Why put the heater in the sump?

[RazorJaws]

Hello everyone. I'm wondering is there a reason to put your heater in the sump and not the display other than not wanting to see the heater in the display? Thinking it is safer to put it in the display in case the return pump ever fails or if I ever forget to turn it back on after a temporary shut off.

 

[Spare time]

I have mine in my overflow corner. I know most people put it in the sump to not have it in the display. I also don't like having it in the display for visual purposes and for the safety of inverts

 

[Mperry622]

I have mine in my overflow corner. I know most people put it in the sump to not have it in the display. I also don't like having it in the display for visual purposes and for the safety of inver I run my heater in the overflow as well

I run my heater in the overflow as well and the only bug I found is when I turn clean mode on the Apex and all pumps and returns shut off the heaters were on the residual temperature overheat the overflow compartment by like 15 degrees.. I think it's a huge deal but the alarms don't like it cuz my dummy put the temperature probes in there as well

Live n learn

 

[rtparty]

Always always always run a heater where it can never run dry. Return section and overflow are a dangerous game.

Why have a sump if you're going to put equipment in the display?

I run a temp probe in my sump and display and this will tell me if my return has possibly failed. All I'd have to is run home, drop a heater in the display and fix the return issue. This is also why I run 2 return pumps. Unlikely both fail at the same time.

 

[Gtinnel]

For me the heaters are in the sump just because I don’t want to see them in the display.

Im getting ready to setup a Red Sea Max S400 and I’ll have the ability to put the heaters in the flow pump chamber, so it’s in the tank and out of sight.

 

[Mperry622]

Always always always run a heater where it can never run dry. Return section and overflow are a dangerous game.

Why have a sump if you're going to put equipment in the display?

I run a temp probe in my sump and display and this will tell me if my return has possibly failed. All I'd have to is run home, drop a heater in the display and fix the return issue. This is also why I run 2 return pumps. Unlikely both fail at the same time.

Dang after reading that I realized that if my return pump goes out I also lose my heater

 

[Spare time]

Always always always run a heater where it can never run dry. Return section and overflow are a dangerous game.

Why have a sump if you're going to put equipment in the display?

I run a temp probe in my sump and display and this will tell me if my return has possibly failed. All I'd have to is run home, drop a heater in the display and fix the return issue. This is also why I run 2 return pumps. Unlikely both fail at the same time.

Why would my overflow run dry? The only way I can see that happening would be if my tank's glass broke.

 

[mindme]

I keep everything out of my tank as much as possible. It's also why I use mp40's on my 180, no cords in the tank.

 

[Gtinnel]

Why would my overflow run dry? The only way I can see that happening would be if my tank's glass broke.

It’s not uncommon that people don’t glue their overflow pipe(s) into their bulkhead on the tank side. Which could cause it to not seal and drain the overflow.
That may not be the case for you but possible for many people.

 

[Spare time]

It’s not uncommon that people don’t glue their overflow pipe(s) into their bulkhead on the tank side. Which could cause it to not seal and drain the overflow.
That may not be the case for you but possible for many people.

Ah gotcha

 

[shakacuz]

i have both of mine in the sump as i don’t want to see it in the DT

 

[stevolough]

i have both of mine in the sump as i don’t want to see it in the DT

I put one in the tank during colder months and when I go away for a few days just in case return pump fails

 

[piranhaman00]

If your return fails and you are gone heat is not your biggest issue , heaters always in sump.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Always in the sump. I hate to see them in the display. Also, the areas placed cannot run dry without a huge catastrophic event.

When in QT or my 6g, the heaters go in the HOB overflow, not in the tank. My temp probes are in the tank.

 

[MONTANTK]

I’d definitely keep it in the sump. If you put it in a section that it can never run dry then there is really no reason to ever turn it off. If you have a large enough overflow then you can also keep it there

 

[RazorJaws]

If your return fails and you are gone heat is not your biggest issue , heaters always in sump.

I figure as long as I have heat and flow from the powerheads, it wouldn't be catastrophic, right? Or am I missing something. The tank would survive without the skimmer and sock filtration. .

 

[RazorJaws]

I appreciate all the replies. Thanks everyone!

 

[ZombieEngineer]

I always hide one in my overflow or use a sleek one like the neotherm so that the tank won't cool down if my return pump fails.

The other ones go in the sump for esthetic purposes.

 

[RazorJaws]

I always hide one in my overflow or use a sleek one like the neotherm so that the tank won't cool down if my return pump fails.

The other ones go in the sump for esthetic purposes.

I was thinking something similar...like maybe a small heater (too small for the tank) in the display, and the main heater in the sump with the heater control on the main heater. The small one probably wouldn't be enough to get the tank to where it should be or overheat the tank, but would keep the display from dropping drastically in a return pump fail situation. Still just thinking about it. But then that thought just led me to thinking why not put the main heater in the display.

 

[G Santana]

My tank is in my basement so sometimes it gets cold during the latter part of winter, I have one heater in the sump controlled by an Inkbird and in the coldest part of winter I place a second one in the display till spring, then I pull it clean it and store it.