heater question

[viboy]

I just came back from a 2 week vacation that almost ended in fish death. I left my 90 in the unknowing hands of my parents. I left specific instructions and in the past this has always worked out. What I forgot to do was have them check the temperature on occasion. Somehow the heater got unplugged and the temperature plunged 10 degrees to 68. Surprisingly nothing died but judging from the description of the fish they were stressed for a few days. (The problem was resolved over a 15 minuted phone call).

Anyway ..... I have a 250 W heater in the tank and a 200W heater in storage. I have always toyed with the idea of adding the 200W as a backup. I have never had a problem with either of the heaters. One is an ebojager and the other is a Thermal Compact. I cannot imagine the both heaters would malfunction at the same time and overheat the tank but wanted some other opinions on this before I install the other heater.

long winded I is....

 

[gonefishin]

redundancy is always a good idea. (It is manditory in airplanes, if an alternator goes out @ 7,000 feet its nice to have another one already working, rather than try to fix it while falling at extreme speed.) It is not neccisary but you can set the t.stat slightly staggared to alter the current. just mess arround with positions and settings till you find one that your fish like. redundant filtration is also a good idea and you can even buy a batery back up (ups) for power failures. Of course anything will wear out with use but thats OK since you have 2. if one goes out, your "spare" is already in place and working till you gat another