What size heater for a 400gallon

[charliethetuna88]

Lokking to order a heater for a 400 gallon system what size would I need

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

since in basement I went with (4) 300-400watt heaters since I have no heat down there,
400 gals is alot so double the heat you have now

 

[LongIslandAndy]

Hi Charlie

I am probably old school but I love Eheim Ebo Jager heaters. I have never had one fail. I would probably go with 5 or 6 300w"s . I would rather add extra heaters than have a few that are always on full blast

 

[allenjj]

Heaters

My new system has 400 gallons total with 180 in display and 220 in basement sump and refugium. I added a 300 watt heater at a time until i could maintain the correct temp, then added a 150 watt heater for refugium. In total I now have 5 - 300 watt heaters (and one 150) which are individually controlled and as a backup, controlled by the temp sensors on my apex controller. Even on very cold nights I now have less than 2 degrees variance in temperature. Hope that helps.

 

[pecan2phat]

I use two 500w titanium heating tubes for about 300g total volume where the sump is in the basement. This has worked well for me in the past 5 years so for 400g, I would add a third 500w tube to bring the total to at least 1500w or better. Depending how cold your basement gets, you might need to go up to 2000w of heat.

 

[charliethetuna88]

Thanks guys the basement is going to be insulated and fully finished when the tank set up will also have heat and central air right now I have 600 watts on my 250 total watrt volume system so I def will need at least 1 more may be ill go with a 500

 

[Dace]

dont go with a single heater since things do happen, u willl want a backup in the system
GL with what ever u go with

+1. I had 4 heaters in mine. 2x 500 watt titanium and 2x 300watt ebojager.
on a ranco dual stage controller

 

[ClownAquatics]

I would see what the recommended heating wattage that is needed and start with that. Then someone said earlier, if you need more then add more.

I also agree with what others here have said. Whatever total wattage you need, split that in half and buy 2 sets of heaters to cover the total amount.

So if you need 600 total watts, then get 2 300w.

Best option to have a little security. So if one heater breaks and stops working at least you have the other to heat. And if one has the controller break and stays on, it is only half the power, and hopefully you will catch it before it boils your fish

 

[Dace]

I always recommend some type of redundancy on the heating system to a tank. I have a ranco controller which is plugged into my Apex in case the ranco gives out which i've never heard of one going bad get getting stuck on.

 

[20gallonreefer]

I use an 800 watt titanium heater on my 450. The thing is, with a tank that size you are going to be getting so much heat from pumps and other things that the heater never even turn on. I was surprised the other day when my chiller kicked in, in the middle of the winter.

 

[Dace]

I use an 800 watt titanium heater on my 450. The thing is, with a tank that size you are going to be getting so much heat from pumps and other things that the heater never even turn on. I was surprised the other day when my chiller kicked in, in the middle of the winter.

Hmmmm. I wonder what kind of pumps your using. I had a hammerhead and a dart and they could not raise my water temperature where my chiller would come on in the winter ever. I would think the heating in your house or apartment had more to do with that.

 

[sunny]

Indeed, it is weird about the chiller in winters. I would go with multiple heaters just for redundancy. I have a 600G volume and I use 5, 300w Ehiem Jagers.

I have 250G in the basement and it is cold down there. The heaters do a good job to keep my tank at 78 degree.

 

[allenjj]

Heat Stability.

Im happy to say, in viewing the new Apex graphs that the heaters in my tank are now maintaining temp at 1/2 degree variance per day. Its really cool to see a weekly graph and that my parameters are stable. I probably have more heaters than actually needed, but do like the redundancy in the event one fails. Redundant controls with the apex hopefully protect the tank from a heater sticking on. I have a hammerhead gold pump, 4 tunze and 2 pumps on octopus protein skimmer and they dont seem to generate enough heat to make any difference in 400 gallons of water.

 

[dynamictank]

Y not use something like a peltech heater n chiller

 

[ClosetFishGeek]

I use 3- 300 watt Ebo J's http://www.marineandreef.com/Eheim_Aquarium_Heater_300_Watt_p/rhm36159.htm
for my 500. They are all plugged in to my apex as well. This has worked perfect to keep my temp at a steady 78 for years. The tank and sump are located in a room that stays at 74-76 all year round.

 

[ClownAquatics]

On my personal tank I use 2 x 250 watt eheim jager heaters, tank is a 180 gallon w/ 75g sump.

 

[charliethetuna88]

Cool thanks guys I picked up daces 500 watt heatrrs and rancho controller I will also us it threw my reef keeper .as a precaution

 

[bigsink]

LIPA is going to love you!

 

[duke62]

lipa is going to love you!

i told him that lol

 

[charliethetuna88]

U should know john lol ur in the same boat