Any issues for a heater in the main tank? - Page 2

Khemul · 01/27/2014, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunsnroses

So I need all the heat I can get. So the more powerful the heater, the better.

That's the thing though. A 300 watt heater is a 300 watt heater. The Eheim isn't putting more watts into the water then the Cobalt. Their testing/rating is different. Eheim is basing their rating off a higher ambient room temperature then Cobalt.

slowjazz · 01/27/2014, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moorepower

I have 2 300 watt heaters in my main tank ( got very cold outside and they are near a window dropped to 64 in my tank but nothing died). My puffer see my avatar will now sleep on my heater at night time lol. I have a 75 gallon tank 15 gallon sump but the sump.

And he sleeps on it when it's on lol. Never got burnt been doing this for over a week

2 - 300's on a 75 gal tank? wow! you must have a very cold draft coming in the window. I have a 200 watt sitting in my sump with a 90gal DT and I have never had a temp issue.

dkeller_nc · 01/27/2014, 09:08 AM

FYI - I have a 55 gallon rock tank in my basement. During the recent cold snap, the air temperature was about 55 degrees Farenheit, and the tank has a 125 watt heater. Because I've insulated the back, bottom and sides with foam-board insulation, the tank's water temp stayed at 78 deg F. Insulation does make a great deal of difference, even if you can't cover all sides.

downbeach · 01/27/2014, 09:16 AM

The size of the system isn't the only consideration when selecting a heater. The temperature differential needs to be considered as well. You have a rather large temperature differential, needing to keep your system about 25 degrees higher than the ambient temperature. I think if I were you I'd be looking for something in the 800 to 1,000 watt range. Make sure your controller can handle the load.

dkeller_nc · 01/27/2014, 02:59 PM

You might find this calculator useful. Unfortunately it requires an entry for a tank-top thickness, but it should get you in the ballpark:

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

Gunsnroses · 01/27/2014, 04:20 PM

The controller I will be using is a Ranco ETC-111000 single stage. It should arrive today.
I went by Glass Cages today and picked up a 50 Gallon tank to use as a refugium. This way I can have more room in my sump to keep the two heaters I have now, and have room if I have to add another.
Plus it will add to my total tank volume. Now I have to reconfigure my sump.
I'm just glad I am working this out now and not after the set up is running.

Moorepower · 01/27/2014, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowjazz

2 - 300's on a 75 gal tank? wow! you must have a very cold draft coming in the window. I have a 200 watt sitting in my sump with a 90gal DT and I have never had a temp issue.

I do have a draft. Didnt think it was that bad but I had 300 watt and 65 watt in the sump but ya outside temp dropped way down below 0 so I went with another 300 to be safe. Temp has stayed perfect and we have had more very cold days since then

Lol 75 with 15 gallon sump

Fishyoga · 02/21/2014, 01:27 PM

So I read through this whole thread, just for educational purposes, but have a question of my own based on what has been said.
Just set up a second tank, only 10 gallon. It came as a kit with a cover with cutouts designed for the supplied equipment. Because of this, there were only so many options for placing my live rock. Although the heater (not sure of the wattage, but it stands vertical stuck to the inside of the tank wall) has a rubber/plastic cap on the bottom, it is up against a small area of my LR.
Will this minimal contact affect any potential growth on my rock?
Not sure how much actual heat comes of the heater, but occasionally I see a snail creeping along the glass tube feeding.
Any advice would be appreciated.

phillrodrigo · 02/21/2014, 02:44 PM

I have a fluval 300 watt in my 75 40 gallon sump. It was t cutting it this winter. Added a 200 watt jager. At 60 my jager or fluval arent enough to heat my tank.

dkeller_nc · 02/22/2014, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishyoga

So I read through this whole thread, just for educational purposes, but have a question of my own based on what has been said.
Just set up a second tank, only 10 gallon. It came as a kit with a cover with cutouts designed for the supplied equipment. Because of this, there were only so many options for placing my live rock. Although the heater (not sure of the wattage, but it stands vertical stuck to the inside of the tank wall) has a rubber/plastic cap on the bottom, it is up against a small area of my LR.
Will this minimal contact affect any potential growth on my rock?
Not sure how much actual heat comes of the heater, but occasionally I see a snail creeping along the glass tube feeding.
Any advice would be appreciated.

The section of the heater's glass that contains the actual heating element typically gets hot enough to prevent any growth of coraline algae or other marine growth on it. Whether or not it will prevent growth on LR that's adjacent to it will greatly depend on the flow around the heater. In any event, the amount of LR that would be bare because of the heater's presence is likely to be very small.

Fishyoga · 02/22/2014, 10:44 PM

Okay, thanks d!
I do notice that area of rock seems bare, but it usually has less light on it as well. Think I might try to just rotate the rock about an inch and see if that helps.

Molly1414 · 02/23/2014, 02:09 AM

Well having my heater in the main tank saved it. Two weeks ago i turned off the pump and power heads to feed my coral before bed. Got distracted and forgot to turn the pumps back on and woke up in the morning to a silent tank. The heater in the tank kept everything warm and it only dropped a few degrees due to a lack of flow in the tank. Turned pumps back on and thank goodness everything has been fine. If the heater was not in the tank the tank would have dropped to 65.

01/27/2014, 04:20 PM	#31
Gunsnroses Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Pleasant View TN Posts: 421	The controller I will be using is a Ranco ETC-111000 single stage. It should arrive today. I went by Glass Cages today and picked up a 50 Gallon tank to use as a refugium. This way I can have more room in my sump to keep the two heaters I have now, and have room if I have to add another. Plus it will add to my total tank volume. Now I have to reconfigure my sump. I'm just glad I am working this out now and not after the set up is running. __________________ He who gets frustrated with freshwater tank, Never owned a Reef tank Current Tank Info: 180 gallon RR-75 gallon sump-50 gallon Refugium-RO Diablo DCS 200 Skimmer-Diablo 10500 and 5500 return pumps-Spectrapure MaxCap 90gpd

01/27/2014, 09:08 AM	#28
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	FYI - I have a 55 gallon rock tank in my basement. During the recent cold snap, the air temperature was about 55 degrees Farenheit, and the tank has a 125 watt heater. Because I've insulated the back, bottom and sides with foam-board insulation, the tank's water temp stayed at 78 deg F. Insulation does make a great deal of difference, even if you can't cover all sides.

01/27/2014, 09:16 AM	#29
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	The size of the system isn't the only consideration when selecting a heater. The temperature differential needs to be considered as well. You have a rather large temperature differential, needing to keep your system about 25 degrees higher than the ambient temperature. I think if I were you I'd be looking for something in the 800 to 1,000 watt range. Make sure your controller can handle the load.

01/27/2014, 02:59 PM	#30
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	You might find this calculator useful. Unfortunately it requires an entry for a tank-top thickness, but it should get you in the ballpark: http://www.kernsanalysis.com/HeaterCalculator.cgi

02/21/2014, 01:27 PM	#33
Fishyoga Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Alberta Posts: 136	So I read through this whole thread, just for educational purposes, but have a question of my own based on what has been said. Just set up a second tank, only 10 gallon. It came as a kit with a cover with cutouts designed for the supplied equipment. Because of this, there were only so many options for placing my live rock. Although the heater (not sure of the wattage, but it stands vertical stuck to the inside of the tank wall) has a rubber/plastic cap on the bottom, it is up against a small area of my LR. Will this minimal contact affect any potential growth on my rock? Not sure how much actual heat comes of the heater, but occasionally I see a snail creeping along the glass tube feeding. Any advice would be appreciated.

02/21/2014, 02:44 PM	#34
phillrodrigo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: quaker hill ct Posts: 2,433	I have a fluval 300 watt in my 75 40 gallon sump. It was t cutting it this winter. Added a 200 watt jager. At 60 my jager or fluval arent enough to heat my tank.

02/22/2014, 10:44 PM	#36
Fishyoga Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Alberta Posts: 136	Okay, thanks d! I do notice that area of rock seems bare, but it usually has less light on it as well. Think I might try to just rotate the rock about an inch and see if that helps.

02/23/2014, 02:09 AM	#37
Molly1414 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 130	Well having my heater in the main tank saved it. Two weeks ago i turned off the pump and power heads to feed my coral before bed. Got distracted and forgot to turn the pumps back on and woke up in the morning to a silent tank. The heater in the tank kept everything warm and it only dropped a few degrees due to a lack of flow in the tank. Turned pumps back on and thank goodness everything has been fine. If the heater was not in the tank the tank would have dropped to 65.