How much Heater?

[special-ops-s2k]

I’m planning my heater setup and plan on using multiple heaters to add redundancy and a layer of safety in the event of a failure. Display is 200g and sump approximately 90g capacity (probably 50-60g max volume) total of 260ish gal water volume. How many watts of heaters would you use? I plan to use one larger capable of barely heating the entire volume and 2 smaller backups to pick up the slack during winter months and times when ambient temp in home is slightly cooler. So in theory the main and either back up could completely Heat tank.

How many watts do you suggest?

 

[mrpizzaface]

I’m planning my heater setup and plan on using multiple heaters to add redundancy and a layer of safety in the event of a failure. Display is 200g and sump approximately 90g capacity (probably 50-60g max volume) total of 260ish gal water volume. How many watts of heaters would you use? I plan to use one larger capable of barely heating the entire volume and 2 smaller backups to pick up the slack during winter months and times when ambient temp in home is slightly cooler. So in theory the main and either back up could completely Heat tank.

How many watts do you suggest?

1000-1250

 

[Peace River]

I’m planning my heater setup and plan on using multiple heaters to add redundancy and a layer of safety in the event of a failure. Display is 200g and sump approximately 90g capacity (probably 50-60g max volume) total of 260ish gal water volume. How many watts of heaters would you use? I plan to use one larger capable of barely heating the entire volume and 2 smaller backups to pick up the slack during winter months and times when ambient temp in home is slightly cooler. So in theory the main and either back up could completely Heat tank.

How many watts do you suggest?

You could use the normal "rule of thumb" of 3-5 watts per gallon so for 260 gallons of water that would be 780 to 1300 watts which in turn would be three or four 300w heaters. However, that may or may not be a good estimate for several reasons including the temperature differential between your desired temperature and the ambient temperature in the surrounding area. Additionally, you may also want to consider water agitation which increases oxygen, but also increases temperature loss in cold areas.

Living in Florida, I am probably not the best person to give you exact recommendations on heaters so I am sure others from more northern climates will chime in with how they manage their heaters, but hopefully these are a few thoughts to consider as you are developing a plan. Good luck!

 

[special-ops-s2k]

Thanks for the replies thus far, I was thinking either a 500w main heater backed up with 2 separate 300w heaters OR a 1000w main heater backed up with 2 separate 300w heaters...

In the first scenario the main would almost always need “help” from the backups in the colder periods but none are large enough to overheat the tank too quickly. Whereas the second scenario the main heater can take care of the day to day business and only need the backups in rare instances or when there was a failure of the main heater.

All 3 heaters would be controlled primarily by the Apex with their internal thermostats as redundant backups

 

[Forsaken77]

Thanks for the replies thus far, I was thinking either a 500w main heater backed up with 2 separate 300w heaters OR a 1000w main heater backed up with 2 separate 300w heaters...

In the first scenario the main would almost always need “help” from the backups in the colder periods but none are large enough to overheat the tank too quickly. Whereas the second scenario the main heater can take care of the day to day business and only need the backups in rare instances or when there was a failure of the main heater.

All 3 heaters would be controlled primarily by the Apex with their internal thermostats as redundant backups

You have to look at the brand of heaters you're using. A 300 watt of one brand doesn't necessarily equal 300 watts of another.

If you're using a temp controller(s), check out Marine Depot. They have high wattage titanium heating elements that are smaller, but need a controller. I think they're Wan Bros

 

[Forsaken77]

Also, having multiple heaters in different locations (tank, sump) can heat a large tank faster than a large heater in one location.

 

[Potatohead]

Two 300w Eheims will be fine. I have two 250’s on 200g of water and it keeps temp 9-10 degrees above ambient no problem. They’re on maybe 1/3 of the time with 1/2 degree temp window.

 

[special-ops-s2k]

That’s what I was thinking, 500w main heater in one location and the two 300w backups in a separate spot in the sump. Wasn’t sure if the main should be 500w or 1000w

 

[ca1ore]

1,000 watt heater will fail to deliver your safety goal. Should it get stuck on, it’d likely overheat your system. Go 500 with less powerful backups.

 

[Potatohead]

That’s what I was thinking, 500w main heater in one location and the two 300w backups in a separate spot in the sump. Wasn’t sure if the main should be 500w or 1000w

No, I mean two 300’s period, as long as they’re Eheims. Finnex or something you probably need 500’s.

I completely agree a thousand watter is too big if it gets stuck on.