Anyone who does not use a heater?

[archie1709]

I have been running heaterless in my reef tank for two years now (eversince my original heater does not stop heating above 80 while being set to minimum).

My tank stays between 78-80 all year round. Must be the heat from the powerheads, perhaps?

Anyways, anyone else here who doesn't use a heater? Or am I the only weird exception.

Any pros and cons?

PS: House temp fluctuates bewteen 72-80F during winter time, 76-82 during summer time. But tank stays between 78-80F heaterless.

[IndoorOcean]

I don't use a heater. My tank temp has never dropped below 78 and has rarely gotten above 82. I think the powerheads in my tank are what keeps the temp up. I don't think I would need one unless I removed the powerheads or started keeping the room temp in my house much cooler.

[dc_909]

I have one, but it usually only comes on in winter. It is a good safety measure to have.

[uscharalph]

I use a heater. I definately need it in the winter.

[Goodwood]

only in the winter

[saltyfishdude]

I have one, but I don't use it. I keep my house temp at about 72. My tank never gets below 76, usually at 77 -79. I live on the southern region of the central coast of California, and the daytime time is usually in the 70's throughout the year. I think this and keeping my house around 72 -73, along with lighting (without a lid) and my pumps and powerheads, that I am able to get away without it. One less piece to run electricity to, sweet.

[UrbanSage]

I don't have one, been running like this for almost two years now.
Return pump/powerheads/pumps/lights keep it plenty warm......

[Scottkelly911]

I have one, but it's never been dropped into the tank, just don't need it where I live with the lights powerheads etc.

[el chupacabra]

for 3 years I didn't use a heater in my fish only tank the temp fluctuated between 55 and 90. At xmas time all the fish in my fresh water tank died at 55 but all the salt tank ones were fine. Now days I use one.

[Frick-n-Frags]

the basement is pretty stable, but in the dead of winter, I have to throw in a heater when I see the temp getting to 75º.
In fact, the temp is now creeping up to around 78º, so it is getting close to time to pull it. I just leave it full on. It is undersized and perfect for a bump without risking a cookout, like if a big one stuck on or something. this year it didn't go in until january though, so no complaindo here.

for the rest of the year:
mag pump and a few PH's +lights = plenty of heat and usually >enough.

[ToniYo]

I've never found the need for one in central Florida. I run dual 250 MH on a 75 gal and it stays pretty warm even at night.

[jeffbrig]

I've never needed one. Even on a cold day in the middle of winter with the windows open (S. Florida), the tank never drops below 78. The equipment in the tank provides all the heat I need, and then some.

[TarheelFrag]

I have one but it never comes on. I keep my house around 0 deg and my tank runs 78-80 all the time.

[UrbanSage]

Originally posted by Wampas
I keep my house around 0 deg and my tank runs 78-80 all the time.

That is amazing

[MTB]

I don't use a heater. My basement stays 67-68. The tank is 78-80 constanly.

[archie1709]

That's great. So it's a pretty common thing. So why do a lot of folks in the hobby have heaters when their gadgets emit lots of heat to begin with? Coz there area folks who have chillers and heaters in the tank.

If my fish need between 78-80, so do I. Unless my central air seizes (and it is possible in all situations), I just keep my temp at home the same as my temp in the tank. Sometimes I get too spoiled that I put temp at 67F at home over the summer time. But for some reason the tank stays between 78 - 80F during the summer time still....odd...

[Overland04]

No chiller or heater for almost 4 years...My tank stays within the 77-79 degree mark all year. Thats one less expense for me

[DrBegalke]

I don't, but I live in Arizona... I also don't use a chiller, so some of my tanks hit 86, have even seen 89 once, and everything is fine.

[iaJim]

No heater for well over ten years. I do use a chiller, and it comes on once in a while. I keep the house pretty warm in the winter, and around 77 in the summer.

[JW Jersey]

I remove the heater for the summer.

[vessxpress1]

Originally posted by archie1709
So why do a lot of folks in the hobby have heaters when their gadgets emit lots of heat to begin with?

Many people's gadgets don't emit enough heat to keep the tank warm enough. Especially over-night. I'm in northern Illinois and this past February, we didn't get out of the single digits for highs, for weeks! Then it would get well below zero, night after night. With the thermostat set at 72, when it's - 20 degrees outside, is just about to the point where the furnace rarely shuts off. Which means the moisture is getting fried out of your inside air all night dropping the house humidity severely. Which in turn probably causes the tank to evaporate faster, which of course cools it down. Add the fact that some of my pumps turn off at night and the lights are out and my tank could swing from the low 70s to low 80s in a 24 hour period during the winter.

I've noticed a huge drop in evaporation since it's started warming up a little around here and the furnace is running less.

During the summer, I take the heater out and run a window AC, in conjunction with our central air to keep the room at 72, no matter how hot it gets. The tank usually maintains a temp 6 degrees warmer than room temp during the summer.

I agree though that I'd rather just turn my AC down instead of getting a chiller if it works for you, so the homes owners can benefit also. Although, whenever people come over and it's a hundred degrees out, they always say they're freezing with my house set at 72.

[DarG]

Ive never had a SW tank that needed a heater (S. Florida) I only used them to keep the temp stable before i used a chiller. We don't use much heat in the winter down here but will keep it set at about 68 or so. Even if the house gets 68, the 90 gallon wont drop enough to need a heater. In fact, it's a chiller that I use. Even at 68 degress in the house the chiller will cycle on and off. Chiller is set to keep the tank at 76 degrees.

[kool-cat]

I keep my heater on because of temp swings.

[T Man]

Originally posted by archie1709
I have been running heaterless in my reef tank for two years now (eversince my original heater does not stop heating above 80 while being set to minimum).

My tank stays between 78-80 all year round. Must be the heat from the powerheads, perhaps?

Anyways, anyone else here who doesn't use a heater? Or am I the only weird exception.

Any pros and cons?

PS: House temp fluctuates bewteen 72-80F during winter time, 76-82 during summer time. But tank stays between 78-80F heaterless.

Where do you live Arch? I use one in the winter here in Phoenix, but the tank needs to be chilled more than heated. I use it as a insurance. I wonder how long a reef could last in the lower temps. 70 degrees and below ? TinMan

[davidryder]

If you are positive that a heater would not help stabilize temp swings, then you shouldn't need one. This would also prevent any hazards from the heater getting stuck in the 'on' position. My tank never falls below 80 degrees, but I still have a heater that never comes on.