Newbie "Sump" question: Heater.

[skillful abbot]

Hello Community

This year I set up my first 90cm overflow/sump. I bought a 300 watt heater and put it in the sump. Is this enough. I have to turn the dail up pretty high to get the display at 25C.　

It's still pretty cold here in Nagano, Japan and I expect more snow in April.

Should I keep turning the dial higher for colder nights? Add another heater? Where should I run the thermostat? Display or same as sump?

 

[OldManOfTheSea]

First I like to say that I never known that any members here lives in Japan, so im saying hello to you from Hillsborough North Carolina, USA
Now im sorry, I not understand what is your tank and sump size be, you require a heater that will heat your total water volume aquarium system.

Here is something that should help you






Aquarium Heater Size Guide
Tank Size Heat 5ºC/9ºF Heat 10ºC/18ºF Heat 15ºC/27ºF
5 gal/25 L 25 watt 50 watt 75 watt
10 gal/50 L 50 watt 75 watt 75 watt
20 gal/75 L 50 watt 75 watt 150 watt
25 gal/100 L 75 watt 100 watt 200 watt
40 gal/150 L 100 watt 150 watt 300 watt
50 gal/200 L 150 watt 200 watt two 200 watt
65 gal/250 L 200 watt 250 watt two 250 watt
75 gal/300 L 250 watt 300 watt two 300 watt


I hope this helps you>

Buddy


PS. I tried to fix the numbers up in the order they should be, I was only able to repair one diagram, but was unable to seperate the numbers and watts, but im sure that you should be able to make sense out of it, sorry.

 

[skillful abbot]

Thanks. I grew up in NC before moving to NJ and then to Japan. I also graduated from NCSU in 1998!


edit: Oh, and I've been in Japan since then so I'm all 'metric' now.

Sump is 600x450x450mm and the display is 900x450x4500mm

 

[OldManOfTheSea]

I fix one digram above, im converting mm into inches now.

 

[OldManOfTheSea]

Your main tank is 178 inches long = 14.833333 OR 14 5/6 feet Long I had trouble converting from mm but I know that just one 300 watts heater is not enough to heat up so large a water volume system. its needed to learn your total water volume so you could get your answer.

Buddy


PS: If your main tank is 36 " in width, I calculate your main tank is around 500 gallons and with the sump some 530 gals total water volume.

 

[skppygurl]

90cm is approx. 3' long... not 14'

a 40 gallon/151 liter tank measures about 90cm long x 45cm wide x 45cm high

a 300 watt hydor heater for example claims to work for up to 80 gallons / 302 liters... but you should read the directions on the heater just in case

what are the dimensions of the main tank? or the total volume of tank and sump? and what kind of fish are in there? temperature requirements vary between fish

 

[OldManOfTheSea]

At any other link, the highest watts heater is 400, and at the most that covers a 125 gal tank, and 20 gals less then that when its a 400 watt heater costing much less. But here is a link where you should be able to get one if not two heats, other wise you be buying like a dozen heaters for all you know. Just need to calculate the proper watts in the heater needed here and buy them.

http://www.northcoastmarines.com/heaters_thermometers.htm

Im thinking that if a 400 watts heater good up to at most a 125 gal tank, you may need here four 800 watts. There is a contact number at the link, best call and ask them how large a tank those heaters can manage.

skppygurl, that is if my calculations are correct.

Buddy

PS: His measurements is not in cm, its in mm
sump is 600x450x450mm and his main tank is 900x450x4500mm

 

[skillful abbot]

Thanks Buddy,

After your first post I calculated I was around 200L liters (~185) (two 200w) So I just put another 300w Heater in, adjusted them both for 27C and now my guys aren't shivering. Which is all I was worried about until spring.

Thanks a lot for your help. When my house is built, I've another 90cm tank that I plan on converting to a newer sump during the construction of my new home. So I maybe referring to this thread again. I'm guessing another two heaters.

Is mixed wattage a no-no??


BY THE WAY
Tank size in U.S measurements (google calculator)
Length=3ft Width=1.5ft Height=1.5ft. roughly 50gal

Ugh, how did I ever use these measurements growing up.


EDIT: Found a nice calculator
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/information/calculate.htm