Heater Location (1 Viewer)

[Tempset]

I've got a heater in my overflow box, a heater in the 1st chamber of the sump & 1 heater loosely behind some live rock in the back of the tank.


All 3 heaters are set around 85-90degrees. Then all 3 heaters are plugged into 1 multiple-outlet cord which is then plugged into the apex which controls the entire group via temperature probe. So if the temp probe detects too high of a temp, it shuts them all down.

My question today is: I've seen a tank were all 3 heaters were in the same location (almost touching each other) instead of spread throughout the whole system.

What do y'all think about spacing?

Should I keep them separated or group them together?


Tempset@gmail.com

 

[dark8nge1]

I have all mine in a 9x9 compartment with high flow through it with no problems.

Caution on the heater in the overflow box. JasonC cracked his tank by doing that.

 

[Mark L.]

I wouldn't think it would matter much either way. Your temp changes are so gradual that your tank shouldn't drop much between on and off cycles. One thing you want to make sure of, don't have the temp probe close to the heater and downstream of it in the sump. You want the probe to test the water before it hits the heater. Try to put the probe by the filter socks and the heater by the return pump given you have the typical end to end flow through the sump.

To many people have cracked their tanks with heaters. I keep mine in the sump.

 

[tektite]

A little off topic, but make sure to check the combined amperage of all 3 heaters together, and that it doesn't exceed the Apex outlet max amps. I did that once, the EB8 got very, very hot...

 

[Andy]

One more thing.

If your main pump stops for any reason, water change, etc & the water level lowers in the overflow (usually the overflow pipe is just pushed into bulkhead & not completely water tight) & the heater is on, it will crack when water is turned back on.

It has happened to me.....

 

[i_am_poor]

Isn't 85-90 degree too hot ?

 

[inigomontoya]

Isn't 85-90 degree too hot ?

He has the heaters set at 85-90 but then controls their on/off function with his controller and temperature probe (so set to 77-78 or whatever). Personally I set mine around 80 on the heater itself and use the temperature probe for the controller. I understand his logic though which is that if the temp setting on the heater is screwed up then it is more likely to come on if you have it set to the max.

 

[i_am_poor]

That's dangerous to rely on the temp probe. I would just set all 3 heaters to 80 and fail safe the controller to 82 or something.

 

[Reefahholic]

Isn't 85-90 degree too hot ?

That's what I was thinking. But why set them at 85-90 and control with apex. why not set them at 78-80 and still control with apex?