That's a bummer! You'd think the appropriate IM heater setup would fit in an IM sump
i was going with the helio over the BRS titanium heaters and an inkbird i already own because I figured it was a safe bet fitment wise. How much water depth is there in the heater chamber if you dont mind me asking?
I have some hygger gyres. They are decent. And cheap. I also have an Mp40(glad to know they'll work on a 200 ext!) And a tunze orca. The gyres are fine, but they tend to lose flow from algae buildup really really fast. I think thats a gyre thing in general, not a hygger thing. I love my tunze, and am considering a second orca eventually. Big sticker shock though. But with 2 mp40's, an orca 6105 would probably enough and be cheaper than the 2 nero 7's. I love mine. Food for thought
Amendment to my comment about the Tunze Orca, i'm planning a second one, knowing that i'm gonna have to buy or make lids that will accommodate the orca attaching to the eurobracing as the stock top wont work, so thats also an added expense.
Right!? Like it makes no sense at all and when I asked IM about what heaters to get they said the 700 makes no sense. The heater tops where out of the after about and inch and after looking at the instructions for the recommended water line there was no way also they come with some magnet mounts which are nice but no way the mounts fit in that chamber with 2 heaters.That's a bummer! You'd think the appropriate IM heater setup would fit in an IM sump
Why don't the heaters fit?? I have IM 170 and I think the sump is the same. And 700 W double (two 350) and they fit just fine. Are you trying to use the magnetic holders? I don't think the holders would fit, but the heaters can go into that small chamber without holders. Just drop them in.
I also have 2 of the 350w heaters in the heater compartment of my 200 ext sump and they also fit. Mine are a few years old by now though, maybe they have changed something with the design? I have also seen BRS selling helio bundles with their own BRS branded heating elements instead of the IM ones, maybe this is a factor? The ones I have are definitely the original IM versions.
So you both just have your two heaters sitting in the heater chamber, not using the included magnetic holds that the combo kit comes with?
I do, yes. They just slot right in vertically into the compartment on mine, I've never really used the magnetic holders in any of my setups honestly, I find them a little bulky
I've seen some people slightly modify the fiji cube ARF-20 roller to work in this sump. I've been pretty happy with the one I have in my fiji cube 108 gallon so I just ordered a second one to try on the 200ext. From what I have seen it's mainly just a matter of extending the top portion where the rolls mount to clear the sump. Of course depending on your turnover it may not be able to handle the flow, but I have mine at approx 1000gph so I hope it will work for me.
I do not use the magnetic holders. Brian from IM told me repeatedly (because I asked repeatedly!) that the holders are not necessary if keeping the heaters in the chamber.
Oh sweet, so Brian specifically stated, they can just lay in there? I always felt weird not supporting the heaters off the glass/ acrylic
That is good info to have direct from IM. The little rubber bumpers on both ends of mine do keep the element from ever actually touching anything directly, so I wasn't super worried about it, but still good to know for sure.
Yep. I also was afraid so I asked probably 6 times. He says the silicone tips on the heater will keep it from making contact with the walls of the sump. No need for the magnetic holders. I figure after confirming 6 times, it's probably safe!
I think we three all think alike because that was my big "oh no I cant do that!"Yep. I also was afraid so I asked probably 6 times. He says the silicone tips on the heater will keep it from making contact with the walls of the sump. No need for the magnetic holders. I figure after confirming 6 times, it's probably safe!
So I reexamined my sump and decided/realized it definitely has too much water. I filled it (when return is not running) up to the bottom of the top rim. I realized it's way above the raised baffle wall in the refugium. So I drained it a bit this morning to just below the top of the raised refugium wall. And the heater is sticking out a tad from the water. Just below the rubber cap. This indeed does not look ideal. I emailed Brian/IM with this photo to see what he says.
This is very interesting, my heating elements are just under 12" long, which is shorter than the currently listed specs on their website for the 350w, and they fit well under the water level in that compartment. Seems like they really have changed something, which is unfortunate if so, why would they change to a length that no longer fits their sump?So I reexamined my sump and decided/realized it definitely has too much water. I filled it (when return is not running) up to the bottom of the top rim. I realized it's way above the raised baffle wall in the refugium. So I drained it a bit this morning to just below the top of the raised refugium wall. And the heater is sticking out a tad from the water. Just below the rubber cap. This indeed does not look ideal. I emailed Brian/IM with this photo to see what he says.
Huh....!This is very interesting, my heating elements are just under 12" long, which is shorter than the currently listed specs on their website for the 350w, and they fit well under the water level in that compartment. Seems like they really have changed something, which is unfortunate if so, why would they change to a length that no longer fits their sump?
