Running Multiple Heaters (a Back up)

[daveydoodle]

Several posts say it is wise to run a primary and a secondary (or back up) heater should you have failure in the first. When doing this, are both heaters set for a specific temperature, say 78 degrees, and theoretically each is running at 50%? Then should one fail the back up kicks up to 100% function to maintain 78 degrees? This question as it relates to my situation is that I am starting my first 75 gallon with a 29 gallon sump. I plan on having my heater(s) in the sump. How is this done? Do I put both heaters in the same chamber or does the back up need to be somewhere else to get an accurate reading on the total system water temperature? I'd like to not have very much equipment in the DT, how can this be done?

 

[reewik]

I am running both of mine hooked up to my apex, the best failsafe. No matter what the heater is set to, If the tank gets too hot the power to the heater is shut down.

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

I use dual heaters with fail-safe handled via an Apex using dual thermometers. Both heaters are physically set at 80 with the Apex set to on/off at 78/79.5 on one, and 78.5/79.5 on the other. During the day with ambient room temps ~72, typically only the 78.5/79.5 heater is running. The second heater kicks in only when overnight temps drop (programmable thermostat lowers home temps to 66.)

This results in the tanks running 78.4~79.5 and eliminates cycles on the heaters bi-metal switches which are the parts most likely to fail (often in the on position.)

As for positioning, I place one heater and thermometer in 2 separate sump chambers (thermometer upstream) and the other heater and thermostat are hidden in the DT. This provides additional protection in the event of a return pump failure.

 

[daveydoodle]

So essentially it IS necessary to run two heaters, and it cannot be done effectively without a controller of some sort. Is there a way to avoid a heater being in the DT? Can I put them on opposite ends of the sump?

 

[CTMarinelife]

I run dual heaters in the DT, feeling if the main pump goes at least the DT will stay warm. The titanium heaters are both run with controllers, one is run by the Apex, the other is a stand alone run off a different fuse panel. The heater running off the Apex is set to 77, and the other stand alone is set at 75.

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

So essentially it IS necessary to run two heaters, and it cannot be done effectively without a controller of some sort. Is there a way to avoid a heater being in the DT? Can I put them on opposite ends of the sump?

2 heaters are not necessary, just safer to have 2 slightly smaller then one large for redundancy (heaters will eventually fail.) I personally consider some type of heater controller to be a necessity (most heaters fail ON - it's foolish to risk the entire tank over a cheap heater failure)

You can put both in the sump - I think most probably do. I just prefer to have one in the DT so the display stays warm in the event of the return pump failing (easily hidden behind aquascaping.).

 

[daveydoodle]

I think based on the responses here I will run two, one in the sump and if I can hide the second in the DT around the aquascape, then possibly in there, otherwise I'll put them at opposite ends of the sump. With a 75 gallon DT + 29 gallon sump I was planning on 300(ish) total watts of heater(s). Maybe buy a 200 watt along with a 100 watt, and I'll look into a temperature controller with probe. Preferences in heater brands seem to be fairly varied, and I think I want to try titanium heaters this time. Is Apex the favorite for heater controllers? I was thinking the Apex Jr. I'm really not looking for all the bells and whistles of the upper models, or the reefkeepers, etc. Just heater control.

 

[Otter_rs]

Neptune is great.... Love my Apex! If you are in need of 300 total watts of heat, I would do two 150's so if your 200 fails to turn on your 100 won't struggle too much to keep temp. If you can't find 150's I would make the 100 your primary in the sump and the 200 your secondary in the display.

 

[GIT RITE]

The Apex Jr. would a fine choice, I started with one and it preformed excellent. And once you have a tank controller you will never look or go back. The beginning is only with the heaters, next thing you know you will be doing automatic daily water changes.


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