I need to know what Watt heater to get for a 40 gal breader

BSmitty22 · 01/10/2012, 08:53 PM

Im starting a 40 gal FOWLR for now and will eventually put corals in it. I dont know what watt heater to get. I was thinking about getting one of the finnex heaters with the digital controller but i really have no idea what is good and bad. Any suggestions and opinions are much appreciated.

bellis31 · 01/10/2012, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSmitty22

Im starting a 40 gal FOWLR for now and will eventually put corals in it. I dont know what watt heater to get. I was thinking about getting one of the finnex heaters with the digital controller but i really have no idea what is good and bad. Any suggestions and opinions are much appreciated.

I have a 40G Breeder with a 29g sump... total volume of water is about 60g's. I am using 2 125watt heaters on a controller and my temps are 77.6 to 78.6 - 78.9 when the daylight T5's are on..

thegrun · 01/10/2012, 09:31 PM

The general rule of thumb is 3-5 watts per actual total water volume in the system. If you keep your house cold move towards the 5 watt number. It is also best to split the total wattage between two heaters so if one fails (either in the on or off position) you are in less danger of cooking or freezing your tank inhabitants before you notice the problem.

BSmitty22 · 01/10/2012, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bellis31

I have a 40G Breeder with a 29g sump... total volume of water is about 60g's. I am using 2 125watt heaters on a controller and my temps are 77.6 to 78.6 - 78.9 when the daylight T5's are on..

What kind of heaters do you use and and what kind of controller? I plan on getting a RKL eventuallly by really dont want to spend a tone of money on a temporary controller

bellis31 · 01/10/2012, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSmitty22

What kind of heaters do you use and and what kind of controller? I plan on getting a RKL eventuallly by really dont want to spend a tone of money on a temporary controller

I have 2 Eheim Jager heaters (125Watt) and an Neptune Apex Jr...

doctorgori · 01/11/2012, 01:47 AM

this might be helpful for future reference

http://www.kernsanalysis.com/HeaterCalculator.cgi

fishgate · 01/11/2012, 06:24 AM

I have a single 200 watt in mine. No controller.

izzy123 · 01/11/2012, 12:43 PM

I use a single heater with a digital controller that I bought on E-bay it's a 200 watt heater by the way.

there are a lot of factors that come into play, canopy or open tank, how many pumps are running in the tank( they all generate heat) how warm is your house... etc.....

But speaking from my own expierence, 3 watts per gallon should do it .

For my own system (40G DT with canopy and a 25G sump) I probably could get away with 2 watts per gallon

Hope this helps

01/10/2012, 08:53 PM	#1
BSmitty22 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 61	I need to know what Watt heater to get for a 40 gal breader Im starting a 40 gal FOWLR for now and will eventually put corals in it. I dont know what watt heater to get. I was thinking about getting one of the finnex heaters with the digital controller but i really have no idea what is good and bad. Any suggestions and opinions are much appreciated.

01/11/2012, 06:24 AM	#7
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	I have a single 200 watt in mine. No controller. __________________ 125RR in-wall, 40B Sump, CS180 BM Skimmer, ATI 4x80 watt, eheim 1262, custom wrap around rock wall, ReefKeeper Elite 120g in-wall, 40B Sump, PC 54wx4, Jabao DC-6000 (full siphon), future seahorse t Current Tank Info: 125g, 120g, 2x40b sumps, ATI 4x80 T5HO

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01/10/2012, 09:31 PM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	The general rule of thumb is 3-5 watts per actual total water volume in the system. If you keep your house cold move towards the 5 watt number. It is also best to split the total wattage between two heaters so if one fails (either in the on or off position) you are in less danger of cooking or freezing your tank inhabitants before you notice the problem.

01/11/2012, 01:47 AM	#6
doctorgori Moved On Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Simon Bar-Sinistar Posts: 1,097	this might be helpful for future reference http://www.kernsanalysis.com/HeaterCalculator.cgi

01/11/2012, 12:43 PM	#8
izzy123 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Belgium Posts: 504	I use a single heater with a digital controller that I bought on E-bay it's a 200 watt heater by the way. there are a lot of factors that come into play, canopy or open tank, how many pumps are running in the tank( they all generate heat) how warm is your house... etc..... But speaking from my own expierence, 3 watts per gallon should do it . For my own system (40G DT with canopy and a 25G sump) I probably could get away with 2 watts per gallon Hope this helps