Hi All, my main heater broke (it was reading 90F, when the temp was actually only 74F in the tank). I had a back-up i used for water change (Aquatop Titanium heater 200W only for up to 55 gal). My tank is a reefer 250 (54 tank, 11 sump, 65 total). I'm leaving for Vienna for four days and wondering if it is OK to leave the back-up heater until i get back or if i need to find someone to replace the heater for me while i am out. Here's the forecast until i get back.
Heater failed and traveling 4 days for work.
- Thread starter sprungson
- Start date
- Tagged users None
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2018
- Messages
- 2,399
- Reaction score
- 7,377
- Location
- NorCal
- What state or country do you live in
- California
Heaters are cheap. Is there a local store you can run down to and buy a proper replacement?
Once you get back you should think about the future though. It would be a good idea to use some type of heater controller and run two heaters instead of one.
Once you get back you should think about the future though. It would be a good idea to use some type of heater controller and run two heaters instead of one.
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2018
- Messages
- 2,399
- Reaction score
- 7,377
- Location
- NorCal
- What state or country do you live in
- California
I'm not sure anyone will be able to answer that for you. Can you trust the person replacing it to set it correctly? If you're not using a controller, it would be easy for them to set it wrong (too low, too high). Do you trust your backup heater? Have you used it in the past and did it heat your tank ok?
I rather do it myself. I trust the heater, and use it for my water change. Right now it's been going up about 1 degree per hour. If it gets to 77F by 11AM, i'll probably just leave it until i get back and ask someone to check the temp daily
Matt Carden
Valuable Member
You could match the temp in your home to your intended tank temperature.
Jon Fishman
Cleveland Ohio, buy/sell local!
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2019
- Messages
- 5,105
- Reaction score
- 8,694
It should be fine with that heater..... it's not "terribly" undersized, just way less heater than you'd want long-term. You're starting 74 degree water with it, not trying to raise 65-gallons of cold tap water from scratch with a heater designed for 55g max.... You'll be fine!
