General Aquarium Talk

[Optimus.]

Thanks for that! It's a 4' x 18" x 20" I think, so according to the calculators I used online about 75 gallons (260ltrs or so).

So, hmm. 2 x 300w would be required to keep it at around 25c. Thanks for the information!

[japes]

Originally Posted by Optimus.

Thanks for that! It's a 4' x 18" x 20" I think, so according to the calculators I used online about 75 gallons (260ltrs or so).

So, hmm. 2 x 300w would be required to keep it at around 25c. Thanks for the information!

If you haven't purchased heaters yet, I'd go for 2x 200W (or even 2x 150's depending on where you are in the country and how cold your winters are). Having two heaters is a good thing in case the thermostat goes in one and it doesn't turn on - the problem is, if you've got double the heating you need and a thermostat gets stuck on, you've got some cooked fish.

[Optimus.]

Are the heaters usually on during the day only?

I'm in Adelaide so I guess I can count on not much use in the summer. And maybe the tank is big enough to help keep the tiled, open area warm during winter!

I've got a canister filter coming so would 2-drop in heaters be the best complement for it?

2 x these, for instance? http://thereefshop.com.au/index.php?...products_id=54 (first google result for 200w tank heater)

[japes]

Originally Posted by Optimus.

Are the heaters usually on during the day only?

I'm in Adelaide so I guess I can count on not much use in the summer. And maybe the tank is big enough to help keep the tiled, open area warm during winter!

I've got a canister filter coming so would 2-drop in heaters be the best complement for it?

2 x these, for instance? http://thereefshop.com.au/index.php?...products_id=54 (first google result for 200w tank heater)

Aqua One's are alright, but if the budget can fit it, I'd go for Eheim Jagers, or if you're running a 15mm hose canister, a single 300W Hydor Inline (http://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/c...hp?prodID=3236). I've used and loved the Hydors for a number of years, as well as the Jagers, but keeping clutter out of the tank with the inline is incredible, and it's also wonderfully efficient, and being out of water, hopefully more reliable (haven't read or heard about a single issue with the Hydors, although I'm sure they do occur).

Heaters run on thermostats and are plugged in 24/7, so whenever it's required - usually on/off during the night, and on/off even less during the day. They usually wont run flat out unless your heating is underpowered or it's a ridiculously cold night.

[Boo Baby]

Originally Posted by Optimus.

Thanks for that! It's a 4' x 18" x 20" I think, so according to the calculators I used online about 75 gallons (260ltrs or so).

So, hmm. 2 x 300w would be required to keep it at around 25c. Thanks for the information!

O_O over kill? I heat 600 gallons with 1 300W and 1000G system with 300W also. holds the temp at 26. I do heat the room also but you can easily get away with a 150W jager in a 4x18x20. just put it in front of the filter out take to push water around it.

[broccoli]

Optimus, as japes said you don't need 2 heaters but if you have 2 and one packs up, you've got the other to continue. I estimated 300W for your tank because it's a bit bigger than my 250 litre. I've had a single 200W in there and it's done the job fine. I've just added a second for redundancy. As I understand it, heaters can fail. Now that my original one has been doing its job for a while, I feel better knowing there's another in there if (when?) it finally packs up.

Having your tank might stop your room getting colder, but I doubt you'll feel any warmth from it. If you set it at 23/24 it won't be really warm, just not cold. My betta tanks are warmer - set to 26 and they feel warmish if you feel the glass, but they don't generate heat where you'd feel it without sticking your hand in their water.

[Daft_Munt]

Optimus my tank (300 litres) does take the cold edge off my flat and my heaters are rated at less than 150 watts (undergravel and heated cannister) which breaks the rule. Yes I have noticed a small increase in my power usage since I replaced a standard 3 foot but I doubled my filtration, water volume and lighting.

[spedwards]

Originally Posted by japes

Hydor Inline (http://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/c...hp?prodID=3236). ... (haven't read or heard about a single issue with the Hydors, although I'm sure they do occur).

I had two stop working for me, but they were both replaced without question by Age of Aquariums (top quality service, btw). I love having the heater out of the main tank.

[Optimus.]

Excellent, thanks for the advice all!

We have a few of the usual goldfish breeds that'll be the first inhabitants so I'm asking about heating now to see whether it's worthwhile moving straight to a tropical freshwater setup with the new tank.

We have a hefty solar system here so I'm not too worried about power usage now that I know the system regulates when it's on or off. Thanks for clarifying that. The room heating statement was a tad tounge in cheek - in any case I think the area will be too big to help (plus it'll be parked next to the open staircase).

Originally Posted by Boo Baby

just put it in front of the filter out take to push water around it.

Ta, just want to clarify this - are you talking about in-line filters? I thought they were meant to be spliced in to the outlet hose from the filter to warm the clean water going in to the tank... ?

On another note, has anyone seen or heard about automated water testing bits that you can connect to with bluetooth or wifi? I'd love to have my small home server picking up temperature alerts, nitrite and ammonia levels etc as an early warning system.

[broccoli]

Originally Posted by Optimus.

Ta, just want to clarify this - are you talking about in-line filters? I thought they were meant to be spliced in to the outlet hose from the filter to warm the clean water going in to the tank... ?

He's just talking about your normal heater that you stick on the inside wall of the tank.

Originally Posted by Optimus.

automated water testing bits that you can connect to with bluetooth or wifi?

I don't think they'd have those for testing ammonia or nitrite. You have to mix up reagents with the tank water in a test tube. They do have dip sticks, but they aren't as accurate as the liquid test kits. A warning system shouldn't be necessary. Nothing (other than a heater failure) "just happens", it's part of a process and you control the process (after you've got a cycled tank, that is) by not overstocking, not overfeeding, and regular water changes. You can get ammonia spikes, but it'll be because of something you do, like chucking in a whole heap of fish all at once, or leaving a dead fish in there or something.

[Geno]

Well the tank is about 36 hours old now, sold the G3 and recouped the cost of the whole setup.

I CAUGHT MY BRAIN CORALS EATING THIS MORNING!!!!!!! (I didnt buy corals for a cycling tank, just was lucky enough to score a bunch on some sexy live rock)

So excited! I got my first reading of ammonia yesterday so did a 15% waterchange, Klaus the clown didnt like it at first but was super active after 30mins.

Been logging pictures each day to monitor progress, of the hard corals that came with the live rock and they're getting more vibrant each day; the goal is to put in the hard yards to save corals/clown through the cycling process.

Will try and get some pictures up later today.

[tangcla]

I got a small tank for housing RCS, my aim is to have the shrimp outside unmanaged.

How well will they fare with no filtration?

[japes]

Originally Posted by tangcla

I got a small tank for housing RCS, my aim is to have the shrimp outside unmanaged.

How well will they fare with no filtration?

The no filtration will be fine, will be the temperature that gets them.

[tangcla]

Otherwise in the sump, but the pump will get them...

[Boo Baby]

Originally Posted by Optimus.

\

Ta, just want to clarify this - are you talking about in-line filters? I thought they were meant to be spliced in to the outlet hose from the filter to warm the clean water going in to the tank... ?

On another note, has anyone seen or heard about automated water testing bits that you can connect to with bluetooth or wifi? I'd love to have my small home server picking up temperature alerts, nitrite and ammonia levels etc as an early warning system.

yeah ben at AOA sells these systems. waste of money imo but what ever floats your boat lol.

a heater you stick onto the glass, I would attach it right next to the power head or w.e so you get a flow over your heater creating a equal temp faster without having to run 2 heaters.