Water temp not coming up to set point

Briko03 · Feb 23, 2015

I have a new tank I am trying to get ready for fish however I can't seem to get the tank above 77 degrees. I have a 300w thermometer in the sump (in the drain from the display section) and roughly 75 gallons of water in the system. The thermometer shows that it is heating most of the time and the temp setting is set for 82.

My reef keeper is reading the same temp as the heater, it is not however setup YET to turn on and off the heater.

Generally speaking the room is somewhat cold this time of year keeping it at around 60. Do i just simply need a stronger heater or is there anything else i can do / or am doing wrong?

hybridazn · Feb 23, 2015

So the heater is working but it doesn't reach the turn off point correct? If so then it sounds like the heater isn't big enough to do the job, if the ambient temp of the room it's in is around 60 then that's what's causing it to run constantly. Add another 300w heater and see what happens.

Briko03 · Feb 23, 2015

Yeah I guess that seems like my best option at this point, was hoping to avoid buying another heater...

redfishbluefish · Feb 23, 2015

I would also suggest running an expansion socket for two 300 watt heaters.

205503-Digital-Aquatics-ReefKeeper-Expansion-Socket-a_1.jpg

Not sure what ReefKeeper you have, but they are happier with this expansion socket. This is how I run my two heaters.

Skynyrd Fish · Feb 23, 2015

redfishbluefish said:
I would also suggest running an expansion socket for two 300 watt heaters.

Not sure what ReefKeeper you have, but they are happier with this expansion socket. This is how I run my two heaters.

+1 on this. The only way to go.

Briko03 · Feb 25, 2015

I am wondering if this is truly that my heater can't keep up or that it won't. I often look in the sump to find it not heating and at least 5 degrees from the temp it is set to. Is that common for heaters to do? Shut off occasionally even if not at desired temp?

Jimbo662 · Feb 25, 2015

I was always under the impression that the water coming through the drain area was moving too fast so I always put the heater in an area where water moves a little slower giving it more time for the heater to heat it up.