Bring on the Heat.

[JustManson]

hi everyone!

I have a 100gallon tank with a 20 gallon sump. I have a 200W heater in the sump, but I don’t know if that’s enough.

Should I also have a 300 in the actual tank.

My tank placement is in a finished basement that’s kept at 68 degrees. My 200w is auto set to 78 degrees. I have 2 pairs of clowns, dozen hermit crabs, and a couple starburst polyps.

Should I bump up the heat in the tank?

 

[Fudsey]

You need at least a 300 or some might say a 2nd 200.

 

[NS Mike D]

I prefer two heaters with far more power than listed. Heaters, for some reason, are one of the cheapest yet very important piece of equipment in this hobby and the most likely to fail. Failing to turn on is minor comparing to failure to turn off. I have two heaters, each capable of heating the tank, connected to a controller

While an Apex or other high end controller will suit just fine, I use this cheap, nay, inexpensive one

https://www.amazon.com/WILLHI-Tempe...9292&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=willfi+temperature

It will shut off the heaters at my set high temp or sound an alarm at my low temp. You just have to remember to keep the probe in the water and not accidentally turn one of the heaters up.

This set up keep my temp within 1° of my set temp of 78°

If a heater fails to turn on, I will notice a wider swing as the other heater will struggle to maintain temp.

 

[Fudsey]

Guess it also depends on the manufacturer's recommendations too

 

[Fudsey]

I prefer two heaters with far more power than listed. Heaters, for some reason, are one of the cheapest yet very important piece of equipment in this hobby and the most likely to fail. Failing to turn on is minor comparing to failure to turn off. I have two heaters, each capable of heating the tank, connected to a controller

While an Apex or other high end controller will suit just fine, I use this cheap, nay, inexpensive one

https://www.amazon.com/WILLHI-Tempe...9292&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=willfi+temperature

It will shut off the heaters at my set high temp or sound an alarm at my low temp. You just have to remember to keep the probe in the water and not accidentally turn one of the heaters up.

This set up keep my temp within 1° of my set temp of 78°

If a heater fails to turn on, I will notice a wider swing as the other heater will struggle to maintain temp.

Do you have both heaters hooked up to the same controller?

 

[NS Mike D]

Do you have both heaters hooked up to the same controller?

yup You have to. If the temp hits 81° (my high temp limit) I want the power cut to both until I can determine which one broke. I may not notice for a while since it will kick back on once the temp drops. It has a big led display so I am constantly glancing at the temp. Since both heaters are more than I need they work together to keep the temp in a fairly narrow range. If I see a swing, I'll know one is failing.

I do keep a digital thermometer on the display tank to verify the controller's probe is functioning.

 

[Fudsey]

I have the Finnex controller on one single 300 but want to step it down and try that. I have a basement sump and temp is around 64-66 all the time so I think 2 250's should do for ~110 gallons 90+40 sump minus sand and rock.

 

[JustManson]

So a controller would be ideal. I have to look into that more.

Fudsey, you mentioned some may say 2 heaters. Would the suggestion be for 1 in the sump and one in the tank itself?

That’s really what I’m also trying to determine. Does 1 belong in the Sump and the other in the tank itself?

Thanks! Great response so far

 

[Fudsey]

From everything I have seen and read, sump is where most people put them. Although I guess both would work as well but, I don't want one in my tank. It's an eyesore to me. My basement sump also prohibits doing that as well.

I had a sump heater die on my FOWLR and couldn't get one that would fit inside my old filter(wet/dry). I hated looking at the heater in the tank and having to clean the glass around it occasionally.

 

[mjlash22]

I have a 108G tank and 35G sump. I have the Finnex 800w with controller and it is working perfectly. Keeps water within 1 degree +/-. Will be adding a 300 or 500w as a backup soon.

 

[Wildblue4]

I prefer two heaters with far more power than listed. Heaters, for some reason, are one of the cheapest yet very important piece of equipment in this hobby and the most likely to fail. Failing to turn on is minor comparing to failure to turn off. I have two heaters, each capable of heating the tank, connected to a controller

While an Apex or other high end controller will suit just fine, I use this cheap, nay, inexpensive one

https://www.amazon.com/WILLHI-Tempe...9292&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=willfi+temperature

It will shut off the heaters at my set high temp or sound an alarm at my low temp. You just have to remember to keep the probe in the water and not accidentally turn one of the heaters up.

This set up keep my temp within 1° of my set temp of 78°

If a heater fails to turn on, I will notice a wider swing as the other heater will struggle to maintain temp.

Do you know if you can use this controller with heaters that already have controls. Would be nice for the fail safe of getting to hot

 

[JustManson]

I took my 200w out of the sump today and added it to the Main Tank.

It immediately turned on and it’s been on for about 30 minutes now. The water temp from the sump to the tank was significantly different.

I purchased a 300w heater and it should arrive in a few days. I’ll swap the 300 into the tank and move the 200 down to the sump once it arrives.

I’ll definitally be looking at a controller I. The near future, but needed a quick fix for now.

My 2 pairs of clowns immediately went over to the heater and haven’t really moved since.

Guess it is too cold!

Thanks for the input so far!

 

[NS Mike D]

Do you know if you can use this controller with heaters that already have controls. Would be nice for the fail safe of getting to hot

That's how I use it. The heaters' internal thermostats are doing the work, the controller is nothing more than a power supply that will cut the power above the temperature you set and then back on when it drops below it. The low setting is an alarm. The idea is to have a second thermometer in the tank connected to a the power supply to cut power off to the heater in case the heater fails to turn off. It's the same concept as a Finnex or for that matter an apex