Are heaters even needed?

[Kengo]

Hi guys, I recently started to notice that my tank had gotten pretty hot like 85-86 (somehow all the inhabitants are ok) and was wondering if heaters are even needed? I like in southern California and for the most part, it's pretty hot. I turned off my heater and it went back to 76-78 so I was wondering if I even need it. Thanks

 

[jda]

My tanks would be in the 60s here in Colorado. ...a few degrees below the ambient house temp with the evaporative cooling.

Some climates do not need them.

Sounds like your heater is not set properly or it should be capable of staying at 78.

 

[leepink23]

What did you have your heater set at? How are you controlling it? Mine cuts on at night

 

[Neo Jeo]

I would keep a heater on just in chase. Also have a back up controller like an “ink bird” Incase it stays on. That will shut it off.

Also look into Neo Therm heaters. They are within 0.5 of a degree and have a 3 year warranty.

 

[Kengo]

What did you have your heater set at? How are you controlling it? Mine cuts on at night

I have a cobalt neotherm and its set a 78, but it's at 88. My thermometer says 84-85, but now it says 77-78 without the heater on. Even though the neotherm says 88 and it's red, it won't budge.

 

[Kengo]

I would keep a heater on just in chase. Also have a back up controller like an “ink bird” Incase it stays on. That will shut it off.

Also look into Neo Therm heaters. They are within 0.5 of a degree and have a 3 year warranty.

I will look into the controller. Should I contact Cobalt because I do have a neotherm?

 

[Kengo]

That's th

My tanks would be in the 60s here in Colorado. ...a few degrees below the ambient house temp with the evaporative cooling.

Some climates do not need them.

Sounds like your heater is not set properly or it should be capable of staying at 78.

It might be broken, but it seems to be ok without a heater.

 

[leepink23]

I have a cobalt neotherm and its set a 78, but it's at 88. My thermometer says 84-85, but now it says 77-78 without the heater on. Even though the neotherm says 88 and it's red, it won't budge.

I wonder if your heater is sticking in the on position versus cutting off, a lot of people use ink birds for redundancy if they don’t have an aquarium controller.

 

[leepink23]

I will look into the controller. Should I contact Cobalt because I do have a neotherm?

I would contact them for possible replacement.

 

[tautog83]

Yea throw that out

 

[Kengo]

looks pretty broken to me lol

 

[malacoda]

If you keep your home heated/cooled to the same temperate as you want to keep your tank, then no. The tank will stay the same as the ambient room temp. But if your room temp varies from night to day, or from season to season, more than you want your tank temp to vary, then yes, you would need heaters (and/or a chiller).

If you do decide to let your tank run at the same temp as your home, keep in mind that your house HVAC system needs to be capable of keeping your home temp pretty stable.

And any time you do significant water changes, you'll need to make sure the new water is the same temp as your tank. Because, depending on the size of your tank, it will take several hours to days for the tank to reach/return to ambient room temp without the aid of a heater and/or chiller.

 

[ca1ore]

Tanks rarely stay at ambient. Evaporation will cool them; incidental heat sources will heat them.

 

[Jr'sReef]

No heaters on my tank. I live in south FL though.

 

[nicodim55]

No heater here either just a chiller

 

[HB AL]

Hi guys, I recently started to notice that my tank had gotten pretty hot like 85-86 (somehow all the inhabitants are ok) and was wondering if heaters are even needed? I like in southern California and for the most part, it's pretty hot. I turned off my heater and it went back to 76-78 so I was wondering if I even need it. Thanks

Obviously you had it set to high, I live in SoCal and mine runs in the winter and in the summer only because I like running my ac. Also depends on how much of a temp swing your willing to deal with if you don’t run one.

 

[mattzang]

i live in socal too, but more inland so it can get fairly cold here. i also don't keep my house super warm so a heater is definitely needed. i accidentally turned my heater off (or it turned off?) and my tank got down into the high 60s and things were clearly not happy. i suppose if you live closer to the beach and keep your house in the mid 70s at least, you'd probably be ok. some corals might not love the swings, though

 

[Neo Jeo]

looks pretty broken to me lol

Mine got stuck on that degree as well. It would not change. I contacted Neo Therm and they sent me a brand new one!

 

[shred5]

The setting on the heaters just is not accurate.. Set it and adjust it using a good thermometer to get it to the temperature you want.

Some of mine are set at say like 72 to get 78 and others are set at 85 to get 78...

Personally I use a temperature controller but some of them like my Finnex is way off too. I have to set my Finnex temperature controller to 80 to get 78..
I am going back to a Ranco next time.

Even in warm climates a heater can be a safety net.

 

[Deezill]

I need a heater where I live. I actually have two heaters in my 150g just in case once breaks or goes out. I also have a 3rd on standby. lol. This winter has been brutal
but my heaters keep my tank at a constant 78.9 - 79.2