Redundant Heating

[dbroncos]

Hello everyone. Have a 53 gallon aquarium (42 gallons in the display tank + 11 gallons in the sump). If I wanted to have two heaters for redundancy what wattage should I get for both?

 

[Sebastiancrab]

Hello everyone. Have a 53 gallon aquarium (42 gallons in the display tank + 11 gallons in the sump). If I wanted to have two heaters for redundancy what wattage should I get for both?

I have a 40 breeder with a 20 gallon sump. I run with two 150 watt Eheim Jager heaters both on their own Inkbird controllers. Strongly recommend the controllers because your most common point of failure is a heater.

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

Is this the Red Sea 200XL? I have 2 100 watt heaters

 

[Nate Chalk]

I did 2 heaters capable of heating the entire tank solo.

Sizing online should be easy.

 

[dbroncos]

I have a 40 breeder with a 20 gallon sump. I run with two 150 watt Eheim Jager heaters both on their own Inkbird controllers. Strongly recommend the controllers because your most common point of failure is a heater.

Thanks yes I have an Apex

 

[dbroncos]

Is this the Red Sea 200XL? I have 2 100 watt heaters

That’s exactly what I have.

 

[dwest]

If you keep your home at least mid 60’s F and you have typical evaporation of 1% ish per day, I would try one 100 watt heater. Then adjust your redundant heater sizing based on the performance of the first.

I always use as low wattage as possible to slow any potential over heating issues. I also came full circle back to eheim jagers. But they are longer than others so make sure it fits.

 

[ReefEco]

The common wisdom is to under power each heater if using two, so if you need 200 watts, two 150 watt heaters. The logic being that you cook your tank less quickly if one sticks on. However, those pointing out using two heaters that each are able to heat the tank alone, also has some logic - since one heater failing off will create the same danger in the opposite direction - if you only then have one underpowered heater, the tank will cool off. Not sure which is better - might have to do with what is the more common failure - a heater that sticks on, or one that shuts off.

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

I have the same tank. I live in North Dakota where there's snow at least 6 months out of the year, So it's cold here. I am using the IM Helio PTC heater system. I have two 100 watt heaters. My temp is set to 76.5 F. Apex turns off the heater if it ever reaches 79, but the Helio keeps it steady