One or two heaters

[RichV]

I'm setting up a new tank and trying to decide on heaters. Is it better to have two heaters in case one fails and if that's the case, should each one be large enough to heat the tank?

Thanks,

Rich

 

[mfinn]

I think heaters are the weak point in all the equipment we use on our tanks.
So any improvement we try to do with them hopefully will pay off in the long run.
On a tank bigger than 65-75 gallons I would definitely use 2 heaters and I would use a heaters that had a controller.

 

[Blue Lip]

When a heater fails, it usually sticks on & cooks the tank. I only have a 300 watt heater on a 240 gallon tank with a 100 gallon sump. It does just fine. Room temperature & heat from pumps & lights make a big difference on the size of heater required. A heater controller will prevent a stuck heater from cooking your tank.

 

[mfinn]

I have had heaters just stop working in the past so it can go both ways.
A controller does help.

 

[Blue Lip]

It does go both ways. I have also had glass heaters suddenly break & cause stray current in my tank.

 

[1guydude]

I took a fluval heater once and broke it cuz it was on in the tank and I stuck it in coldwater.
Doih lol. It cracked all the way up and in a cpl pieces.

I'm running one heater but they r 500w finnex heaters with dial controller boxes. Highly recommend em fwiw.
D

 

[RichV]

I have an apex aquacontroller to protect me from cooking the tank. It sounds like two heaters isn't a bad idea. At least if one goes down, the tank will probably just run cooler and then hopefully I catch it before it's too late.

 

[seattlereef]

If you run two heaters in different power boxes you should see a different power graph is one goes for extra backup

 

[Fishsticks86]

I had two. It kept my temperature very stable. I just took out the smaller one and now it fluctuates over 4 degrees :/

 

[rainydave]

I have two in my 58g. One in the sump, one in the overflow. I control both of them with my RKL.

 

[pyton]

i used to always run two heater, every time I ran one it would fail. When I ran two never failed.