a Strong enough heater for my 240 gal.
- Thread starter NikkO
- Start date
Make sure the heater doesn't burn out though since it will be working constanly. I had a 150w that I used on my tank in an emergency before I could get the dual 300's that I have now and it took hours just for it to raise the temp about 1 degree or so in an +/- 70 degree environment. If you were to look at the heater working at night with no lights, the coil would just be glowing red as if it would be close to melting the plastic holding the coil, so make sure you use an Ebo-jager or something 
. It sounds like an interesting experiment, but I dont think it would overheat it. Don't forget about some sort of cirulation so that all the heat is distributed all over so that it simulates a filter.
. It sounds like an interesting experiment, but I dont think it would overheat it. Don't forget about some sort of cirulation so that all the heat is distributed all over so that it simulates a filter.While you have the test setup together, try reducing the ambient to 70 degrees and see if the 50 watt heater is capable of maintaining 78 degrees with the tank covered. I'm guessing it will. My 200 watt had no problem maintaining my 150 gallon tank at 86 degrees in a 72 degree environment. It has to be noted that my tank normally runs about 4 degrees above ambient from pumps and lights with no heater.
Then again, if the heater is able to increase the water temp to 100 degrees, 20 degrees over ambient in your experiment, there is no question that 1 watt per gallon is sufficient for any covered tank that is kept in room temperatures. So there may be no need for the extra test.
I get my 240 on Saturday, just got my 3 250 watts in the mail, we'll see... 2-3 watts per gallon, I didn't do any experimenting though.
