Heater wattage for cold basement

[Afrashz]

Hey guys, how many wattage of heaters do you recommend for a ~70g frag system that is in my cold basement. I live in upstate NY where it can get mighty cold in the winters and my basement doesn’t get nearly as warm as the rest of my home. I plan to run 2 eheims hooked up to my Inkbird controller. Thanks!!

 

[Pistondog]

Id guess a 150 and a 200 watt ehiem should work

 

[KC's CNC Creations]

two 300 watt

 

[outhouse]

I insulate, and cover my sump in basement to help out 250w takes care of 300g volume with 100g sump

 

[KC's CNC Creations]

I insulate, and cover my sump in basement to help out 250w takes care of 300g volume with 100g sump

big difference in the temps from your NorCal location and his up state NY, he'll likely see temps in the basement that are 30+ degree lower then the desired tank temp and that's why i recommended the dual 300s above.

 

[Pistondog]

big difference in the temps from your NorCal location and his up state NY, he'll likely see temps in the basement that are 30+ degree lower then the desired tank temp and that's why i recommended the dual 300s above.

@Afrashz, can you estimate ambient temp in basement?
This is the biggest variable for watts

 

[trainbob]

I live in Northeast Pa. and the basement usually doesn’t get below 55 degrees of course his mileage may vary from mine

 

[Afrashz]

@Afrashz, can you estimate ambient temp in basement?
This is the biggest variable for watts

I would say the lowest it will get is 45/50

 

[Pistondog]

@KC's CNC Creations 300 + 300 is a better estimate then.
My unconditioned space only gets down to 62f for 100g water.

 

[KC's CNC Creations]

I would say the lowest it will get is 45/50

45deg basement.........75deg tank........... those dual 300s are looking perfect

 

[Zach B]

I run 2 300w heaters in a 75g (basement sump) with 180g total volume. Cold wisconsin winters

 

[Screwgunner]

250 + 250 I have a 125 with a 30 gallon sump I keep my house 72 all year long and on have 500 watts with a 300 watt back up. So 500 should be good for your tank.

 

[Screwgunner]

Plus having that in the basement might keep the temp up in the basement.

 

[Cell]

45/50?! What is your thermostat set at?

I live in MN, set my thermostat to 68 in the Winter and the basement is low 60's.

 

[Afrashz]

45/50?! What is your thermostat set at?

I live in MN, set my thermostat to 68 in the Winter and the basement is low 60's.

We keep ours around 68 as well, quite and old house, it doesn’t get that cold down there too often, usually mid 50’s but we have those crazy cold nights from time to time

 

[ZoWhat]

45/50? That's a 30° difference

Why is your basement so cold? Why are you putting a tropical environment in such a cold place?

I don't see any Palm Trees in Ohio lawns for this same reason

 

[Afrashz]

45/50? That's a 30° difference

Why is your basement so cold? Why are you putting a tropical environment in such a cold place?

I don’t have room for a frag tank in the remainder of my house.

 

[ZoWhat]

I don’t have room for a frag tank in the remainder of my house.

Why can't you heat your basement to a year round 68-70?

 

[Afrashz]

Why can't you heat your basement to a year round 68-70?

My home is quite old and is heated by baseboard heating, I have very limited heating elements in my unfinished basement.

 

[Afrashz]

Why can't you heat your basement to a year round 68-70?

It’s not that uncommon for a basement to get around 50 degrees