Warmer weather tank questions

[Coralgurl]

How many heaters do you guys run in the summer in your tanks? Over the winter I had to add a second heater to my 55 and started the 180 with 2 in march. Now that it's getting warmer, my tank temp is hitting 81+, I've turned the heaters down to 77 but it's not helping during the day as the house gets quite warm. Dumb question but is it ok to remove one out of each tank? Just nervous it's too soon. I've noticed the evaporation has slowed down as well. Thanks

[Mike-fish]

shouldn't be a problem to do so. i keep mine in the tank year round but its also set pretty cool

[Slick Fork]

An extra heater won't make your tank any warmer, and removing one won't make it any cooler.

two heaters will just influence the maximum possible temperature and how fast it can get there. If they're both set to 77 and your tank hits 81 neither heater is doing any work. I'd leave them both in and not worry about it.

Also, no discussion of heaters would be complete without a warning to have them on a reliable temperature controller!

[Coralgurl]

Thanks, makes sense ^^^. No I don't have a controller, will look into one.

[Slick Fork]

I think the Ranco brand controllers are supposed to be pretty cost effective if all you want is temperature control.

In my experience, heaters ALWAYS stick to "on", they never fail in the "off" setting. So what I do is I have my controller set to keep the tank at something like 78 f and then set the temperatures on the individual heaters to something like 82f. That way, if the aquarium controller fails and leaves them on, the setting on the actual heaters should stop them from cooking the tank. Just adds a level of redundancy and safety to keep from having the cheapest piece of your setup destroy everything else.

[mark]

be amazed the amount of cooling a muffin fan blowing over your sump can give

[tim the toolman]

be amazed the amount of cooling a muffin fan blowing over your sump can give

+1 I have a small clip on fan and it keeps my tank a good degree or 2 cooler

[Cal_stir]

I run a $10 sump fan for cooling, keeps mine 3 degrees cooler.
I keep 4 100 watt heaters in my sump year round controlled with a Reefkeeper.

[Coralgurl]

I need to make a trip to the store, a fan and controller are in order. Tank temp today is lower but it's cooler outside. Adding equipment seems never ending...lol

I'm out of plug ins....ugh

[fishytime]

most of the better aquarium controllers come with a power bar......I just have a relatively inexpensive Aquacontroller Jr that controls my lights(for the time being) my refugium lights, my heaters and fan....a controller goes beyond just turning things off and on.....mine is set so that if the tank goes above 80 the heaters shut off and the fans come on.....if the tank gets any hotter then 82 the controller shuts the lights off.....

[Coralgurl]

Thanks For the info Doug! I'm just using regular power bars, each has 6 outlets and they are all full. I know I need to improve or better safeguard the tank.