Heaters

[Legal Reefer]

Researching a little before setting up a 40 breeder with 20 long sump. I appreciate any input or advice from the good people here at R2R. I'm thinking about going with neo-therm heaters. I have seen on their site that a 200 watt was good for a 55 gallon tank and a 200 watt + 50 watt is recommended for 70 gallon tanks. With the display and sump being 60 gallons total volume (not accounting for displacement of approximately 40 to 60 lbs of rock and a 1.5 inch sand bed) I was thinking of going on the high side with the 200 + 50 watt. Would I possibly be better off going with two 150 watt Heaters? Any preference in heater brands? I usually use eheim jager and going by their chart I could use a 150 watt. Would that be sufficient? Or would two 75 watt or two 150 watt be best. Not really sure how that works.

 

[MaiReef]

The best is to get a controller, like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ANCB24W/ref=sspa_dk_detail_6?psc=1 and two Ehiem 100 watt ones with a splitter on the heater plug and just use a child safety plug or electrical tape on the open outlet

 

[redfishbluefish]

Agree with above.....two heaters plugged into a controller. The controller protects you from a "stuck ON" failure of the heater. Two heaters save you when one heater dies. Hopefully both don't die at the same time. And I too like Eheim Jagers....just make sure they fit because they are longer than other heaters.

 

[Coastie Reefer]

I personally use an Eheim Jager 150w on my 40B and it maintains perfectly.

 

[Legal Reefer]

The best is to get a controller, like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ANCB24W/ref=sspa_dk_detail_6?psc=1 and two Ehiem 100 watt ones with a splitter on the heater plug and just use a child safety plug or electrical tape on the open outlet

Thanks for your help

 

[MaiReef]

Just remember that you should set the temp on the two heaters first before using the controller so that there is a backup safety.

 

[Legal Reefer]

Thanks guys! Then if 200 watts is recommended it's ok to use two 100 watt heaters to get there? Definatly getting the controller. If you do have a heater stuck on and the controller shuts it down will it come back on to keep the temperature from dropping?

 

[MaiReef]

Yes on the two 100 watts, One 150w would work also, but the redundancy without frying the tank is what stability is all about; an yes, the controller works just like the ones on the heaters, but creates a fail-safe.

 

[Legal Reefer]

Yes on the two 100 watts, One 150w would work also, but the redundancy without frying the tank is what stability is all about; an yes, the controller works just like the ones on the heaters, but creates a fail-safe.

Thank you. I'll go with the two 100 watt Eheims and controller. Thanks for the link also.