Heaters in the overflow area!!!!!!!!

[lluv24]

Hello I put my heater in the overflow area and it's seems to be working ok I just didn't have the space in the sump and I didn't want it in the main display. What do u guys think ?

[Waddleboy]

it works fine until you shut off your pump and your overflow drains. So two things can happen. If your heater doesnt shut off it runs dry and destroys it. If its glass it cools too quickly if the water goes back on and then shatters. It can be done just risky

[mc-cro]

exactly what he said!!!!!!!

[lluv24]

Well I have my over flow pipe the same length as the heater so if the pump goes off the heater is still in the water completely. U think this is ok?

[f3honda4me]

And if your return pump fails you have nothing heating your tank.

[djatl]

Does it work if you have a Durso stand pipe, and the water level in the overflow never drops significantly? This seems like a good way to free up some room in my sump.

[spankdog]

I was thinking of doing the same thing, my overflow stays about 20" deep when the pumps are shut off.

[djatl]

And if your return pump fails you have nothing heating your tank.

No different than if the heater is in the sump, though.

[lluv24]

Yea that's what I got durso stand pipe and it's the same length as my heater so if the pump goes off the heater will still be completely in water and will not brake. It works for me

[f3honda4me]

No different than if the heater is in the sump, though.

That's why I have one in the DT and one in the sump. Heaters fail, and this way I won't lose hundreds or thousands in livestock because I didn't spend an extra $40 on a second heater. Or if my return pump fails both DT and sump stay at temp.

[PistolShrmp]

Well I have my over flow pipe the same length as the heater so if the pump goes off the heater is still in the water completely. U think this is ok?

Typically overflows do not have much current flowing through the bottom. You could end up cooking the water at the lower portion and inefficiently heat the top portion of the overflow.

Heaters tend to be in the sump because there is a larger amount of water flowing over them..

[lluv24]

I'm sure someone has done this with succes. Idk. Maybe I should move it back into the main tank ?

[strange33w]

I did this in a 120 for about a year and had no issues. I actually got a lot of those pineapple sponges growing in the overflow after I did it. I had to overflows so I put 1 heater in each.

[tebstan]

Tagging along to see how many other people do this, and with what results.

I have my heater in the overflow. Unfortunately, we have 80 degree days in the middle of winter, so it was a waste of money and hasn't clicked on but once or twice in the last two years.

[Mr. Demeanor]

Mine has been in the overflow for 5 years.

[tebstan]

Mine has been in the overflow for 5 years.

...but does it ever come on?

If you live in a cold climate, the placement of the heater matters a lot. If you live in a sweltering pit like myself, you could have a tank that stays warm with the pumps and power heads alone.

[pr12]

I've had mine in there for a year now, no problems, loads of pineapple sponges growing all over it.

[NatureNerd]

I have had my heater in the overflow for the last 16 years. No problems at all. I like to be able to easily look at it, and the overflow makes it simple. Even with all pumps off it will still be submerged. My tank stays within 1 degree of its setpoint even when my home goes below 60 degrees in the winter when no one is home.

[Meslo]

I would think the heat would radiate through the overflow and into the the tank. You might have to set it at 80 deg to keep the tank at 78.

[ezerasurfr]

Mine is in my overflow as well. It is ceramic, and I have a standpipe so it is never above the water line. I use T5 and LED lighting, my tank is constantly at 80. Temperature is always consistent.

[TexanReef]

I have heaters in both my sump and overflow. When making water for water changes, the heater in the overflow is easy to pull and put in my mixing bucket.

Works fine.

[MHG]

I have one in the overflow and one in the sump. Both turn on and off. No issues. You do need to make sure your overflow is not leaking "into" your drain pipe. If it is and the return fails the overflow will slowly leak into the sump and you will have a dry heater...

I have that problem on my emergency overflow and I need to fix it before it becomes an issue.

[lluv24]

Ok got it