Heater Effectiveness And Inside Temperature

[tttnjfttt]

I have always had trouble with my old heater (200 watt) heating my 40 gal tank, despite it being the recomended wattage for the tank size. So yesterday when i was in the LFS to pick up meds for a sick fish, i decided to fork over the cash for a new one. The guy i spoke with seemed very knowlegable, and gave me a brand that he recomended (don't ask, i don't remember). So i remove both my old heaters (200 watt and a 100 watt) and put in the new one. This morning i notice it seems to be having trouble keeping the water warm. I set the temp to 78 degreese, and it was barely at 72. I turned the thermomiter up all the way, and after 12 hours, it is still only 76 in the tank.

I began thinking does the room temperature affect how well a heater can work? The reason i am wondering this is because i keep my house pretty cold to save energy, at 60, so it is working harder than it would if i kept my house at say 70. But should it make that much of a difference?

 

[InaneCathode]

The bigger tank you have the bigger the surface area all around heat can be lost through. The only solution i can think of is to buy a very oversized heater for your tank. Especially if your house is that cold.
And yes, it does make that big of a difference your case being an example!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yeah it can make a difference, we don't have central heating so only have heating on when we're in the house so it gets pretty chilly, we tend to find on the bigger tanks we need more than 1 heater.

 

[Rhiannon]

It makes a difference yes, especially during a heat wave with like what I am going through at the moment.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

It makes a difference yes, especially during a heat wave with like what I am going through at the moment.

thanks for that!!

i'm in a really old draughty building, winds outside of 40mph and it's slinging it down.

heat wave ???

 

[Underwurlde]

Mount it at 45° like / half way up the tank wall, in a fast flowing region of the water.

If it still does not work, add two one either side of the tank.

Andy

 

[tttnjfttt]

Thanks for the replies everyone. i'm glad to hear that it isn't just my heaters that do this.

~nicole