Heater Placement Input

[Mr. GoodStuff]

Recently just finished filling my new 125G tank with a 30/40G sumo (not sure exactly) and just looking for some input on heater and temperature probe placement.

For my previous tank I had a 300W eheim heater and a inkbird itc310 temperature controller but I also have one 50W eheim heater and one 75w eheim heater laying around.

Obviously one of the little ones won’t be enough for the whole tank and the 300W won’t fit into the sump because it’s too long. I’m really trying to avoid having anything besides the wavemakers in the DT. Any recommendations on how I should setup these heaters and where the temperature probe should be? The sump has 3 chambers - first one is skimmer with water from tank, second is refug and third is the return chamber.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

If that won't fit, what will? I'd recommend going with the largest one under 300w you can fit. I'd also recommend running two instead of one for redundancy.

I run mine in my middle (largest chamber). I have a probe in the first chamber and one in the last chamber so I know the temp going into and out of my tank. If I only had one probe on a controller, I would put the probe in the first chamber as that is telling you the actual temp in the tank.

 

[CindyKz]

2 150 watt heaters?

 

[Mr. GoodStuff]

If that won't fit, what will? I'd recommend going with the largest one under 300w you can fit. I'd also recommend running two instead of one for redundancy.

I run mine in my middle (largest chamber). I have a probe in the first chamber and one in the last chamber so I know the temp going into and out of my tank. If I only had one probe on a controller, I would put the probe in the first chamber as that is telling you the actual temp in the tank.

Well the 300W eheim is just too long, but the 50W and 75W will fit, I just don’t think it’ll be enough or a good idea to stick both in the sump.

Maybe I’ll try and see if the 300W will fit in the refug chamber. I was just concerned that it’ll heat up that chamber way too much unless I keep the probe in the sump as well like you mentioned but then I was thinking that by the time the water circulates the DT wouldn’t be the correct temperature due to the size or the heater will just constantly be cycling on and off.

2 150 watt heaters?

I could do that, just trying to avoid buying more heaters lol

 

[lapin]

If your temp probe or what ever controls the temp is not in the same place as the heater you have a chance of cooking that place. If you put a heater in the sump, put the probe in the sump. If your return pump goes off you wont cook your sump. For tank temp you could have a second probe. Like said above 2 heaters and controllers are better than 1

 

[Sailingeric]

I would go with 2 or 3 smaller heaters. Like said before, it would give some redundancy should one fail and give you some time to replace it.

 

[ca1ore]

The eheim doesn't have to be completely submerged. There's a min water line on the heater that indicates how much must be under water. I wouldn't personally use a 300 on a 125 - preferring a couple or 200s or three 150s.