lets talk heaters for large tanks...

Devaji · Nov 17, 2018

so I just order the red sea reefer 750XXL!
now I have to get all the goodies to go with it.

total h2o volume is 200 gal .
my 1st thought where 2x Eheim trutemp 300W controlled via apex
however they are long around 19" not sure then will fit in the sump.

then i was thinking of the finnex titanium heaters as there shorter but there 300W is rated for half the tank volume than the Eheim's are. what am I missing?

any suggestions on heaters?

SPR1968 · Nov 17, 2018

Devaji said:
so I just order the red sea reefer 750XXL!
now I have to get all the goodies to go with it.

total h2o volume is 200 gal .
my 1st thought where 2x Eheim trutemp 300W controlled via apex
however they are long around 19" not sure then will fit in the sump.

then i was thinking of the finnex titanium heaters as there shorter but there 300W is rated for half the tank volume than the Eheim's are. what am I missing?

any suggestions on heaters?

Depending on your home Temperatures can you not drop down to the smaller 250w or even 200w which are smaller as your getting 2?

I’ve got 2 x 200w Eheim heaters for 650 litres and certainly here in the UK they hardly ever come on with home heating etc.

Also if you get ones slightly less powerful there is less risk of boiling the tank if one gets stuck ‘on’, although with Apex you can hopefully prevent that.

Devaji · Nov 17, 2018

temp in the home runs 65-70F in the winter. its get cold here in the rocky mountains. but I try to keep my house cozy.

lolgranny · Nov 17, 2018

I’ve got 700gallons and live in Chicago. My sumps in the garage so it gets colder out there of course. Tanks usually sits around 77.

I have 4 Jager heaters on mine controlled by apex. Heaters are cheap and go out or they are the first to leak stray voltage in the tank so I try and change them out once a year or so.

I have the apex turn one on if it drops below 77 and the others if it doesn’t get above. Just as backup.

My vote is get more then one

don_chuwish · Nov 17, 2018

Definitely at least two heaters. I like my 2 x 300W Finnex for 120G - just one does the job while the other is backup.
If you have an Apex, I got some great code advice on the Neptune forums for balancing the load on the heaters:
Heater 1:
Fallback OFF
If Temp < 77.8 Then ON
If Temp > 78.2 Then OFF
If Time 00:00 to 11:59 Then OFF
If Temp < 77.6 Then ON
If Temp < 75.0 Then OFF

Heater 2:
Fallback ON
If Temp < 77.8 Then ON
If Temp > 78.2 Then OFF
If Time 12:00 to 23:59 Then OFF
If Temp < 77.6 Then ON

And both heaters are connected to Inkbird controllers set to a slightly higher temp just in case the Apex screws up and tries to boil the tank.
Full explanation here:
https://forum.neptunesystems.com/showthread.php?21344-Best-Practices-for-heater-controllers

Devaji · Nov 17, 2018

yeahI have an apex have yet to really use it mush tho but on the new tank it gonna be full force.
yes I was thinking 2 heaters for sure just not sure what ones. or what ones fill fit in the V3 sump form red sea. trying to find inside sump dems.

thanks for the code @don_chuwish i will use that when the time comes.
so can I plug both heater in to 1 EB832.

was reading on the finnex heaters you could not. not sure if I will have a 2nd one or not.

don_chuwish · Nov 17, 2018

Best to have two EB832s for sure. A tank that big you’re gonna want the extra outlets anyway

Devaji · Nov 17, 2018

yeah i'll have to add up my plugs and see...

Blue Spot Octopus · Nov 20, 2018

I love my Finnex 300 watt titanium heaters, you have to have a controller with these. They are nice short and have a plastic cage around them as well.