Heaters
 

How many heaters and what watt do i really need? I am planning a 500 gallon tank plus sump

Depends on where the tank will be located and what lights and other equipment you use. My tank is in the basement and the heaters never turn on, same goes for the summer. Tank is located near the air handler in the basement and I use MH lights and have a large UV sterilizer that help keep the tank at 80 degrees year round.

less is more as well... Never buy 1 heater that is big enough to cook your tank if it fails...

I have 2 in my 500+
JBJ titanium with controllers 800w ea.
Prob over kill but that way they dont work as hard. I see them on once in a while in the winter.

My tank volume is ~400-450 gallons and I've got 2 300watt Jager heaters. But I live in a temperate climate where it doesn't get very cold so they don't really have to do all that much.

“Only The Best” – you may want to look at a “shell and tube heater”. Because my house already uses hot water heat I added this as an addition “zone” in my house.