Does anyone run tank without a heater?

unmc2001 · 02/13/2006, 10:49 AM

Does anyone have a tank that they do not run a heater in?

Drewcipher · 02/13/2006, 10:50 AM

I have 2. My 20 and 26 gallon tanks. They have heaters, but have not been plugged in for over a year. They do however both have chillers.

BJJ · 02/13/2006, 10:59 AM

I dont run any heaters... I let the system equalize with my house ambient temp. This way there is little risk in having drastic flucuations resulting from the heater 'competing' with the ambient room temperature.

Entropy · 02/13/2006, 11:01 AM

You can do it as long as your room temp stays stable. If you live where your house temp drops to the 60's at night, I wouldn't risk it.

smleee · 02/13/2006, 11:24 AM

No heaters here.

eee

Saaack · 02/15/2006, 12:34 PM

No heaters. I live in Florida, keep the A/C set on 75. I have my chiller turn on at 79. Apparently my pumps produce enough heat to keep my aquarium temp up at night.

racer69 · 02/15/2006, 12:52 PM

Usually heaters are only needed to keep smaller tanks stable. For larger tanks it is often not necessary. I have a 180 with a 50 sump and never run a heater. My tank never fluctuates more than 2 degrees, and usually not more than 1 degree.

klese · 02/15/2006, 01:26 PM

no heaters, no chiller. Temperature stays constant at 74 give or take. When the MH comes on, it usually go up between 78-80.

jiggy · 02/16/2006, 11:21 AM

i unplugged my heater once i installed my 400w halides.. the lowest my temp gets is 79 with lights off and the highest is 81 with the lights on

cduran02 · 02/16/2006, 12:41 PM

Pumps keep mine warm, and I use a temp controlled fan to cool by evaporation when the weather gets hot. Save a ton on electricity.

horkn · 02/16/2006, 12:48 PM

my heater turns on at night, so i wouldnt get rid of it.

but i really doubt we need ans many watts as the manufacturers recommend for tank sizes..

i have a 100w heater, and i bet i could do with a 50watt one.

cduran02 · 02/16/2006, 12:51 PM

Could be the rating the manufacturer gives is for fresh water aquariums, where you dont have so much heat generated from lights and multiple pumps.

lhoo · 02/16/2006, 01:34 PM

100g tank, no heater, chiller keeps my tank at 79 when the halides are on.

jimbo045 · 02/16/2006, 02:26 PM

In Hawaii, I don't run one. JD

HappyReefer2 · 02/16/2006, 06:27 PM

I would think that if you live in the tropics where the room temp never drops below 70, you don't need a heater. All my pumps keep my tank temperature between 78-82 degrees constantly. Although I have a digital heater that gives me a reading, I've never seen it cooler than 78 degrees. The heater is set at 76 and has never come on.

Alaskan Reefer · 02/16/2006, 06:32 PM

My old tank was heaterless, unless you count Mag pumps which do a great job of heating water.

DesertBandits · 02/16/2006, 07:55 PM

unless you have carefully monitored and stable temps like some of these folks, get a heater. Its standard equipment for tropical marine fish.

jdieck · 02/16/2006, 08:01 PM

Pumps and lighting keep the temperature (lights day on main, lights night on prop tank) Turned off my heaters over 5 months ago. Chiller a must in my case.

forensicdoc · 02/16/2006, 10:58 PM

I have not used a heater on a tank larger than 10 gallons for over 7 years now. In that time I have had one heater malfunction and begin to cook a freshwater tank. Luckily I caught it before it got too hot.

jeffbrig · 02/16/2006, 11:49 PM

No heater here either, temp never drops below 78.

BlueStag · 02/17/2006, 12:18 AM

No heater for me. I run 2 x Velocity T4 pumps which are known to run hot. They heat my water fine. I need my chiller going on hot days though.

Bojan · 02/17/2006, 04:11 AM

No heater for me.

moumda · 02/17/2006, 07:24 AM

The only temp control I have is a fan that is set to go at 81 degrees. It cycles on and off when the halides are on but temp never gets much below 79 at night. No chiller.

ChemE · 02/17/2006, 08:08 AM

No heater here (thanks South Florida!) but I have to run a PC fan as a chiller. My temp never goes lower than 72 or hotter than 76. Most day/night cycles the temperature only moves 1 degree.

02/13/2006, 10:49 AM	#1
unmc2001 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 301	Does anyone run tank without a heater? Does anyone have a tank that they do not run a heater in?

02/13/2006, 10:50 AM	#2
Drewcipher Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bailey, CO Posts: 896	I have 2. My 20 and 26 gallon tanks. They have heaters, but have not been plugged in for over a year. They do however both have chillers. __________________ Drew I'm growing older but not up My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck Let those winds of time blow over my head I'd rather die while I'm living than live while I'm dead--Jimmy Buffett Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, Red Sea Max, setting up a 180

02/13/2006, 11:01 AM	#4
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	You can do it as long as your room temp stays stable. If you live where your house temp drops to the 60's at night, I wouldn't risk it. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

02/15/2006, 12:52 PM	#7
racer69 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pueblo, Colorado Posts: 1,446	Usually heaters are only needed to keep smaller tanks stable. For larger tanks it is often not necessary. I have a 180 with a 50 sump and never run a heater. My tank never fluctuates more than 2 degrees, and usually not more than 1 degree. __________________ Todd Its better to burn out than to fade away..... Current Tank Info: 180 gal Reef, w 50 gal sump 33 cube w/15 gal sump

02/16/2006, 12:41 PM	#10
cduran02 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: North Miami Beach Posts: 783	Pumps keep mine warm, and I use a temp controlled fan to cool by evaporation when the weather gets hot. Save a ton on electricity. __________________ Check out my photo album for some of my creations. Current Tank Info: 45 Gallon Fish only

02/13/2006, 10:59 AM	#3
BJJ Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 267	I dont run any heaters... I let the system equalize with my house ambient temp. This way there is little risk in having drastic flucuations resulting from the heater 'competing' with the ambient room temperature.

02/13/2006, 11:24 AM	#5
smleee Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,344	No heaters here. eee

02/15/2006, 12:34 PM	#6
Saaack Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Tampa Posts: 57	No heaters. I live in Florida, keep the A/C set on 75. I have my chiller turn on at 79. Apparently my pumps produce enough heat to keep my aquarium temp up at night.

02/15/2006, 01:26 PM	#8
klese Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 182	no heaters, no chiller. Temperature stays constant at 74 give or take. When the MH comes on, it usually go up between 78-80.

02/16/2006, 11:21 AM	#9
jiggy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ZOO JERSEY Posts: 774	i unplugged my heater once i installed my 400w halides.. the lowest my temp gets is 79 with lights off and the highest is 81 with the lights on

02/16/2006, 12:48 PM	#11
horkn Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: milwaukee wisconsin Posts: 4,125	my heater turns on at night, so i wouldnt get rid of it. but i really doubt we need ans many watts as the manufacturers recommend for tank sizes.. i have a 100w heater, and i bet i could do with a 50watt one. __________________ people write stupid things in this space Current Tank Info: 200g DIY wood reef, 2x 250w SE 10k MH 2x80 t5ho, 75g sump, Geo Ca RX, ASD 6" recirc skimmer

02/16/2006, 12:51 PM	#12
cduran02 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: North Miami Beach Posts: 783	Could be the rating the manufacturer gives is for fresh water aquariums, where you dont have so much heat generated from lights and multiple pumps. __________________ Check out my photo album for some of my creations. Current Tank Info: 45 Gallon Fish only

02/16/2006, 01:34 PM	#13
lhoo Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ (Ahwatukee) Posts: 273	100g tank, no heater, chiller keeps my tank at 79 when the halides are on.

02/16/2006, 02:26 PM	#14
jimbo045 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Aiea, HI. Posts: 1,788	In Hawaii, I don't run one. JD

02/16/2006, 06:27 PM	#15
HappyReefer2 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Mt View CA Posts: 157	I would think that if you live in the tropics where the room temp never drops below 70, you don't need a heater. All my pumps keep my tank temperature between 78-82 degrees constantly. Although I have a digital heater that gives me a reading, I've never seen it cooler than 78 degrees. The heater is set at 76 and has never come on.

02/16/2006, 06:32 PM	#16
Alaskan Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Eagle River, Alaska Posts: 2,360	My old tank was heaterless, unless you count Mag pumps which do a great job of heating water. __________________ Unattended children will be given double shot espresso and a free puppy. Current Tank Info: 125g FOWLR -- Conversion Back To SPS In Progress

02/16/2006, 07:55 PM	#17
DesertBandits Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Central Jersey Posts: 430	unless you have carefully monitored and stable temps like some of these folks, get a heater. Its standard equipment for tropical marine fish.

02/16/2006, 08:01 PM	#18
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	Pumps and lighting keep the temperature (lights day on main, lights night on prop tank) Turned off my heaters over 5 months ago. Chiller a must in my case. __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium

02/16/2006, 10:58 PM	#19
forensicdoc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Nashville Posts: 216	I have not used a heater on a tank larger than 10 gallons for over 7 years now. In that time I have had one heater malfunction and begin to cook a freshwater tank. Luckily I caught it before it got too hot. __________________ forensicdoc Current Tank Info: 12 Nano Reef at office, 190 reef and 290 predator tank at home

02/16/2006, 11:49 PM	#20
jeffbrig Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL Posts: 5,548	No heater here either, temp never drops below 78. __________________ Beware the power of stupid people in large groups..... Current Tank Info: formerly 250g room divider

02/17/2006, 12:18 AM	#21
BlueStag Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 1,054	No heater for me. I run 2 x Velocity T4 pumps which are known to run hot. They heat my water fine. I need my chiller going on hot days though.

02/17/2006, 04:11 AM	#22
Bojan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Slovenia Posts: 969	No heater for me.

02/17/2006, 07:24 AM	#23
moumda Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: North Dakota Posts: 991	The only temp control I have is a fan that is set to go at 81 degrees. It cycles on and off when the halides are on but temp never gets much below 79 at night. No chiller.

02/17/2006, 08:08 AM	#24
ChemE Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Nashville, TN Posts: 1,607	No heater here (thanks South Florida!) but I have to run a PC fan as a chiller. My temp never goes lower than 72 or hotter than 76. Most day/night cycles the temperature only moves 1 degree. __________________ Holding it down on the engineering tip y'all Current Tank Info: 190G