Tank Heater in Florida?

[Jo P White]

Hi everyone,

I've been running my 90g since July and being in South Florida and using air conditioning all the time my tank runs at 74-77 degrees regularly. I'm trying to plan ahead to when we have those handful of "winter" days here in Fort Lauderdale and trying to decide if its worth getting a heater to keep the tank at that temp when our weather drops and the AC can't keep up. We don't use the heater feature down here!

Any other Floridians in a similar situation? What do you do? If I did need a heater, what would you suggest for a 90g that's reliable? I don't use any kind of auto controller system so I definitely need something that's safe. I've heard horror stories about heaters which is one of the reasons I haven't bothered with one when I can manage fine without it.

Thanks for your help R2R!

 

[Zagreus]

Check out the cobalt neotherm heaters. BRS did somee videos on them.

 

[xjiang7]

I’m in Gainesville so I do have heater in winter months-like two or three months. I took it out when weather warms up. I would say for a short period it’s a low chance for any new, popular heaters to misbehave

 

[Sacohen]

When I lived in Ft. Lauderdale I never used a heater.
The temp dipped a bit, but never really got below 74.

 

[Xavierwally]

Hi, I'm from Spring Hill, Fl and I have a 40 gallon breeder. Like you, I don't use an auto controller system. I use a Cobalt Aquatics Neo-Therm 100 Watt Heater, It keeps my tank at 78.0-78.5 degrees. I would suggest a Cobalt Aquatics Neo-Therm 300 Watt Heater.

 

[Michael Cronmiller]

I'm in Pompano bch area...don't use a heater...but ya never know we do get those rare winter's that drop down a bit in temp

 

[Michael Cronmiller]

If your a/c is somewhat newer you should have some form of heat in it

 

[Sacohen]

I actually never used a chiller either.
The highs were about 77 and the lows were about 74.

 

[Jo P White]

I'm in Pompano bch area...don't use a heater...but ya never know we do get those rare winter's that drop down a bit in temp

That's what I'm worried about. What if we get that random week that's actually cold and the temp drops to the 60s? I'm worried about the corals and fish not handling that drastic, sustained change for several days to a week.

 

[Jo P White]

I actually never used a chiller either.
The highs were about 77 and the lows were about 74.

My tank usually goes from about 74 to 77 too.

 

[Jo P White]

If your a/c is somewhat newer you should have some form of heat in it

Yeah, it's just uncomfortable using a heater to fight and keep the temp in the lower 70s. We use the heater so infrequently too that it's just not used to it.