2 Heaters - one as a backup?

[Playdope]

Which two heaters should be used together when heating a 100 gal tank (+30-40 gal sump). I am using a 300 watt Acura heater now, which works fine, but I thought it sounded like a good idea to use 2 incase one goes out.

How is this done in the safest way?

Thanks,
Jon

 

[Anonymous]

Temperature change in a tank usually is not dramatic unless it got heat up by the MH light if you have them. Cooling in that case, is the issue, not heating.

With two heater in the tank, you many have one of them malfunction and get stucked in the "ON" setting. This will heat up your tank really quick (within hours if you don't have a chiller). The chance of this happening will be doubled since you have two of them. However, with the sole heater not doing its job, you will have maybe a day or two to find out the drop in temperature unless the tank is in cold basement.

I guess my comment is not very helpful unless we can obtain the probability of malfuctionings (both on when water is too hot, and off when water is too cold) from the manufactor. AFAIK, such statistic is very difficult to get, if it exist at all.

(Some set one heater to kick in at a lower temperature in a dual heaters setup. For example, one is set at 77F, while the other one is at 73F...)

 

[hsosa]

keeping two heater is a good idea. I currently have a 100gal and a 32gal sump. both tanks have heaters. its winter now and both heaters are on during the night. its a good idea to have them. make sure they are working properly shouldnt have any problem. log your temps daily for a month and it will give you temp range during the day and night. buy good quality heaters.

 

[Playdope]

The main question I had was which 2 heaters should I get (which wattage), and what should they both be set at?

 

[Anonymous]

Two 200W to 300 W range is fine, for temperature setting, see my post above.

 

[Playdope]

Thanks!

I think you have a good point LOULE. I will get another 300 watt heater to heat up my "water change" water in the 50 gal trash container. Although 300 watts sounds a little excessive for that app. - I could always put that heater in the main tank if the one in there should fail.

Jon