tank heater

[tacks]

I am trying to set up my 90 gallon tank for discus I cant get my water to 85 I have a 3 watt heater which my lfs says is fine but it is not and that is the biggest they have any suggestions would be great thanks tacks

[AdelaideAnt]

So that is around 333 litres. You will have to go for 2x 200watt heaters, one at either end.

Anthony 8)

[luvfishies]

tacks, the "rule" is 5 watts of heater for every 1g. So in your 90g, you need about 450 watts.

In tanks that are over 3' long, I feel it's better to have 2 slightly undersized heaters at each end. That way, if one "sticks on", your fish don't boil, and if one fails "off" the temp drop is far more gradual.

I agree with AA....2 @ 200 watters is the way to go.

For Comparison: in my 55g (4' x 13") I have a 200 watt, and a 250 watt. Anything less and the tank doesn't stay stable at 86*F.

[Himbo]

Okay, this may be a dumb question, but I'm young and not used to the foot and inches measurements....

How do you work out the volume? How many feet square in a foot square? How many feet square in a gallon? What kind of gallons do people useually speak of - I know there are two.

I'm getting two tanks that are 2 feet by 16 inches by 20 inches - how many 200W heaters will I need?

Thanks

[flukes]

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/aq_calculator/index.php

a US gallon is 3.87 litres.

Anyway use that calculator too work out the volume.

[Mattzilla]

i have a 200 ltr tank with a 300 watt heater at each end...works for me.

[flukes]

300watt at each end? sounds like OVERKILL!! I think with heaters its better to have more then less!!

My 225ltrs i was thinking of having 2x200watt.

[Mattzilla]

yeah it probably is a bit of an over kill...but i was able to get 100, 200, or 300 watt for the same price, so i got the 300 incase i decide to use them on another tank, or if one breaks then the other one will do until i replace the broken one.

my tank temp only ever goes up or down by about +/- 0.2 degrees, so at least they keep a constant temp.

matt

[flukes]

well thats it, its better to have more than less