I have a 250w Ebo Jager for my 45 gallon. We keep my apt fairly warm... about 71*C or roughly 8*C under tank temp. I'm sure this is pleanty of heater (temps are stable), but is there any rule of thumb for how large of a heater to use?
How big does a heater need to be?
- Thread starter superjohnny
- Start date
The really general rule of thumb is 5 watts per gallon. There is another, better, rule of thumb that has to do with how many watts you need to raise a given volume of water a given number of degrees. Except I can't think of it.
Having more than 1 heater is also recommended sometimes, so that its not as dangerous if one malfunctions.
My heater is only 3.3 watts per gallon, but it is hardly ever on. I suspect this has something to do with my plant lights. It seems to be more than enough.
Having more than 1 heater is also recommended sometimes, so that its not as dangerous if one malfunctions.
My heater is only 3.3 watts per gallon, but it is hardly ever on. I suspect this has something to do with my plant lights. It seems to be more than enough.
The general rule is 5 watts per gallon, but it depends on how warm the room is. You should be fine. I also recommend 2 smaller heaters instead of one as stated to prevent your tank from boiling if thhe heater breaks and stays on w/out you knowing. Also, 2 heaters are a bit more efficient then one.
HTH
HTH
You keep your room at 71 C? That's almost 160 degrees Fahrenheit!!! At that rate, you don't need heaters at all... maybe you should invest in a chiller!
Jim
Re: Re: How big does a heater need to be?
Yea, my wife and I are silicon based instead of carbon
I'm so used to working on my PC where I use the Celcius unit of measure. Anyway, thanks for the tips advice.
Originally posted by JSchmidt
You keep your room at 71 C? That's almost 160 degrees Fahrenheit!!! At that rate, you don't need heaters at all... maybe you should invest in a chiller!
Jim
Yea, my wife and I are silicon based instead of carbon
I'm so used to working on my PC where I use the Celcius unit of measure. Anyway, thanks for the tips advice.
160 degrees. hurm. that's almost warm enough for a discus tank.. right?
Oh no wait.. that's almost hot enough to COOK discus.
my bad
Oh no wait.. that's almost hot enough to COOK discus.
my bad
No disrespect but I have some trouble accepting the validity of two "half size" heaters.
Assuming it is your lower night time room temperature which requires you to use a 250watt heater and not simple a giant tank (45g?). It would seem to me that a single "stuck on" 125watt heater would be sufficient to overheat the tank during the day when room temperatures are higher.
I guess if your room temperature is pretty steady and you sized your heater accurately then it would work.
Gumby
The point of using two heaters is that the temp change would happen much slower.
One 200 watt heater will bring up the water temp twice as fast as 1 100 watt heater.
One 200 watt heater will bring up the water temp twice as fast as 1 100 watt heater.
i have 500 watts in my 135, and i never have used my heater in my apartment this winter...the tank keeps it between 66-68 F...its great