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my new tank is coming in a couple weeks, i need some new heaters

i've done some research and thrown out the idea of heater cables, with a little help from people here.

so from reviews etc i've decided to get a visitherm heater

problem is my new tank is 40inches long 24inches tall and 18 inches wide, so would two heaters be better?
and whay size heaters? tank about 60g uk?

cheers shekoi

www.blooming-brilliant.co.uk

shekoi,

That should be around 72 US Gallons. I would say to be on the save side you should have about 5W of heat per gallon = 360W, so 2 200W heaters would be perfect.

That is at least my opinion.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Agreed.

However, in addition to having two heaters you might want to consider the water flow in the tank. If you're only running one filter you'll want it and the heaters positioned in a way that will allow the most water movement to allow the most even heating. Powerheads can be useful in cases like this.

I'd suggest looking at getting the same brand heaters (I prefer submersibles) to help reduce sensitivity differences.

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cheers for the replies.

i'll go for two 200W visitherm heaters then.

i'll be running a fuval 405 exturnal filter, would this be enough water movement, or should i add a power head as well,
don't want to much movement because it will be a heavily planted tank.

thanks shekoi

www.blooming-brilliant.co.uk

If you don't want much movement, then set your filter up with the intake on one side of the tank, and the return on the other side of the tank. This will as least make the flow in the tank go from one side to the other. You whould have no problems keeping it heater nicely. Place one heater near to the intake and one near to the return. Should have no problems with this set up.

Personally I think a single 200 watt heater would surfice. But, two will be fine.

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There is always a bigger fish...

Hi,
I prefer two heaters, should one perish the other will
work (a little harder) till you can get to the store and
purchase a replacement. In a tall tank, and one where
there is some question of circulation, you might give some
consideration to submersible heaters. I've not looked up
the Visitherm's everyone has mentioned but if they arn't
fully submersible, you might give it some consideration.
Heat rises, and properly spaced at either end of the tank
that will provide some additional circulation as they run
spreading the heat throughout the tank even more.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Yes, as Frank stated the placement can create some circulation of its own. I like the Stealth heaters. They can be placed horizontally near the bottom of the tank behind your plants or decor. They don't have a light and they are entirely black, so they are in a sense stealth and hidden even when working.

The reason to place it horizontally, is the heat from it will not turn it off too quickly, and thus heat the water till the ambient temp around the sensor is the correct temp.

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...

I keep all my heaters horazontal on the bottom of the tank, I am using rena cal and they are mostly black and have some white intermingled with black which blends into my sand very well. I have not tried other heaters I got one with a used setup and I liked it enough to buy more.

For my 90g I have one via aqua and one visa therm I think they are both 200w. 1 is on the right side panel of the tank a few inches from the corner and the spray bar from the cannister is also a few inches from the corner but on the back panel. The water flows right out past the heater and then across the tank to the left corner where the intake is on the back panel. The other heater is of course on the left side a few inches from the corner and the intake. When I set it up I took all my extra thermometers, stuck them around the tank, and found that setup works perfectly to keep the whole tank the same temp. On the 55g I had 2 power filters on either side of the center brace with one large heater set between them and a smaller heater on the otherside of one. It's good to have a backup heater incase one breaks but also so you don't have 1 huge heater that can cook your fish if it malfunctions.

Personally I think a single 200 watt heater would surfice. But, two will be fine.

I run one in my 75 gal right next to my powerhead. Its worked for me so far. I do like the idea of two smaller ones for "just in case" of one failing, but two 200w I believe are overkill. If one those were to fail "on" it would definitely fry the fish.

Stealth heaters..................... They don't have a light and they are entirely black, so they are in a sense stealth and hidden even when working.

How can you tell they are on? Do they have a indicator of any sort?


SIDE NOTE
The jager-eheim I bought for my quaratine is definietly the most innacurate heater I bought for the selected temp on the dial compared to the acutual tank temp. Probably won't buy another again.

Last edited by openwater at 06-Dec-2005 20:15

How can you tell they are on? Do they have a indicator of any sort?

Well, the temp will be controlled, is probably the best indicator. But, I mean after all, how often do you look at the light to be on, on the heater, thoughout the day.

Personally, I keep a thermometer in every tank that I keep a heater in. For the reason of knowing the exact temp, so as to get them to spawn. As well, I check the temps daily to make sure the heaters are working properly. Thermometers are much more accurate than the scales on the heaters.

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...

I do wish stealth heaters had a light. I always watch the other heaters when I plug them in or after I do a water change whether the light comes on. With stealth heaters I end up touching them to see if they are warm. I just moved 2 tanks and ended up touching the heaters after setting them back up to see if they had come on.