliable heater is? What brand? How many watts? How many heaters should I use? Two? TY. __________________ I am a reefaholic and there is no cure. =) Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef, Cardiff Nano Seahorse tank.

09/21/2009, 01:52 AM	#2
ludnix Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,031	I would use 2x 500watts. The most reliable setup is a 2 titanium heaters on ronco controllers, but it does get a little pricey that way. __________________ -Eric Sutter Current Tank Info: 14g Biocube

09/21/2009, 01:55 AM	#3
MarineGirl411 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,583	Yah i was looking at the ranco controllers. Does it not matter what heater is used then? __________________ I am a reefaholic and there is no cure. =) Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef, Cardiff Nano Seahorse tank.

09/21/2009, 07:32 AM	#4
AHDOnline Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Freedom, PA Posts: 833	I use 2 visi-therm stealth 200w heaters on my tank. They are probably 4 years old. Its the only heater i use anymore in any of my tanks, and have had great luck with them. They are all plastic, reliable. About 20$ each __________________ President - Pittsburgh Marine Aquarium Society (PMASI) President - Marine Aquarium Society North America (MASNA) Current Tank Info: 210 Reef, 90 Reef, 40 Frag, 40 Frag, and then and then

09/21/2009, 08:36 AM	#5
Reef Bass colors and textures Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Petaluma CA Posts: 6,301	The general formula is about 5 watts per gallon. This is one place where watts per gallon is appropriate, compared with lighting, where wpg is not a good guide. I've used Visi Therms and they had a pretty wide temperature variation range compared with the Jagers I much prefer. I've had Jagers last as long as 15 years. For even more less temperature variation I control my Jagers with my ReefKeeper Elite. If the temp if below 78 (where I like my reef), the power to the heaters is on. If the temp is above 78, no more juice for the heaters. Keeps the tank within about 1/2 degree. __________________ The human desires for instant gratification and immediate problem resolution cannot be satisfied with this hobby. Former president and co-president of the Wine Country Reefers. Current Tank Info: 60 gallons of Scleractinia and Zoanthidae lit w/ LEDs

09/21/2009, 10:23 AM	#6
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	Why would you spend money on just a temp controller, when you can get a aquacontroller or reefkeeper? reefkeeper lite is $99. Cant beat that. I would use 2x500w or 2x800w. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

09/21/2009, 10:24 AM	#7
MarineGirl411 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,583	How the heck do you use 2 200 watt heaters on your 200 gallon tank? How does that keep it warm? I was thinking maybe 2 500 watt heaters. There are not many brands to choose from though. __________________ I am a reefaholic and there is no cure. =) Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef, Cardiff Nano Seahorse tank.

09/21/2009, 10:30 AM	#8
AHDOnline Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Freedom, PA Posts: 833	I guess its the location of the tank. My tank is always in the 77 degree range +/- 2. I have never needed any more than this. __________________ President - Pittsburgh Marine Aquarium Society (PMASI) President - Marine Aquarium Society North America (MASNA) Current Tank Info: 210 Reef, 90 Reef, 40 Frag, 40 Frag, and then and then

09/21/2009, 10:35 AM	#9
MarineGirl411 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,583	Lucky! That's awesome. __________________ I am a reefaholic and there is no cure. =) Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef, Cardiff Nano Seahorse tank.

09/21/2009, 11:04 AM	#10
1DeR9_3Hy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,575	2 X 500 on some sort of controller (this would be a good time to get a $99 Reef keeper lite). __________________ I hope it never catches on, I like having the oldest tank on here and I don't have to worry about calcification, bio pellets, Vodka dosing, DSBs, Chaetomorpha (I don't even know what that is) Carbonite hardness and all of these other things many people worry about. If I had to think about all of that stuff I would get a stroke. My test kit came in a wooden box and the directions say to keep in a cool chariott. I throw some food in the tank, wave hello to the fish and go out with my wife and have a nice glass of merlot with dinner. Have a great day but most of all, have fun. -PaulB Current Tank Info: 27 Gallon DAS softy/fish reef

09/21/2009, 12:08 PM	#11
Amoore311 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ulster County, NY Posts: 2,521	I have (3) 250 Watt Visitherm Stealth Heaters on my 180. I have them on a ACjr. I've used the ranco controllers in the past and they are very good as well. __________________ 30 Gallon FOWLR 2004-2006 90 Gallon LPS Reef 2006-2008 180 Gallon SPS Reef 2008-20012 100 Gallon Custom Rimless Mixed Reef 2012-2014 29 Gallon Biocube Reef! Current Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon Biocube, StevesLED Upgrade, Neptune Apex

09/21/2009, 12:17 PM	#12
MarineGirl411 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,583	would two visitherm 150 watt heaters and a via aqua on a Reefkeeper lite be sufficient? Is the reef keeper lite able to handle 3 heaters? __________________ I am a reefaholic and there is no cure. =) Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef, Cardiff Nano Seahorse tank.

09/21/2009, 02:30 PM	#13
Amoore311 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ulster County, NY Posts: 2,521	The ACjr and the RK Lite are pretty similar. I have my heaters on a 3 outlet extension cord, then have the cord plugged into a slot on my DC8. I would think 300 Watts is a little lacking. It could keep the temperature fine, but your heaters are going to be on more often, for longer amounts of time. I would do minimum 500 Watts, and even that is pushing it I think. __________________ 30 Gallon FOWLR 2004-2006 90 Gallon LPS Reef 2006-2008 180 Gallon SPS Reef 2008-20012 100 Gallon Custom Rimless Mixed Reef 2012-2014 29 Gallon Biocube Reef! Current Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon Biocube, StevesLED Upgrade, Neptune Apex

09/21/2009, 02:36 PM	#14
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	id say 2x 250 watt heaters, simply because you will heat the water via pumps etc, ok my tank is only 92 gallon, but i never use a heater, and i need a controller to bring on fans after lights on __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

09/21/2009, 02:37 PM	#15
MarineGirl411 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,583	Sorry, I meant to put would 2 visitherm heaters rated at 150 watts with a via aqua that is rated 300 watts be enough? I apologize for the error. That would be 600 watts. __________________ I am a reefaholic and there is no cure. =) Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef, Cardiff Nano Seahorse tank.