Heater questions

O

orgetorix

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Jul 23, 2003
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I have a question regarding heaters I am currently using 2 250 Watt Ebo Jager heaters on my 300gal. They are both located in the sump of my wet/dry.

1. Are there any rules regarding placement in the tank as opposed to the sump?

2. When using multiple heaters, is it better to place them farther away rather than closer? Right now they are probably 3 inches from each other.

3. Are these heaters sufficient or should I get another one?

4. Finally, I noticed that since I installed my lighting (6x96W PC) that the temp has jumpped about 3 degrees. Is this normal? Since I wired them myself, with little electrical knowledge, I want to make certain.

Thanks for all your help.
 
Heaters in the sump is great--it helps keep the maintain clear of 'parts', and prevents fish from getting burned (a problem for species that like to hide as well as fish that will rest on them, such as stingrays).

I try to place them as far apart as I can. This helps prevent one from running all the time, making them last longer.

I would add another one, or replace both with 500 W heaters. The general rule is 3-5 watts per gallon, and right now you are barely at 1.5 w/g.

Higher output lights will cause the tank temp to fluctuate a bit. You can counter this by using fans to move air between the water and the lights--this will also increase evaporation, so plan on topping off the water level more frequently. My PC's have built in fans, but they only run when the front bulb is turned on. I ran them for 2 weeks on the back bulb before noticing this and my temp would go up 3-4 degrees! Since I was just trying to get my plants used to the higher lights gradually, it wasn't a big deal to just turn them both on. Now that the fans are running, my temp is pretty stable all day.

GL
 
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before changing the heaters, i think it's important to know what the average temperature of the room where the tanks are kept is. my tanks, in an upstairs apartment in florida, don't need too much in the way of wattage to keep them at 79 degrees given that it's usually between 75 and 80 in my apartment. if the room temperature is always pretty high, the 2 250s might be enough, but if it's lower than that than OG is certainly correct.
 
I'm used to living where a heater is not optional--certainly, if your tank stays at a good temp without the heaters constantly running, there's no reason to upgrade. I know that my house wouldn't work--it's about 68 in the winter, and maxes out at 85 in the summer.
 
Well, I live in Southern California...so I supposed heaters aren't as much of a critical component as in some areas. My house is in the mid to upper 70's almost all year long, with minor fluctuations in the winter and summer.
 
i would suggest, then, that you're okay with what you have. BUT you should keep an eye on your heaters to make sure they're not operating 24/7! observe them for awhile as it gets cooler, and make a decision based on your observations.
 
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