Cold front!! Heater discussion.

Diesel · Oct 20, 2016

We are there again and Texas had it first good cold front in for the time of the year.
Many other states had already some freezing temps if not some snow.
That means heater time.
YEAH YEAH YEAH........ I know another heater thread, it's like another love song but some how these come back every year and yet with so many newbies we had this year it's a no brainer to just start another fresh one with maybe new Tesla kind heaters that think for them self

What kind of heater or heaters are you using?
Sump bound or in tank?
100% submersed or partly?
Self controlled or through a controller like a APEX or any other?
How many watts do you prefer for a fast heating or just a slow daily ongoing process?
What temp you have it set for 77....78....79?
If using a controller for what default as in on/off you have it set for?
So many questions lets start putting some answers with it

jsker · Oct 20, 2016

Finnex titanium 300 w total submerged controled by apex. Temp set at 78.3 to 78.5
It has not been below 40 in years here Ben

we have not turned on the heat in two years.

mcarroll · Oct 20, 2016

Correctly sized Marineland Visitherm (or whatever the modern name is for their nice, glass heaters) heaters in each tank, including the sump, also on my Reefkeeper/iTemp control. The heaters are set about 0.5ºF above the iTemp. Tank temp is kept at 79.5 and I never see it vary unless I've done a water change.

Since removing a large pump from the sump, I did have to add more heat down there to replace it.....just about watt-for-watt. (It only mattered when the coldest part of winter was on us.)

aquaman30k · Oct 20, 2016

Cold front, bah! It was 80deg outside today during the downpour we got hit with down in River Oaks. But yeah yeah yeah, I know the next week is supposed to finally cool off. Still not jacket weather yet.

As for the heater....I'm currently using the Eheim Jagar 200w fully submerged in the sump and controlled by a JBJ temp controller. It only kicks on at night when I like to kick down the AC a bit. The tank swings between 77.5-79.5 but usually levels out around 78ish.

KingBlingTX · Oct 21, 2016

Finnex Titanium 300, in-sump, Apex controller. Temp set at 79.5 +/- 0.5 degrees

Diesel · Oct 21, 2016

aquaman30k said:
Cold front, bah! It was 80deg outside today during the downpour we got hit with down in River Oaks. But yeah yeah yeah, I know the next week is supposed to finally cool off. Still not jacket weather yet.

As for the heater....I'm currently using the Eheim Jagar 200w fully submerged in the sump and controlled by a JBJ temp controller. It only kicks on at night when I like to kick down the AC a bit. The tank swings between 77.5-79.5 but usually levels out around 78ish.

What is that JBJ controller?
You have any info about that?

aquaman30k · Oct 21, 2016

Diesel said:
What is that JBJ controller?
You have any info about that?

JBJ True Temp. It's just a temp controller.

http://www.jbjlighting.com/prod-true-temp.html

tj w · Oct 21, 2016

I use a 1000w jbj heater with controller. Stay right at 78.5 on the 300. I have had to change out the temp probe already in a years time though.

Coastie Reefer · Oct 21, 2016

I like Ehiem Jagers. The two I'm using hold a constant 78. No controller.

Jimbo662 · Oct 21, 2016

jsker said:
Finnex titanium 300 w total submerged controled by apex. Temp set at 78.3 to 78.5

Same here.

Chrisfish · Oct 21, 2016

I have the eihm jäger 100 W true temp on my 30 gal. Manually controlled, and just got a back up yesterday in case the one I have now goes bad. My tank is an AIO so it's in one of the back chambers.

john.m.cole3 · Oct 21, 2016

finnex titanium 300w self-controlled. It's fully submerged in the sump at holds 77.6 - 77.9. The digital control is set at 82, so there is a good difference in digital read out and actuality. On 80 gal TS. I need a controller of some sort for redundancy, but it is only 7 months old.

Brew12 · Oct 21, 2016

2 x 300W submerged heaters.
1 (primary) set at 77F controlled by Apex. Heater enables at 75F and disables at 79F
1 (backup) set at 75F controlled by Apex. Heater enables at 70F and disables at 76F (set to provide emergency protection and if temp is ever <77F I know my primary heater has failed)

Plan is toss the primary heater every year, make the backup the primary, and put a new heater in the backup position.

Diesel · Oct 21, 2016

Eheim Jagers this guy is using for the last 30 years.

Any of you guys have back up heaters?
Like new in a box?
Just in case if one fails :mad:

Btw: that would be my next topic on R2R now that the holidays are here

120reefkeeper · Oct 21, 2016

2 x 200 watt cobalt heaters submerged in sump.

1 set as primary at 78F controlled by Apex. Comes on at 77 disables at 78. This allows me to keep a very tight temperature tolerance with pump heat and lights. Fans also controlled by Apex turn on at 78.5 off at 78.3

1 heater backup also a cobalt controlled by Apex. Set at 76F off at 78 this is set for a primary failure. If it cycles I know primarily has failed.

My setup is almost identical to @Brew12.

Also cycle out primary heater once a year and use backup as primary and buy a new backup heater. [emoji6]

Coastie Reefer · Oct 21, 2016

Diesel said:
Eheim Jagers this guy is using for the last 30 years.

Any of you guys have back up heaters?
Like new in a box?
Just in case if one fails :mad:

Btw: that would be my next topic on R2R now that the holidays are here

I have a cheapo heater as a backup that would give me enough time to order a new one. I only use it for mixing up 5 gallons of saltwater every couple weeks, so it only runs a few hours a month. Brand new in a box wouldn't be a horrible idea though.

Dancingmad · Oct 21, 2016

Hooray for a cold front! Time to make some Texas Chili - at least 4 alarms!

Finnex + MH lights(ze powa!) are my heaters
JBJ Chiller on standby if AC dies.

Chrisfish · Oct 21, 2016

Diesel said:
Eheim Jagers this guy is using for the last 30 years.

Any of you guys have back up heaters?
Like new in a box?
Just in case if one fails :mad:

Btw: that would be my next topic on R2R now that the holidays are here

Yes I have a brand new Eheim Jagers in the box came yesterday

red13 · Oct 21, 2016

Ehiem Jager 200 watt, set at 80. Connected to a vertex cerebra with shut off at 81. Not sure what a cold front is though, it was 100 here on Thursday.

dragon99 · Oct 21, 2016

Marineland 300w in the sump. Temp controlled by Apex between 79-80.

Two backup Eheim heaters new in the box. Couldn't pass up a sale at BRS a few weeks back.