heater size?

[tazzy695]

I was taught the opposite of this...

I set the controller to the desired temp range and set the heater thermostat just slightly higher. This saves cycles on the heater thermostat (the part most likely to fail) and allows the controller (which is generally far more accurate and reliable) managing the temp. I also stagger the the on temps by 0.5 degree so I can easily see the on/off cycles of each heater when viewing a temp chart through the Apex.

I forget about the higher end controllers that do everything and are far more accurate and I can see your point I was thinking more along the line of the cheaper plug in temp controller instead of like the acjr being used as a fail safe switch and hence the reason I think of it being the other way around

[greenstarfish03]

I agree w/ Rmalone. the ebo jager are good heaters. I have had 2 of the 250s for 6 years w/o a single issue w/ either. I recently moved up to a bigger tank and needed a bigger heater so I grabed a 400W Hydor at the local fish store. That sucked b/c I went down to the sump tonight and got shocked. Come to find out after less then 6 months the Hydor had broken and was electricuting my sump. Everything seems fine b/c I caught it fairly quick but that heater was a waste of money.

[greenstarfish03]

You have a super walmart heater I run 3 heaters in my tank and I had to add the 3rd b/c the 2 -250W heaters wouldn't keep my water temp stable. If I loose a heater my temp starts droping. Granted I have close to 200G of total water, and my house thermostat is set to 65 at night.

I dont get why u guys all think 150w-250w heaters are required or even small for anything under a couple hundred gallons and say to use 2.....and then wonder why it only takes a few hrs to cook your tank if they stick in the on possition!

I used a 50w WALMART "POS" heater I paid like 10bucks for and it took my cold water straight from the outside faucet (when we filled my 180g)... and by the time I woke up (roughly 4-5hrs later) it was 78 degrees on the money (from being in the low 50s), and shut off safely... it was the same heater I used for my 20g, and 75g, which was about a year old. Got a friend using it in a tub curing rock right now, and plan to use it on the 180 again here soon.... yup I have/will be running a single 50w heater on my 180g