What Heater

[Duzzy]

Hi there,

I was after a recommendation on a heater. I was going to get 2 heaters to heat a 4ft x 2ft x 2ft tank I thought two to reduce the load on each heater and they will be in my the sump.

Regards Darren

 

[raptorrex]

Hi there,

I was after a recommendation on a heater. I was going to get 2 heaters to heat a 4ft x 2ft x 2ft tank I thought two to reduce the load on each heater and they will be in my the sump.

Regards Darren

two 150w or two 200w will do the job. as for the brand, i would guess its up to you, stear clear of second hand juwel items though.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

I would just go with a visatherm stealth.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

You've got a target temperature that you wish to achieve..... I believe that in a tank size which you quote, (at the end of the day).... You'll use less power (as it switches off in any case when the target temp is reached) You will do better instilling a 300w heater (energy wise) than 2 x 200w heaters.... (just a gut feel, but there are tedious calculations to prove the alternative.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

I believe that 2x200 watt heaters would actually use the same amount of energy as a 300w heater. More wattage=faster heating so they 2 heaters will be on for less time than the 300w. Sure there may be really small differences, but those differences would cost you less than a penny of electricity. I would just go with the 300 though because itll be cheaper than buying 2 200w heaters. People use 2 heaters because its kind of like a failsafe. If one heater goes out, you still got the other heater to keep the water at a decent temp. If one of them just decides to stick on, then you only got 1 underpowered heater to overheat your tank, since its underpowered, you will notice it before any of your livestock dies off.

Edit: whatever decision you make, just make sure you get a high quality heater. Dont be cheap about heaters because cheap ones are pretty much bound to fail a lot faster than the higher quality ones.

 

[Duzzy]

Thanks all, looking at the Jager heaters.

Regards Darren

 

[tyyrlym]

You've got a target temperature that you wish to achieve..... I believe that in a tank size which you quote, (at the end of the day).... You'll use less power (as it switches off in any case when the target temp is reached) You will do better instilling a 300w heater (energy wise) than 2 x 200w heaters.... (just a gut feel, but there are tedious calculations to prove the alternative.

Energy wise you're still imputing the same amount of energy into the water to heat it. There is some added power requirements for the pair of heaters do to some innate inefficacies but its a negligible amount by any real measure.

Two smaller heaters instead of one large one make for a good back up. If one dies the other can help to keep the tank warm while you get a replacement. If one gets stuck in the on position the other will shut off and leave the lone heater to have to heat the tank up on its own slowing the process and lowering the maximum temperature it can attain.

Personally if I have to put anything larger than 150w in my tank I'd start looking at two heaters instead.

Oh, and visitherms are doing great for me, a stealth and a deluxe.