Tank Heater selection

baotchi

baotchi

Large Fish
#1
Jul 16, 2004
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#1
Good morning folks

I need to order a heater for my 75G that will soon be ready. Any sugestion ? I already have an Ebo Jagger in my 30G, which I'm quite satisfied of. At the time I bought it I been told they were the best, that's why I got it. It keeps water temp "relatively" stable (within 2 degres).

Now I saw that people often use 2 heaters instead of 1 on larger tanks. Any good? Do they need to be the same Watt rating ?

Is there other brands that are as good, better, different as Ebo?

Maybe I would like to install it (them) horizontally in the bottom of the tank (any issues?). I saw some other heater models with the temp ajustment on a control box on the power cord, instead of having to plunge your arm in the tank to ajust it... They look great, anybody has them?

This is what I'm talking about :



Would you get 2x 100W for a 75G? 2x 75W?

thanks

Simon
 

K

Kyle

Large Fish
#2
Aug 5, 2004
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#2
I would go with two of the 100 watts at least. I have heard a good rule of thumb is 3-4 watts a gallon on larger aquariums. Having two on a large aquarium is really needed to keep the temperature stable throughout the tank.
 

TurbineSurgeon

TurbineSurgeon

Superstar Fish
#3
Feb 27, 2004
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#3
You would want 5 watts per gallon of heater(s) in there. That puts it at 375 watts, so 2 x 200 watt heaters would be about the minimum. I have 2 x 250 watt heaters in my 75 gallon.

Since heaters rarely have to be adjusted once set, I go with the submersible type. I have never used the type with the separate control. I prefer Ebo-Jaeger.

EDIT: Ebo-Jaeger heaters work just fine installed horizontally. I usually mount them vertically when I first install them and then shift them down and horizontal after everything has settled in.
 

Last edited:
Purple

Purple

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#4
Oct 31, 2003
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#4
Ebos are pretty cool - but perhaps not best looking of the bunch (yeah - I know - it's only a heater)

I've got one that's a seperate box and stat, similar to your pic - white box - steel heater - got it from ebay and I think it's great. It's easy to set the temp on the box, rather than try to deal with a slippery little knob on a submersed type, and they also go into "keep warm" mode, so they're not on/off every 5 mins.

Apparently the thing you REALLY don't want in a heater is a bi-metal strip - bit of a weak point in the design.

If you do go for two heaters, they don't have to match - it's basically a failsafe if one packs up (hopefully it packs up in the off position) and better at keeping both ends of a long tank stable.....never bothered my self, but my biggest tank is only 55.
 

Lotus

Lotus

Ultimate Fish
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#5
Aug 26, 2003
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#5
We have a couple of those titanium heaters with the controls on the outside. That was after one of the glass ones got broken by a fish. I think they're a little less obvious when you have them in the tank than the glass type. We have had them for a few months, so it's still a little early to tell how reliable they are long term.
 

baotchi

baotchi

Large Fish
#8
Jul 16, 2004
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Trois-Rivieres, Quebec CANADA
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#8
have any of you ever tried / heard of those external heaters that connect to the water return of canister filters?

Here is a link to what I'm talking about

It's 300W and I guess that if it's mounted in-line with my filter, all the water will end up being heated aint it ? I can't see how a heat / cold spot could happen with this...

Tell me what you think about it

Simon
 

Purple

Purple

Superstar Fish
#9
Oct 31, 2003
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yeah - I'm running one of those - had it 6 months now - highly recommended - just expensive is all. perfect concealed solution though. hose fittings fit most cans (including ribbed Fluvals)
 

1979camaro

1979camaro

Ultimate Fish
#15
Oct 22, 2002
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#15
it really would be better to have two, cheaper isnt always better. it isnt harder to adjust them, just set both the dials to the temp you want the tank to run at and there is a good chance you will be there, if its off a degree, see which one's light comes on

im afraid i dont recall which brand i have; i think they were about $30 each
 

Orion

Orion

Ultimate Fish
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#16
Feb 10, 2003
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#16
Yeah two is better on larger tanks. I would always go that way if at all possible. Like already said: There will be less cold spots in the tank; You have a backup if one fails and you do not realize it right off; and also it is less wear and tear on each heater if they do not have to carry the whole weight of heating the tank by themselves.

I can't remember who made mine either. It was right at $20 US from BigAls.
 

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