Something fishy is happening with my heaters

petere1989 · 10/20/2014, 02:28 PM

hi all, so i have a new 55 gallon tank set up. i sold my apex along with my previous 90 gallon system and so for the new tank i bought a reef keeper lite. i have one PC4 with a temp probe. its just the basic system. anyway, i've been through 3 heaters all of which were brand new and non of them can heat the tank all the way. all of them are rated above 100 gallons so there should be no problem there. i hooked all of them (one by one, then when that one didnt work i got a new one) up to the reef keeper and programed it to be at 78.0 F. but they all shut off around 75.0 and won't go any higher. I then thought maybe the temp probe was broken so i put a regular thermometer in the water and sure enough, it reads 75.0 F. i then unhooked all 3 heaters and plugged them into the wall directly, left them over night and they still will not go above 75.0 F. I am way confused as to what to do. i sound stupid for this to even be a problem but its been 3 heaters and all have not worked. any ideas? i'm losing my mind over this.

James77 · 10/20/2014, 03:33 PM

I replied to your thread in the DA forum, though you had not tested the heaters alone at that point.

How many watts are the heaters? The rating of a heater means little, there are many variables....namely ambient room temperature....that dictate that.

Were you using the same heaters on the 90 in the same house/room?

Can you verify that they are on and working with an indicator light or feeling if they are very warm(unplug it first)?

mcgyvr · 10/20/2014, 03:56 PM

Do these heaters have their own temp dials on the head that is simply adjusted to 75? doh moment

You typically set the heaters temp dials to 81 but have the reef controller turn them off at 79

if not that then..
Is the reefkeeper saying the temp is 75? (not programmed but actual temp).. calibration may be necessary

10/20/2014, 02:28 PM	#1
petere1989 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Peoria, Illinois Posts: 949	Something fishy is happening with my heaters hi all, so i have a new 55 gallon tank set up. i sold my apex along with my previous 90 gallon system and so for the new tank i bought a reef keeper lite. i have one PC4 with a temp probe. its just the basic system. anyway, i've been through 3 heaters all of which were brand new and non of them can heat the tank all the way. all of them are rated above 100 gallons so there should be no problem there. i hooked all of them (one by one, then when that one didnt work i got a new one) up to the reef keeper and programed it to be at 78.0 F. but they all shut off around 75.0 and won't go any higher. I then thought maybe the temp probe was broken so i put a regular thermometer in the water and sure enough, it reads 75.0 F. i then unhooked all 3 heaters and plugged them into the wall directly, left them over night and they still will not go above 75.0 F. I am way confused as to what to do. i sound stupid for this to even be a problem but its been 3 heaters and all have not worked. any ideas? i'm losing my mind over this.

10/20/2014, 03:33 PM	#2
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	I replied to your thread in the DA forum, though you had not tested the heaters alone at that point. How many watts are the heaters? The rating of a heater means little, there are many variables....namely ambient room temperature....that dictate that. Were you using the same heaters on the 90 in the same house/room? Can you verify that they are on and working with an indicator light or feeling if they are very warm(unplug it first)? __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

10/20/2014, 03:56 PM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Do these heaters have their own temp dials on the head that is simply adjusted to 75? doh moment You typically set the heaters temp dials to 81 but have the reef controller turn them off at 79 if not that then.. Is the reefkeeper saying the temp is 75? (not programmed but actual temp).. calibration may be necessary