Heater Placement: In sump or tank, and why?

mapn4reef · 12/06/2009, 01:34 PM

Where do you place your heater (s), in the sump or in the tank, and why? Also, will a titanium (or any other) heater hurt an acrylic sump?

fishguy84 · 12/06/2009, 01:37 PM

I vote in the sump, so you don't take up room in the display and it can't be a potential eyesore. Heaters wont harm acrylic tanks or sumps.

arredondojason · 12/06/2009, 01:45 PM

I run mine in my sump as it is a 800W heater and it is pretty big. I just dont think it would look good in my 240G tank.

alphaferret · 12/06/2009, 01:45 PM

I have one in each area of my sump and refuge(which are seperate tanks)-always good to have 2 in case one fails.

Toddrtrex · 12/06/2009, 02:41 PM

I keep all of mine in the sump -- just so I don't have to look at it.

One thing to remember though, if your main pump fails, or is off, the tank won't be heated. So if a pump ever fails, and you don't have a back up, move the heater to the tank.

XtremeFromHell · 12/06/2009, 02:43 PM

mine is in my sump so that you cant see it in the display tank

joet3580 · 12/06/2009, 02:49 PM

in sump have a backup

Toadally · 12/06/2009, 10:56 PM

In tank w/backup! No sump!

Ramses66 · 12/06/2009, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arredondojason

I run mine in my sump as it is a 800W heater and it is pretty big. I just dont think it would look good in my 240G tank.

Where do you find a 800 watt heater??

bhammer · 12/07/2009, 12:07 AM

Two 5oow in my sump hooked up to my controller. Don't like the look in my tank and I like to accomplish as much maintenance in my sump as possible.

richardhmc · 12/07/2009, 12:08 AM

IN the sump so that you can hide it, takes less space in the display, looks better too

foodog · 12/07/2009, 12:23 AM

I'd do the sump, but beware. I do maintenance and one client came to me because his heater burnt through his acrylic sump. Didn't think it was possible.

kyrin01 · 12/07/2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphaferret

I have one in each area of my sump and refuge(which are seperate tanks)-always good to have 2 in case one fails.

Yep. Also not being able to see it in the DT is a huge plus.

MazdaSPD3 · 12/24/2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foodog

I'd do the sump, but beware. I do maintenance and one client came to me because his heater burnt through his acrylic sump. Didn't think it was possible.

Glad I read that....now to find a way to not burn through my sump.

gatordoc · 12/24/2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foodog

I'd do the sump, but beware. I do maintenance and one client came to me because his heater burnt through his acrylic sump. Didn't think it was possible.

How many watts was the heater and what was the size of the acrylic?

bhdmc · 12/24/2009, 12:38 PM

I run two in the sump. The second one is a back-up.

Akrite · 12/24/2009, 02:45 PM

I use 2 400watt heaters attached to the bottom if my sump with the suction cups that came with them so they don't affect my acrylic sump. Always have a backup heater.

ordy1 · 12/24/2009, 02:59 PM

One in the sumps first stage, the skimmer well, and one external, in a Lifeguard heater module. Both controlled by AC jr. Both turn on and off at same time.

chem-e · 12/24/2009, 03:47 PM

Definitely in the sump if you have one. They're an eye sore and hard to cover up when in the tank.

MAMGM · 12/24/2009, 04:20 PM

I run two in my sump. If the pump fails, then move it to the DT

FroMan · 12/24/2009, 07:18 PM

I run mine in the sump. If the power goes out your out of luck regardless.

phobos2deimos · 12/24/2009, 07:26 PM

Im not even sure why you would consider the DT if you run a sump.
I just got rid of my sump so I've got a 1000w and a 350w in the overflow compartment.

quickgray02 · 12/24/2009, 07:57 PM

I run one in the sump and that away it's not a eye sore in the tank.

dapettit · 12/24/2009, 09:01 PM

I run two in my sump. One for backup.

jdthomas24 · 12/24/2009, 11:25 PM

i run two 300 watt Rena Stealth heaters in my 150 gallon DT, i have two overflows boxes and have one in each of them so i dont have to see them, the larger units are harder to put in a sump if its not deep enough. there is a min depth they need to be in and my sump is acrylic and i dont want to take the chance of there being a hot spot on the side or bottom.

12/06/2009, 01:34 PM	#1
mapn4reef Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Goodlettsville, TN Posts: 662	Heater Placement: In sump or tank, and why? Where do you place your heater (s), in the sump or in the tank, and why? Also, will a titanium (or any other) heater hurt an acrylic sump?

12/06/2009, 01:45 PM	#4
alphaferret Pitcher Hill Reef Society Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Nor' Syracuse Posts: 2,824	I have one in each area of my sump and refuge(which are seperate tanks)-always good to have 2 in case one fails. __________________ "With what little time we have we must..." Current Tank Info: 46 bow w/20 gal sump/30 gal. fuge/Reef Octo 150/Seio m620/koralia 3/mag5/Nova extreme t5/Powerbrite actinic LED

12/06/2009, 02:41 PM	#5
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I keep all of mine in the sump -- just so I don't have to look at it. One thing to remember though, if your main pump fails, or is off, the tank won't be heated. So if a pump ever fails, and you don't have a back up, move the heater to the tank. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

12/06/2009, 10:56 PM	#8
Toadally Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Mount Holly, NC Posts: 986	In tank w/backup! No sump! __________________ _Michael "Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?" Reef Aquarium Society of Charlotte (RASOC) Treasurer Current Tank Info: 57gal. Illuminata, Bubble Magus Skimmer, Tek Elite 6x39w, 40gal. Breeder, 2x A150w Kessil LED

12/24/2009, 03:47 PM	#19
chem-e Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,350	Definitely in the sump if you have one. They're an eye sore and hard to cover up when in the tank. __________________ "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." ~ Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: Elos [~] 70 powered by Profilux

12/06/2009, 01:37 PM	#2
fishguy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Barrington, NJ Posts: 60	I vote in the sump, so you don't take up room in the display and it can't be a potential eyesore. Heaters wont harm acrylic tanks or sumps.

12/06/2009, 01:45 PM	#3
arredondojason Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 988	I run mine in my sump as it is a 800W heater and it is pretty big. I just dont think it would look good in my 240G tank.

12/06/2009, 02:43 PM	#6
XtremeFromHell Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Miami, FL (hialeah area) Posts: 735	mine is in my sump so that you cant see it in the display tank

12/06/2009, 02:49 PM	#7
joet3580 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 53	in sump have a backup

12/07/2009, 12:07 AM	#10
bhammer Addicted User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 743	Two 5oow in my sump hooked up to my controller. Don't like the look in my tank and I like to accomplish as much maintenance in my sump as possible.

12/07/2009, 12:08 AM	#11
richardhmc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 308	IN the sump so that you can hide it, takes less space in the display, looks better too

12/07/2009, 12:23 AM	#12
foodog Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Alhambra, CA Posts: 170	I'd do the sump, but beware. I do maintenance and one client came to me because his heater burnt through his acrylic sump. Didn't think it was possible.

12/24/2009, 12:38 PM	#16
bhdmc Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New York Posts: 956	I run two in the sump. The second one is a back-up.

12/24/2009, 02:45 PM	#17
Akrite Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 640	I use 2 400watt heaters attached to the bottom if my sump with the suction cups that came with them so they don't affect my acrylic sump. Always have a backup heater.

12/24/2009, 02:59 PM	#18
ordy1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: new jersey Posts: 425	One in the sumps first stage, the skimmer well, and one external, in a Lifeguard heater module. Both controlled by AC jr. Both turn on and off at same time.

12/24/2009, 04:20 PM	#20
MAMGM Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Shillington, Pa. Posts: 284	I run two in my sump. If the pump fails, then move it to the DT

12/24/2009, 07:18 PM	#21
FroMan Insane in the Brain Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vernon, CT Posts: 1,389	I run mine in the sump. If the power goes out your out of luck regardless.

12/24/2009, 07:26 PM	#22
phobos2deimos Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 351	Im not even sure why you would consider the DT if you run a sump. I just got rid of my sump so I've got a 1000w and a 350w in the overflow compartment.

12/24/2009, 07:57 PM	#23
quickgray02 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sherman, TX Posts: 89	I run one in the sump and that away it's not a eye sore in the tank.

12/24/2009, 09:01 PM	#24
dapettit Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 209	I run two in my sump. One for backup. __________________ Now that the kids are married and out of the house we decided to adopt a mini-reef. Kids are cheaper! Current Tank Info: 150 gal mixed reef tank

12/24/2009, 11:25 PM	#25
jdthomas24 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Rockwall, Texas Posts: 852	i run two 300 watt Rena Stealth heaters in my 150 gallon DT, i have two overflows boxes and have one in each of them so i dont have to see them, the larger units are harder to put in a sump if its not deep enough. there is a min depth they need to be in and my sump is acrylic and i dont want to take the chance of there being a hot spot on the side or bottom.