Heater placement

[Susan Edwards]

The heater I got is almost too long for my sump. No I didn't think of measuring.... It is a Finnex Digital Heater Controller with Deluxe Titanium Tube, 800W. I can lay it on the bottom of skimmer/drain chamber of my sump but that won't allow me to add rocks unless I put on top of them. It's a tight fit.

Can it be placed diagonally on the side of the chamber or does it have to be either straight horizonal or straight vertical only. I see from searching some add to the overflow box.

Tank is 125 gal, sump around 30-40
first pic is laying on bottom between filter socks and skimmer. Second is on wall

 

[jacksonpt]

It can go pretty much where ever you want as long as it's properly submerged (I'm not familiar with that one, but some have min/max water level specs) and has reasonable flow around it. I've had mine placed flat on the bottom, but also diagonally between 2 sump baffles. Both have worked fine.

 

[Big G]

I have the same heater and heater controller. You can mount it anywhere as long as it is submerged. I've had mine on the bottom and side and diagonally mounted. On a side note, you may find that the controller while it's good at keeping the temperature steady, it's temperature settings may be off a bit. My controller reads 81 degrees, but the actual tank temp is 78. So it's off by 3 degrees. But it keeps the temp steady. So I'm happy. Hope this helps.

 

[ca1ore]

800 watts!!! You planning to cook the fish for dinner? Though I jest, should that thing get stuck on, cooking is what will happen. Finnex make a 500 and a 300; both would be a better choice if what you have can be exchanged. In my view, their volume ranges for each heater are not accurate. Heck, I only use about 1,500 for my system, and it's 600 gallons.

 

[Ryan Rosales]

Requires a lot of flow to evenly distribute the heat. I think it’ll overheat one chamber of your sump since the unit will activate and utilize the 800Watt heating efficiency and the sensor you’ve probably placed on your main/display tank will read differently so the heating process will only stop when the sensor “senses” that the desired read temperature is achieved.

 

[mtraylor]

Wow that thing is awesome. I have a 255 gallon with 100 gallon sump and I have 2 300watt heaters diagonal on the bottom of my sump and I have no issues.

 

[Ryan Rosales]

Good for you. 300Watt heaters individually are 300Watts. Even if you have 3 or four. When you have 800Watts as a single unit it’s quite different. I mean dang, that’s 800Watts unless you have a really good flow going.

 

[mtraylor]

 

[Susan Edwards]

okay, good thing I use amazon prime. It's going back, exchanged for the 500 watt

 

[Susan Edwards]

It can go pretty much where ever you want as long as it's properly submerged (I'm not familiar with that one, but some have min/max water level specs) and has reasonable flow around it. I've had mine placed flat on the bottom, but also diagonally between 2 sump baffles. Both have worked fine.

I realized it may not be under water at that angle so am returning it. Hopefully the 500 watt is a better fit. And that is rated up to 130 gal. Was thinking it not enough with the sump added in but when I take out rock and sand displacement, should be good, or next winter I'll add a second, smaller heater. So glad there is this wonderful forum and folk so generous with their time.

 

[Ryan Rosales]

I’d suggest two 300watt heater for for your system. It’s a precautionary measure that keeps your tank water heated even though the other fails to. I think we talked about it in another thread with someone.
A Fluval-E heater is just 14inches long for the 300watt model. Keeps a steady temperature, also run by a microprocessor.

 

[Susan Edwards]

thanks @Ryan Rosales - I already did the exchange for the 500 watt model on amazon--can't afford 2 of the 300's right now which was why I went bigger! I'll get another heater with controller to add for next winter. I live where it is hot in the summer so won't need much of a heater for more than another couple of months. If that! I've already had to put fans on my 66 gal (no chiller) to keep it under 80 this week!

 

[Neo Jeo]

So I now have 2 200w heaters. The only place I can put them I think is the skimmer area. One facing south side and one east side . Should I put one maybe in the shock area if it will fit? Or is it ok to have them both in the skimmer area. I have a eshopp r-200. It’s kimda big compartment and I’m using Neo Therm heaters

 

[Ryan Rosales]

I’d be nice to place one on the receiving end of the sump and the other one on the opposite end where the return pump would be.