Cold front!! Heater discussion.

[G8trBait16]

I have 1 finnex titanium 300w as a primary to come on at 77 to bring tank up to 78.
Also have another finnex titanium 300w as my back up to come on at 76.5 to bring it up to 78 in case my primary fails. Both being run by my reef keeper ITemp.

 

[Brew12]

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]

I'm pretty sure it was you I copied on this idea, so it shouldn't be a surprise that it is almost identical! Seemed like a great approach!

 

[120reefkeeper]

I'm pretty sure it was you I pretty much copied on this idea, so it shouldn't be a surprise that it is almost identical! Seemed like a great approach!

Thanks for the compliment. It does work very well! I also have metal halide lighting and that's probably why we have small differences. My temperature fluctuation is only about .3F


How tight of a tolerance are you getting?? I'll assume your happy with the setup?? [emoji4]

 

[Brew12]

Imitation is the fondest form of flattery, or something along those lines!

I see a temperature fluctuation of around 0.5F and couldn't be happier with the setup. Especially since I had 2 heaters (purchased used with the entire setup) fail on in the first 2 1/2 weeks. Did absolutely no harm to the tank.

 

[riche]

Im old fashion, I remove water from the sump and heat it on the wood stove, then put it back in. The kids and wife hate having to get out of bed to do it every hour but it works well LOL

I'M Joking

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Good thread!

 

[steve&mari]

I run 2 marineland 300w in sump run by reefkeeper lite. 1 runs 77-79 the others set at 76 for backup. Also have cheap eBay 300w nib for backup if needed.

 

[Diesel]

Im old fashion, I remove water from the sump and heat it on the wood stove, then put it back in. The kids and wife hate having to get out of bed to do it every hour but it works well LOL

I'M Joking

You know how we did it in the 60's?

 

[Diesel]

I run 2 marineland 300w in sump run by reefkeeper lite. 1 runs 77-79 the others set at 76 for backup. Also have cheap eBay 300w nib for backup if needed.

Glad to see you active again my friend.

 

[Diesel]

Any one using a inline heater or something like that?

 

[dragon99]

Any one using a inline heater or something like that?

I should totally setup a HERMS system to brew beer and warm my tank. Multitasking at it's finest!

 

[Sabellafella]

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

Great topic! On my newest build, i use 2 300watt ehiems that soley rely on my apex temp probes (120 gallon tank). Although its alot of watts to tank size, and although i am soley relying on the apex temperture probe(s) (necessarily not a good thing) my heaters will only kick on in the winter time. I run 2 just incase one fails, and run two temp probes, two different advanced setting , 1 in sump and 1 intank just incase my return pump dies, so i dont toast my sump lol temp stays around 77.6 to 78

 

[Diesel]

I see a lot of ppl using the Eheims (not Ehiems)

Make sure that you set them as you wish for temperature control even if you use a controller like a APEX, Reefangel etc etc.
Reason why is if your controller goes down the energy bars work as regular outlets.
When the heater isn't set by itself say 77-on and 79-off you making a mistake.
That's one of the reasons I don't use a Finnex as there isn't a safety shut off.
With the new APEX controllers you can have a safety shut off per outlet in a emergency, I think.

 

[aquaman30k]

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 about 4 backups....

 

[Diesel]

I have about 4 backups....

Of course you do as you need those if you live in The Woodlands and get snowed in like once in the 200 years

 

[aquaman30k]

Of course you do as you need those if you live in The Woodlands and get snowed in like once in the 200 years

The cold snaps though! Bahahaha. I'm trying to dump gear locally and can't give it away. Didn't have enough posts on here yet to post up some goods but I should be good now. But seriously it feels amazing out today. Peaked out in the low 80's. Really enjoying this low humidity. It's not the heat that gets me, it's that sauna know as Houston. Humidity of 105%, yuck!

 

[Diesel]

The cold snaps though! Bahahaha. I'm trying to dump gear locally and can't give it away. Didn't have enough posts on here yet to post up some goods but I should be good now. But seriously it feels amazing out today. Peaked out in the low 80's. Really enjoying this low humidity. It's not the heat that gets me, it's that sauna know as Houston. Humidity of 105%, yuck!

I hear ya my friend.
You don't have to tell me the weather as I'm a contractor and keep my crews and subs going 10 hours a day about 320 days a year.
Yes today is a good day to be out.

 

[aquaman30k]

I forget you're back in town. Figured you were still up in the Rockies hunting Bigfoot. [emoji1]

 

[Diesel]

I forget you're back in town. Figured you were still up in the Rockies hunting Bigfoot. [emoji1]

Nah got back last Saturday but will leave again soon.

 

[Brandon42]

I'm using a Hydror 300w on my 125 in the sump. Funny thing is due to my uv sterizer I have to keep it turned all the way down not sure if this is normal or not but if I turn it up to the ideal temp it quickly kicks the tank up into the 80's. As long as I keep it all the way down and make sure the fans are on it sits at 79 all day and night. I do have a back up heater, it's not brand new in the box but is only used to heat my water change water once a week. Also not using a controller.