heater recommendation for 100 gal tank? Apex Controlled

[Xclusive Reef]

looking for opinions on which heaters to get for a new tank build? Here is some info:

Tanks: 100 gallon
sump: 40 gallons (additional 20-25 gallons i can assume)
i do have a apex..
I live in NYC in apartment, summer AC runs 24/7 and in winter heat is on but can get spare heater if needed. What is an ideal temp to keep reef tank at?

Which heaters should I get and what size?

part 2 question: how do you setup 2 heaters on the Apex to have 2nd come on if one fails?

 

[CodyRVA]

No experience with APEX, but I would go with a Titanium heater. I wouldn't worry about keeping a backup heater online unless the tank is going to be setting solo for a while. You should however keep a backup heater on hand to swap out when the other dies.

 

[amazongb]

Following, as I'm in the same boat. The only thing I've read is to make sure that the heater you buy has its own thermostat (even though the apex can control the temp) as a fail safe if something should go wrong with the apex you don't boil your tank..

 

[CodyRVA]

Many options out there, but I've been very happy with these Finnex heaters

 

[Xclusive Reef]

Following, as I'm in the same boat. The only thing I've read is to make sure that the heater you buy has its own thermostat (even though the apex can control the temp) as a fail safe if something should go wrong with the apex you don't boil your tank..

I see a lot of people have Eheim-JAGER heaters connected to their apex. These don't have controllers

 

[Xclusive Reef]

Many options out there, but I've been very happy with these Finnex heaters

You have 1 or 2 heaters? are they controlled by Apex?

 

[jsker]

I am very happy with my Finnex heater, and I would suggest the 800w depending on the size of your sump. 1 or two heater can be controlled by the Apex.
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Tmp < 78.4 Then ON
If Tmp > 78.6 Then OFF
If FeedC 010 Then OFF this is for when I do maintenance and everything is shut down
If FeedD 010 Then OFF " "

 

[Xclusive Reef]

I am very happy with my Finnex heater, and I would suggest the 800w depending on the size of your sump. 1 or two heater can be controlled by the Apex.
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Tmp < 78.4 Then ON
If Tmp > 78.6 Then OFF
If FeedC 010 Then OFF this is for when I do maintenance and everything is shut down
If FeedD 010 Then OFF " "

800w ? I have a 40 gal sump and tank is 100 gal. I was thinking 2 200 heaters 1 primary and other as backup incase 1 gets stuck

 

[recess62]

Always run 2 heaters. All of our equipment can and does fail. Have backups for everything if you can afford it. I have had heaters fail when on vacation. It is nice to have piece of mind knowing the is a backup in place. I have my heaters programmed so that the back up heater kicks in the when primary heater is not holding temperature. Then the apex will start logging when the backup heater kicks on. Fwiw. I also always have a backup return pump in the house and a back up ATO. My house sitter knows where they are. Skype will be helpful walking the housekeeper though a swap out if needed

Is this overkill. Absolutely. However I have invested countless hours tending to the needs of thousands of tiny "flowers "in my tanks. It would be a shame to think of all those hours wasted because of a mechanicsl breakdown for which I had not planned a contingency

 

[jsker]

800w ? I have a 40 gal sump and tank is 100 gal. I was thinking 2 200 heaters 1 primary and other as backup incase 1 gets stuck

You keep the house at 68 in the winter, two 200 w would barely keep up. You could go with 2 300w if you want to go that rout but that would only cover you for 140 gallons at the max. Another choice would be two 500 w heaters then. I have been running a 300 only in 80 gallons of total water volume for the past two years with no issue, but we have not had a cold winter here. If we do have a cold winter I would add another 300 w. We do not turn on the heat here, we miss the north and the cold sometimes

 

[Xclusive Reef]

Always run 2 heaters. All of our equipment can and does fail. Have backups for everything if you can afford it. I have had heaters fail when on vacation. It is nice to have piece of mind knowing the is a backup in place. I have my heaters programmed so that the back up heater kicks in the when primary heater is not holding temperature. Then the apex will start logging when the backup heater kicks on. Fwiw. I also always have a backup return pump in the house and a back up ATO. My house sitter knows where they are. Skype will be helpful walking the housekeeper though a swap out if needed

Is this overkill. Absolutely. However I have invested countless hours tending to the needs of thousands of tiny "flowers "in my tanks. It would be a shame to think of all those hours wasted because of a mechanicsl breakdown for which I had not planned a contingency

what heaters do you use? Sorry if this sounds stupid but how do you setup 2 heaters on the apex? I have the new 2016 Apex.

 

[AdamNC]

Can't say much about size but for quality, I've been using a Via-Aqua for the past 10 years. I've got it set at 80 and then my Apex keeps it between 77-79.

 

[merfish101]

Good information

 

[andyg1960]

I have 2 Finnex titanium heaters, each 300W, controller by Apex in my tank. Total water volume around 140g.

 

[bpapo]

I have a 800 Watt Finnex with a Finnex controller and use my Apex as a Failsafe on my 140 gallon

 

[amazongb]

While my tank was cycling, I ran some tests. Total water volume is tank (88 gal), sump (24 gal), total (112 gal). I keep my house around 70 degrees. I tested a Cobalt 150 watt with the intention of running two of them, controlled by Apex Classic. My test results showed that one worked perfectly, so I programmed the second as a backup. The other thing to consider is amps and other equipment that you might run, and making sure you have enough amps to run everything, especially if you're using an Apex because the Energy Bars are limited to 5amp or 10amp outlets..