What size heater for 180 gallon tank?

Tomoko Schum · Nov 8, 2014

Hi y'all,

What size heaters are you using?

I am finding out that a 300W heater is not enough for my 180 after switching the metal halide to LED's. After the switch, I was using two Eheim heaters (150W + 75W) until one of them broke. I was lucky that it was the 75W heater that broke (and stuck). The tank temp did not go up much at all (only up to 81 or so). The new 300W titanium heater is quite underpowered. It's on all the time yet the temp is only at 77 during the day. It drops to 75 at night. I am considering adding another heater strip, but I am not sure what wattage I need.

TruRacr314x · Nov 8, 2014

What temp is the room? My tanks are in the basement where it is 65 pretty much year round. I have two 300w and one 200w....Jager heaters. Last winter when it was really cold...at times all three would be on.

Tomoko Schum · Nov 8, 2014

My daytime temp is set to 68. I am not sure if it is programmed to drop further late at night. I have to look at the manual to find out how to review the temperature settings. I hate electronic controllers. The programming is not standardized even within the same brand. Every time I want to change the settings on my timers, I have to review their manuals because each one has slightly different (and as a result very confusing) way of changing the settings.

TrishW · Nov 8, 2014

I run three 300W Jagers on my system. Even if one fails I should still be okay.

pickupman66 · Nov 9, 2014

I used a pair of 500 watt titanium tomako. These worked great with my garage sump and kept it st 78.

pickupman66 · Nov 9, 2014

I used finnex ones. The ones without controllers. Use my reefkeeper to control temp. I still use one today in my 66. It's probably overkill bit it works great.

Tomoko Schum · Nov 9, 2014

Thank you, guys. Now I have to find a high enough wattage (but short enough) heater that fits inside my sump.

DavidinGA · Nov 9, 2014

I have a 210gal and run one 300w and one 125w and they have no problem maintaining a temp of 80f all winter long (I'm under leds too). House temp stays around 71f through the winter.

H@rry · Nov 10, 2014

I would use 2 (or 3) smaller heaters to eliminate the risk of a single heater going out (or sticking on) and causing a problem.

dictionaaron · Nov 10, 2014

Tomoko Schum said:
Thank you, guys. Now I have to find a high enough wattage (but short enough) heater that fits inside my sump.

hydor theos are short for their wattage. id would try to squeeze a jager in if at all possible though

bloopergrooper · Nov 10, 2014

I like these from JBJ JBJ Titanium Heaters with TRUE-TEMP Digital Controller. Was thinking about putting one on the 90 I'm setting up. Titanium, reliable, even had one run dry and still work. Just never had a problem with one.

hllywd · Nov 10, 2014

210 with a total of 260 gallons or so in the system. I have 2x 250W Aqueon Pros. They're just new since one of my old heaters just went bad. I have 3x Kessil A360s and 2x 80W T5s. Temp in the house is set to 66 at night and during the day. My Apex shows the tank temp rock solid at 79.

hllywd · Nov 10, 2014

The Aqueon table recommends 1-250w heater in 90 gallons for a 15 degree rise in temp. at 68-72 ambient.

gar_moss · Nov 11, 2014

I would go with 2 of the 250w Aqueon Pro heaters. I'm running various sizes of these heaters in all my tanks and they are rock solid as long as you don't overwhelm them. They are long, so hopefully your sump is long or tall enough.