Dual jager heaters w/o controller?

Zer0. · 07/16/2014, 09:53 AM

Hi all,
Trying to figure out how to heat my new 180 gallon tank.
Wondering if 2 Jager heaters would run ok with each other with out a controller, I plan to upgrade to an apex or something similar in the future but dont have to funds to at the moment. I figured if i set 2 of the same size heaters (2 x 150watts) to the same temp it should be fine.

Thanks for any insight!

jda · 07/16/2014, 10:09 AM

As long as one by it's self is not capable of baking your tank, it will be fine.

I think that you might need more like a pair of 300W heaters to keep that tank warm, depending on where you live.

FWIW - you can buy a ranco for like $30-50 used and wire it up in no time. IMO, commercial and food-grade temp controllers are more reliable than the temp probes on a hobby grade unit like an apex.

Zer0. · 07/16/2014, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jda

As long as one by it's self is not capable of baking your tank, it will be fine.

I think that you might need more like a pair of 300W heaters to keep that tank warm, depending on where you live.

FWIW - you can buy a ranco for like $30-50 used and wire it up in no time. IMO, commercial and food-grade temp controllers are more reliable than the temp probes on a hobby grade unit like an apex.

Its in my basement, stays a pretty constant 70ish, maybe i will go with 2 250 watts, Im going to use a 40B for a sump so the 300 watt would'nt fit at 19 inches long, the 250 would just barely fit. Ill look into the ranco, I'm just not much of an electrician

jda · 07/16/2014, 10:38 AM

They are easy to wire. Less than $50 shipped on eBay for the single stage controller. Get a solid 10-12 foot 12G cord at Home Depot or Lowes to use for both ends and follow the instructions. I am still using one from probably 1999 or 2000 it lost 1 bar at the top of the display (7 looks like a 1), but otherwise has been rock solid.

tkeracer619 · 07/17/2014, 09:15 PM

Get a Ranco ETC-111000.

07/16/2014, 09:53 AM	#1
Zer0. Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 479	Dual jager heaters w/o controller? Hi all, Trying to figure out how to heat my new 180 gallon tank. Wondering if 2 Jager heaters would run ok with each other with out a controller, I plan to upgrade to an apex or something similar in the future but dont have to funds to at the moment. I figured if i set 2 of the same size heaters (2 x 150watts) to the same temp it should be fine. Thanks for any insight!

07/17/2014, 09:15 PM	#5
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Get a Ranco ETC-111000. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

07/16/2014, 10:09 AM	#2
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	As long as one by it's self is not capable of baking your tank, it will be fine. I think that you might need more like a pair of 300W heaters to keep that tank warm, depending on where you live. FWIW - you can buy a ranco for like $30-50 used and wire it up in no time. IMO, commercial and food-grade temp controllers are more reliable than the temp probes on a hobby grade unit like an apex.

07/16/2014, 10:38 AM	#4
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	They are easy to wire. Less than $50 shipped on eBay for the single stage controller. Get a solid 10-12 foot 12G cord at Home Depot or Lowes to use for both ends and follow the instructions. I am still using one from probably 1999 or 2000 it lost 1 bar at the top of the display (7 looks like a 1), but otherwise has been rock solid.