Heater for ~400 gal tank

[GeoSquid]

For people with tanks about 400 gal volume - what are you using to heat your tank? I upgraded from a 180 gal recently and I can't get the tank above 75 deg. Keeping the house at 70 deg. I have 2 500w heaters and another 1000w running at full. I also have 3 metal halides running 7 hours a day, but I haven't finished building the cabinet yet, so the heat can dissipate from the lights still. Any recommendations for a proper heater?

 

[Tangdora]

Only really need 3-5 watts per gallon.I run 2 brs titaniums 600w that heat a 360 gallons with no issue. I prefer Lower end of the watt scale as it raises temp slower. In my case takes about 1.5 hours to raise the temp 1 degree. If an add a third 600w only takes a hour. Cost wise in terms of watts is about the same so hence why I choose to run lower for longer.

 

[GeoSquid]

Dang! I'm running more watts than you are. My 2 500w heaters have been running for almost 8 years. They still get hot but maybe their not performing well. The 1000w is only a year old. Thank you for the info!

 

[Jamie814]

2,000 watts should be more than enough. I only run two eheim jager 250 watts on my 600 gallon system and most of the time only 1 is on to maintain temp. I have 4 radions over the display with ambient room temps about 72.

How are you checking temp and do you have a controller that can monitor the wattage to see if they are actually pulling the wattage they are rated for and are actually on all the time?

Is the area around the tank drafty or fans running?

2,000 watts 24/7 plus halides must be an insane elect bill for the tank @ $.16 per kw your heaters would cost $230 /month alone to keep on and your in CA so I'm sure your rate is much higher.

*EDIT I just looked up CA average rate $.31 kw that's over $400 month for 2,000 watt heaters running 24/7 How much is your elec bill every Month???

We only pay $.12 kw here in the Midwest & most of our energy is wind.

 

[GeoSquid]

Apologies everyone, I should have double checked before I posted. Guess my memory is fading in my old age. I physically checked the heaters and I'm running 3- 300w heaters. 2 of those are over 8 years old. Just set this tank up 3 mos ago and it was still in the upper 80s outside until a little over a week ago when temps dropped. Tank was running at 80 deg. then and now can't get it over 75. Measuring with a glass float thermometer. I have a massive amount of solar panels, so not paying Edison rates. 900w of heat seems like it should be enough. Maybe the old ones are failing a bit.

 

[Jamie814]

Maybe the old ones are failing a bit.

Most aquarium heaters are going to be full on or full off, no in-between.

Do you have a way to check the watt draw? Like a kill a watt meter or controller that monitors power usage?

 

[lapin]

I have 2ea 350w helio heaters. One is set to come on at 78.9 The other at 78.8. (Fail safe)
I have no problem keeping my tank warm. Wife likes the house at 74F. All year.
600 gallons 5’x5’x3’deep. 1”acrylic. Approximately 30g external overflow box. 100 or so gallon sump. 9 Kessil 360 lights.
Exhaust fan in tank room runs 24/7.
I’m thinking your heaters are not putting out much heat. I would get a new element. That might let you know if those 8 year old work horses need to be put out to pasture.

 

[GeoSquid]

No, I dont have a way to measure watts.

Dang! That's a lot of water!

When I set this tank up I decided to go back to MH lights and figured they would also heat the tank pretty well. Guess not quite enough. I was thinking of retiring those old heaters anyway, but wanted to know what everyone else is using.

Thanks everyone for the input.