No heaters in a new 180g tank?

jab502 · 04/16/2006, 06:12 PM

I am in the process of purchasing my first tank. It will be set up as a reef tank. I have visited many local LFS for help. The person that I have decided to purchase from does not use heaters in any of his tanks. He has about 70 tanks set up in his store as well as two of his own display tanks. Below is a quote from his website about his views on heaters. He seems very knowledgable, but this opinion seems to run contrary to everything else I have read. What do you think? Is this a bad idea? Thanks.

".....Heaters have a bad habit of shorting out and remaining on. Being in business I hear this story about once a week. For the most part you don't need a heater at all. Pumps and lights keep a tank warm from their excess heat. It's OK to let your tank warm during the day and cool at night. The ocean does the same, especially in the shallow reef areas.
.....During low tide, the small pools left exposed often reach 100 degrees in the tropical sun. Small fish, inverts and corals survive just fine until the tide returns. I don't recommend that you let your tank warm to 100 but you can let it rise and fall 6 to 8 degrees daily somewhere in the range from 68 to 83. My shop tanks vary 6 or 7 degrees over 24 hours. This prevents thermal shock when there is a greater change in the tank from an especially hot or cold day. If you keep your tank at a fixed temperature during a very hot day and your tank suddenly jumps 10 degrees, the fish, corals. etc. really suffer.
.....If your situation is such that you REALLY do need a heater then put it on a timer. Set the timer to come on for a 4 hour period early in the morning; or in extremely cold situations for two 4 hour periods at different times of the day. "

zenzence · 04/16/2006, 06:25 PM

I would say that would be a very bad idea.

Yes its true that heaters can short out or get "stuck on" for this reason I buy good quality heaters and I usually replace the main tank heater once a year. I also have a back up heater that I run in case. I also use a controller to monitor heat in the tank and do not rely on the internal thermostat of the heater. Allowing your tank to exceed 83 degrees is IMO a very bad idea further more allowing a 6-8 degree swing in a 24 hours period is also a very bad idea.

Just my thoughts I am sure others will add more

Scuba_Dave · 04/16/2006, 06:27 PM

I've never heard such (can't say it here) in my life
His store may stay 70-75 degrees due ot the tanks that he has
My house dops to 60-63 at night
My basement used to dip to 49 in the winter before I insulated
I would never run a tank without a heater unless I lived in a climate that did not dip below 70

A heater sized to your tank will not fry your tank
An oversized heater will
I have 3 heaters, any 2 of which could stick on & not overheat the tank

I've seen major tank crashes & loss of everything at around 90 - depending upon the time
While you could have a tank dip to 65 without a problem, doing this on a daily basis is just stressing your corals out

I don't disagree with the 6-7 degree temp swing
I have seen that while diving in the ocean

I haven't heard of the timer sugestion
But it could make sense, to turn your heaters off while your lights are on. But then what happens if the lights fail?

affan · 04/16/2006, 06:39 PM

6 - 8 degrees temperature swing in a 24 hour period is a bit outrageous. For what it's worth, I've been running my tank without any heaters for quite some time. In excess of six months, I believe. 3-4 degree fluctuations don't seem to hurt in my experience as my day temperature hovers at around 81/82 and at night it's about 78/79.

04/16/2006, 06:12 PM	#1
jab502 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 157	No heaters in a new 180g tank? I am in the process of purchasing my first tank. It will be set up as a reef tank. I have visited many local LFS for help. The person that I have decided to purchase from does not use heaters in any of his tanks. He has about 70 tanks set up in his store as well as two of his own display tanks. Below is a quote from his website about his views on heaters. He seems very knowledgable, but this opinion seems to run contrary to everything else I have read. What do you think? Is this a bad idea? Thanks. ".....Heaters have a bad habit of shorting out and remaining on. Being in business I hear this story about once a week. For the most part you don't need a heater at all. Pumps and lights keep a tank warm from their excess heat. It's OK to let your tank warm during the day and cool at night. The ocean does the same, especially in the shallow reef areas. .....During low tide, the small pools left exposed often reach 100 degrees in the tropical sun. Small fish, inverts and corals survive just fine until the tide returns. I don't recommend that you let your tank warm to 100 but you can let it rise and fall 6 to 8 degrees daily somewhere in the range from 68 to 83. My shop tanks vary 6 or 7 degrees over 24 hours. This prevents thermal shock when there is a greater change in the tank from an especially hot or cold day. If you keep your tank at a fixed temperature during a very hot day and your tank suddenly jumps 10 degrees, the fish, corals. etc. really suffer. .....If your situation is such that you REALLY do need a heater then put it on a timer. Set the timer to come on for a 4 hour period early in the morning; or in extremely cold situations for two 4 hour periods at different times of the day. "

04/16/2006, 06:25 PM	#2
zenzence Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 373	I would say that would be a very bad idea. Yes its true that heaters can short out or get "stuck on" for this reason I buy good quality heaters and I usually replace the main tank heater once a year. I also have a back up heater that I run in case. I also use a controller to monitor heat in the tank and do not rely on the internal thermostat of the heater. Allowing your tank to exceed 83 degrees is IMO a very bad idea further more allowing a 6-8 degree swing in a 24 hours period is also a very bad idea. Just my thoughts I am sure others will add more __________________ zen x 2 Current Tank Info: 75 Innovative Marine /mixed Reef

04/16/2006, 06:27 PM	#3
Scuba_Dave EMERTXE YID Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Asylum, South of Boston, MA Posts: 10,362	I've never heard such (can't say it here) in my life His store may stay 70-75 degrees due ot the tanks that he has My house dops to 60-63 at night My basement used to dip to 49 in the winter before I insulated I would never run a tank without a heater unless I lived in a climate that did not dip below 70 A heater sized to your tank will not fry your tank An oversized heater will I have 3 heaters, any 2 of which could stick on & not overheat the tank I've seen major tank crashes & loss of everything at around 90 - depending upon the time While you could have a tank dip to 65 without a problem, doing this on a daily basis is just stressing your corals out I don't disagree with the 6-7 degree temp swing I have seen that while diving in the ocean I haven't heard of the timer sugestion But it could make sense, to turn your heaters off while your lights are on. But then what happens if the lights fail?

04/16/2006, 06:39 PM	#4
affan Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: From NYC, currently serving time in Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 1,125	6 - 8 degrees temperature swing in a 24 hour period is a bit outrageous. For what it's worth, I've been running my tank without any heaters for quite some time. In excess of six months, I believe. 3-4 degree fluctuations don't seem to hurt in my experience as my day temperature hovers at around 81/82 and at night it's about 78/79.