New here - first time marine aquarium

[Ergot]

So, a little bit about myself: My name is Josh!

I've been slightly-moderately obsessed with fish since I was probably 11 or 12, haven't had a tank of any kind in quite a long time and recently picked up a 40g cube complete set-up /w acrylic sump, Eshoppes prodigy overflow w/ ball valve, bubble magus curve 5 skimmer, DC return, 2x DC Jebao powerheads and a Viparspectra 165w LED; basically everything minus the test kits and some of the rock for only $450 so I figured this is the time. Truth be told, I have been planning a 180 eurobraced with a coast to coast overflow, but I've got some repairs I need to finish on my house before I get that deep.


I've had brackish [kept in fresh] snowflake eels that I actually fed by hand for years and only managed to get bit once and it was when I was late feeding him by a few days or a week,
I've also had a P. Leopoldi and a fire eel, and A LOT of cichlids.

Saltwater has been a dream forever though so I'm beyond pumped to finally be able to start the journey.


I've got one main question now, maybe I can get an answer here instead of making a new post; What size heater to heat ~60g system to 76-77F when ambient temperature is 60F-68F and can it/they be placed into the sump which I'm assuming will only have 10-20 gallons of water depending on the size (it's hard to tell from the photo and haven't cared enough to ask because it's a deal either way)


Thank you for reading, have a kickass day.

 

[Kennya]

Welcome to R2R Josh

 

[Zach B]

Welcome Josh

 

[DE FISH]

Welcome to the community buddy

 

[Glenner’sreef]

2.5 to 5 watts per gallon. Also great skimmer, I have a Curve 7!!! Welcome to reef2reef!!!

 

[Conchman]

Welcome Josh. Only marine animal that ever nip's on me, CLOWNFISH!!!!. Regarding the heater, pretty sure most go with total water volume. We keep the house most of the time between 70-80, so I have always been able to undersize a little with no issues. I do keep 2 in the sump, one set slightly lower than the other. As a side note, getting ready to setup my next tank, last night i had a dream a large starfish lifted an entire rock scape and cracked the back glass...not sure what type of omen that means...oh well,

Welcome...

 

[Ergot]

2.5 to 5 watts per gallon. Also great skimmer, I have a Curve 7!!! Welcome to reef2reef!!!

Thanks fella, another star wars fan as well I see. I've got a buddy with the same skimmer as you and he loves it as well, that's part of why it was so easy to take the deal.

Welcome Josh. Only marine animal that ever nip's on me, CLOWNFISH!!!!. Regarding the heater, pretty sure most go with total water volume. We keep the house most of the time between 70-80, so I have always been able to undersize a little with no issues. I do keep 2 in the sump, one set slightly lower than the other. As a side note, getting ready to setup my next tank, last night i had a dream a large starfish lifted an entire rock scape and cracked the back glass...not sure what type of omen that means...oh well,

Welcome...

CLOWNFISH? I've actually heard that the bigger ones are jerks, think I'm going to just get a percula or oscilia; whichever is the chill one I can't remember off hand. Avoid starfish!

 

[threebuoys]

Welcome to R2R! This is great source of information for both beginner and experienced. I'm glad you found it before you get too far down the path!

Definitely place the heater(s) in the sump. Mine are in the return chamber. I use an inkbird controller. So each heater has a thermostat and both are prevented from overheating by the inkbird. I use two in case one were to malfunction and cease working. As others indicated, I have one set several degrees below the other. It only comes on when the other heater can't keep the temperature at the desired level. As far as size, do a search on google (amazon, chewy, petco, etc) or talk to your LFS. All the heaters have info on the label about capacity.

Good luck,

 

[Big Smelly fish]

Welcome!!!!

 

[Ergot]

Welcome to R2R! This is great source of information for both beginner and experienced. I'm glad you found it before you get too far down the path!

Definitely place the heater(s) in the sump. Mine are in the return chamber. I use an inkbird controller. So each heater has a thermostat and both are prevented from overheating by the inkbird. I use two in case one were to malfunction and cease working. As others indicated, I have one set several degrees below the other. It only comes on when the other heater can't keep the temperature at the desired level. As far as size, do a search on google (amazon, chewy, petco, etc) or talk to your LFS. All the heaters have info on the label about capacity.

Good luck,

Thanks for the well wishes and advice, I’m going to get two of the finnex 150w with controller and install some R-3.7 insulation on the back wall since it’s blacked out anyway, maybe save myself $5-$10 per year and help me out in the summer as well on those really hot days we get in Michigan.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[MERKEY]

Hello and welcome to R2R!

 

[Reeferjunkie]

Welcome to r2r

 

[Brucealmighty]

Hi and welcome to R2R, some tips for saltwater tanks, don't let saltwater run down your aquarium it ruins it, stop it at all costs , and never forget to feed your fish on this side of the hobby happy reefing

 

[BrotatoSalad]

Welcome! Best of luck to you and your tank. Sounds like you have a strong foundation to launch from. Looking forward to the build thread if you get one started!

 

[tharbin]

Welcome to R2R!. As @Glenner’sreef reef said 2.5-5 watts per gal has been a good starting point for as long as I can remember. If you live in a cooler climate or keep your home on the cool side go toward the 5 watt/gal end or if warm climate or keep house warmer go toward the lower end. It looks like you will have 40 gal dt -rock, etc. so roughly 32-36 gal water + 20 gal sump so total water volume around 55 gal. So I would go 150 watt to 300 watt for the heater or maybe 2 150 watts. I personally use around 2.5 watt/gal as I live in Arizona.

 

[cokeeffe03]

So, a little bit about myself: My name is Josh!

I've been slightly-moderately obsessed with fish since I was probably 11 or 12, haven't had a tank of any kind in quite a long time and recently picked up a 40g cube complete set-up /w acrylic sump, Eshoppes prodigy overflow w/ ball valve, bubble magus curve 5 skimmer, DC return, 2x DC Jebao powerheads and a Viparspectra 165w LED; basically everything minus the test kits and some of the rock for only $450 so I figured this is the time. Truth be told, I have been planning a 180 eurobraced with a coast to coast overflow, but I've got some repairs I need to finish on my house before I get that deep.


I've had brackish [kept in fresh] snowflake eels that I actually fed by hand for years and only managed to get bit once and it was when I was late feeding him by a few days or a week,
I've also had a P. Leopoldi and a fire eel, and A LOT of cichlids.

Saltwater has been a dream forever though so I'm beyond pumped to finally be able to start the journey.


I've got one main question now, maybe I can get an answer here instead of making a new post; What size heater to heat ~60g system to 76-77F when ambient temperature is 60F-68F and can it/they be placed into the sump which I'm assuming will only have 10-20 gallons of water depending on the size (it's hard to tell from the photo and haven't cared enough to ask because it's a deal either way)


Thank you for reading, have a kickass day.

Welcome!

 

[Sean Clark]

Welcome Josh.

 

[Fred2482]

Welcome!

 

[Matty Ice]

Welcome aboard Josh!