what size heater?

lbannie

lbannie

Member
Just wondering what size heater (watts) I should have in my tank. It's 30 gallons with sump (which only holds about 4 gallons max) I think I have a 100watt heater in there now (the numbers rubbed off) but my temp is never above 76 degrees. I have the heater on the highest setting. I have a 300w heater on hand.....should I switch to that and gradually get my temp higher? I'm asking because I recently have been adding coraland everyone seems to keep the temp a bit higher......what do you think?
 
slice

slice

Active Member
Others will have more experienced words on this, but I think you will need more than the 100w this winter, unless you keep the room very warm. I have a 300w in my 47g and it seems to be about right; keeping the temp where I set it without straining.
Somewhere in the forum are posts recommending how to switch out a heater. I think I remember it being something like: put your new heater in the tank and set to current temp, in your case, 76*. When both heaters seem to be in sync (both turning on at roughly the same time), you can remove the old one (or keep it in the tank as backup/redundancy). Then gradually increase the temp setting of the new one to the desired temp.
Hmm...the more I think about it, you may not want your backup/redundant heater to be so dissimilar to the main one; it would never turn on, so you would not be aware of any problems with it...someone chime in on this?
 
tlsohio

tlsohio

Member
I think that I agree with Slice, depending on where Ibannie lives, if the temperature in the house isn't in the mid 70's year round, the 100w may have a hard time keeping up in the cooler months. If the heater is set at the highest setting and remains a steady 76' that could waiver. I think that a 300w is an overkill, Ibannie could probably get a 150w and be very happy and have piece of mind.
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
I have a 150 in my 56 gallon tank and it stays at 80 to 80.1 in there. I see the heater on part of the time so I know its working. a 300 watt would be over kill. If you want to play it safe, dont go higher than 200.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
I always recommend at least two slightly undersized heaters vs a single oversized. It keeps the tank more stable and if one malfunctions you don't lose your entire reef.
 
slice

slice

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/381334/what-size-heater#post_3320976
Yeah, BUT if you have a good working heater...it should keep the temp at what you set it....It kinda sounds to me like his current heater is the issue
Yeah, well, thats why I hoped for more experience to chime in. I assumed a 100w in good working order that could not keep up.
Is there a rule of thumb on heater watts per g? I got my 300w on recommendation from the LFS (before finding this site).
 
slice

slice

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///forum/thread/381334/what-size-heater#post_3320981
I always recommend at least two slightly undersized heaters vs a single oversized. It keeps the tank more stable and if one malfunctions you don't lose your entire reef.
Now that I've read more on heaters, I have a bit of concern over my single heater; will fix that situation in due course...
When you say "slightly undersized", you mean EACH is slightly undersized for the water volume, correct?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///forum/thread/381334/what-size-heater#post_3320981
I always recommend at least two slightly undersized heaters vs a single oversized. It keeps the tank more stable and if one malfunctions you don't lose your entire reef.
Bang, Do you also recommend 2 for smaller tanks? for example....I was looking at 1 100w ebo-jager for my 29G...are you saying to get 2 75W?????
 
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