heater in tank or sump?

[Porcupine Reefer]

I was contemplating on putting my heater into the sump, but the question is, will the temperature be the same if I move it to the sump or will it not be as warm in the main display?

 

[smitten with ocean life]

i keep mine in the sump. then i dont have to look at it!

 

[Cichlid Dad]

It goes in the sump. The reason for a sump is to keep all of the gear out of the display. Just don't put it in the return area

 

[ScottJ]

If you use a heater controller like an Ink Bird, you can put the probe in the display when the heaters are in the sump.

 

[TheStrangler]

I frankly dont think theres a wrong answer. I did manage to cook my sump once to no real consequence. I had the temp probe hidden in an area of my display because I thought what really matters is an accurate display temp, but the heaters in the sump to hide them from view. I was doing maintainence with my return off, so the display temp flipped on the heaters and they didn't turn off. Just something to think about with heater/probe placement.

 

[BeanAnimal]

If you use a heater controller like an Ink Bird, you can put the probe in the display when the heaters are in the sump.

You always want the probe in the same compartment with the heater, just upstream of it.

See above post for why.

 

[ScottJ]

You always want the probe in the same compartment with the heater, just upstream of it.

See above post for why.

I have my heater controller on the same plug in strip as my return, so when I kill the return, I kill the heaters.

BUT, I suppose if the return pump ever died for some reason, that would cause the sump cooking problem. Good point I never thought of. I'll be changing my probe to the sump tomorrow

 

[BeanAnimal]

It is something that is easily overlooked until you cook the sump, or worse don’t realize and turn it back on and shock the tank with hot water too.

A lot of folks’ ‘feeding timer’ is unplugging the return for a few minutes…

 

[Formulator]

My sump and separate refugium are in my basement and not directly below my DT. They are about 15 linear feet and 6 feet below the DT. I’ve always worried that the distance was too far to maintain equilibrium with the tank so I keep 2 heaters in the tank and one in the sump. The ones in the DT are hidden pretty well by rock work so it doesn’t bother me.

 

[BeanAnimal]

With decent flow there should not be a difference. But easy enough to test.