Temperature issues

[ParrotHead310]

I'm running (2) Aqueon Pro 200w heaters in my new Reefer 350. I have them set at 78 degrees and I'm only able to reach a max temp of 75.6. The heater lights are on 24/7. Temp in the room is 65 degrees. I've tried putting them both in the display tank and the sump with no change. I have 2 digital thermometers one running in the tank the other in the sump both giving the same reading. I also threw in a floating one with the same results.

Do I need to get a third heater or up the wattage in the two? Thanks!

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Those thermostats are never accurate. Can you cranks them up a bit until you reach your ideal temp?

 

[ParrotHead310]

Haven't tried cranking them up any higher I can do that but they're still running 24/7 to try to reach the 78.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Ya give it a try!

 

[RobB'z Reef]

How many gallons is a refer 350?

 

[Reef.]

How many gallons is a refer 350?

About 90g.

 

[Reef.]

Depending on the heater brand some cope better than others, I think you are slightly under sized for the temp of the room, I would either up the size of the heaters or heat the room to around 70.

I just the other day had this issue, the room temp dropped lower than it normally is as we had a cold spell, my inkbird alarm went off, to fix the issue, I’ve made sure the room doesn’t drop before a reasonable temp now.

 

[RobB'z Reef]

Aqueons are pretty entry level so I wouldn't expect a lot from them. That being said, the rated watts are more than enough for your tank volume. Your sump factors in but I can't think that's more than another 30 gallons. I would leave one heater where it's at and keep cranking the other up until you reach your desired temp. Not sure if they're like the jagers where you can move a dial to recalibrate them once you figure it out. At this point you have nothing to lose my bumping it up. Either you can calibrate it and achieve your temps or your answer is to scrap them and try another solution.

 

[Reef.]

Aqueons are pretty entry level so I wouldn't expect a lot from them. That being said, the rated watts are more than enough for your tank volume. Your sump factors in but I can't think that's more than another 30 gallons. I would leave one heater where it's at and keep cranking the other up until you reach your desired temp. Not sure if they're like the jagers where you can move a dial to recalibrate them once you figure it out. At this point you have nothing to lose my bumping it up. Either you can calibrate it and achieve your temps or your answer is to scrap them and try another solution.

the OP said both heater are on 24/7 so he can’t turn one up.

OP you could test the heaters, fill a bucket and see if the heater can heat to your tank temp, if it does, means it’s not broken, so probably means your heaters are under sized for the tank.
Think you need around 500watts.

 

[Jekyl]

Get a heater controller.

 

[RobB'z Reef]

the OP said both heater are on 24/7 so he can’t turn one up.

OP you could test the heaters, fill a bucket and see if the heater can heat to your tank temp, if it does, means it’s not broken, so probably means your heaters are under sized for the tank.
Think you need around 500watts.

Yeah I get that now that I think about it. Disagree that he needs 500w heaters. Maybe 300 tops. 200w at his tank size should be sufficient though granted it's at the lower end.

 

[Reef.]

Yeah I get that now that I think about it. Disagree that he needs 500w heaters. Maybe 300 tops. 200w at his tank size should be sufficient though granted it's at the lower end.

a total of 500w, not 2 x 500w heaters, he has 400watts now and it’s not cutting it, my suggestion is only a 100watts more than he has now.

 

[RobB'z Reef]

Like @reef suggested, if you can't get these to work bumping up isn't a bad idea, but bump up to a level where one heater can handle the load, that way if one drops off you can maintain temps until you replace the bad one. Heaters are one of the biggest pain/fail points of any reef tank.

 

[Jekyl]

One 300w handles my 90g no problem

 

[zalick]

As stated above, turning the thermostat up will have no effect since they are already running 24/7.

You can google some online calculators that will give you an idea of how many watts you need to heat the water to 78 given 65 ambient temp.

I personally like more smaller heaters for redundancy.

If I were in your shoes, knowing that 400 watts running 24/7 was not cutting it, I would use 4 - 200 watt heaters for 800 total watts. That way if one heater dies you aren't screwed.

 

[Reef.]

Like @reef suggested, if you can't get these to work bumping up isn't a bad idea, but bump up to a level where one heater can handle the load, that way if one drops off you can maintain temps until you replace the bad one. Heaters are one of the biggest pain/fail points of any reef tank.

I agree heaters are a known failure point, but the danger is over heating not under heating, a tank can go for days under temp but only hours if it over heats.

as @Rob.bucek says each heater being able to bring the tank to temp is an option if the room the tank is in is particularly cold, then one heater can keep it to temp, if the room is normal temp or on the hot side, then I would suggest two heaters added together being enough to bring the tank to temp. Then if one sticks on the tank is not cooked.

I would also suggest the OP buys a temp controller.

 

[Reef.]

One 300w handles my 90g no problem

what’s your ambient room temp, really plays a big part in the heating ability of the heaters.

 

[Jekyl]

what’s your ambient room temp, really plays a big part in the heating ability of the heaters.

Around 69

 

[Reef.]

Around 69

so 4F degrees more than the OP, my room dropped 4c the other day and that was enough to drop my tank temp to where the alarm went off. Doesn’t take much.

I’ve checked out a couple of online calculators and it seems to be suggesting 400w is border line for the tank size with a room temp of 65f.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I'm running (2) Aqueon Pro 200w heaters in my new Reefer 350. I have them set at 78 degrees and I'm only able to reach a max temp of 75.6. The heater lights are on 24/7. Temp in the room is 65 degrees. I've tried putting them both in the display tank and the sump with no change. I have 2 digital thermometers one running in the tank the other in the sump both giving the same reading. I also threw in a floating one with the same results.

Do I need to get a third heater or up the wattage in the two? Thanks!

What is the location of the heaters ?
I have a 300wt titanium easily maintaining 79.3 in a 135g system