What size heater for 46g!!

[InADream]

I am building a 46g bowfront, I will using my heater inside the sump... What size heater should I put, a small one since it is in the sump, or a properly sized one for the tank... What watt heater also?

Dream

[sjm817]

I use 3x total water volume and then split it in 1/2 and get two heaters. As and example, a 46G/20G sump = 66G x 3 = 198W. Split it in 1/2 = (2) 100 W heaters.

[InADream]

Would you put both of them in my sump or one in the tank and the other in the sump...

dream

[sjm817]

Both in sump. I dont like equipment visible in the display.

[InADream]

Then why couldnt I put just one 200 watt heater in the sump, Why do i have to split it into 2 heaters...

Dream

[sjm817]

For safety. If a heater fails it will fail one of two ways. Stuck on, or stuck off. If a single 200W heater stuck on, it would cook the tank quickly. If it failed off, you have no heat. If one of the 100W heaters fails on, it will not cook the tank as fast, giving you more time to notice the problem. If it fails off, you still have one working heater.

[InADream]

Sounds good Thanks sjm817

[Lubu]

But with 2 heaters, you are 2 times likely you'll see it fail...a stuck on 100w heater will still cook the tank pretty quickly.