Heaters

[civics14]

So, I'm still in the process of collecting parts to start a reef tank and I am looking into heaters, however most people talk about reducing equipment in the water to reduce heat being released to the water. Also, I see people getting chillers to reduce the heat in the tank.

So the question is, are heaters necessary? I keep my house around 75 during the summer and 70 during the winter.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[william1]

I will be honest with you in almost all my tanks I run an insump skimmer and my return was also in the sump not including lights. Between the three I never needed a heater. In the winter I would put one in just in case the temps were down. But in Atlanta I never had that problem. I actually needed a chiller for my 180 gallon. I think everyone is different and every tank is a little different. Some might and some might not depending on conditions.

 

[brandonmason]

Chiller will depend on if running a canopy, lighting, internal pumps as all contribute to heat as the motors from the pump is in the water.... I have a 150 deep and my heater only comes on at night due to keeping house so cool and I have a canopy, in sump skimmer, pH is an reactor pump, return pump, three large power heads, and I run leds

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 4

 

[civics14]

Well, I plan on running in sump skimmer, return pump, wave makers will be in tank, no canopy with LEDs for lighting.

This will be a 60g rimless with 40g breeder as sump.

I probably end up just picking up two 100W heaters just to be safe.

 

[bulkrate]

In the summer, a heater can be considered optional here in Atlanta depending on what other equipment's running & what/if your air conditioner's set at for the house. Never budged from 77-78 all season and the heater only would kick in at night.

In the winter? Yup... need it, at least in my case. I keep the house at 68 and without heating the tank drops to 72-73 assuming all other things are running. No losses, but lesson learned.