Heating A 90 Gallon Tank?

[jazz298]

What is the best way to heat a 90 gallon tank???

 

[5teady_2012]

1 x 300 watt heater?

 

[Dorkhedeos]

If you live in a warmer area, i would just go for 1 250w stealth. 2 200w heaters would work even better.

 

[jazz298]

If you live in a warmer area, i would just go for 1 250w stealth. 2 200w heaters would work even better.

Would I need to put one on either end, or does it really matter

 

[5teady_2012]

If you live in a warmer area, i would just go for 1 250w stealth. 2 200w heaters would work even better.

Would I need to put one on either end, or does it really matter

For the tank size you have, there is no point in 2 heaters, just 1 300watt heater bang smack in the middle on a slight angle will be fine..

There is no point in have 400watts running when only 300 is needed at a max.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

What kind of fish are you going to put into it?

 

[rodg98133]

i have a 90g and have 2 200w heaters. One at either end of the tank. This way if one was to fail the water would still be heated.

 

[5teady_2012]

i have a 90g and have 2 200w heaters. One at either end of the tank. This way if one was to fail the water would still be heated.

In that respect it is a good idea, providing you have enough sockets.

 

[CFC]

Generally it is recomended to have 1 watt per litre of water so with 90 US gallons converting to 340 litres of water a single 300w heater may struggle to keep the temperature stable during a cold spell. For tanks over 50 gallons it is usually recomended to have two lower wattage heaters rather than one high wattage heater. The reasons for this are that the heat is more evenly spread out around the tank by having heaters at both ends and that in the event of a heater failure, a VERY common occurence with bi-metalic strip thermostat heaters, you dont end up with boiled or chilled fish.

Two 200w or even a 200w and a 150w would be the best heating solution in this case, or the other choice is to use a 300w inline external heater attached to the hose of a external canister filter or a thermo filter such as some of the Eheim Pro 2 and 3 series, these have digital thermostats so do not stick on/off.

 

[jazz298]

What kind of fish are you going to put into it?

African Lake Malawi cichlids. Mbuna to be exact



Thank you CFC, that helps alot. Much appreciated!

 

[nukeonekitty]

I have a six foot mbuna tank with only one 300w and it works fine, but I do worry about the chance of a failure. As long as you see your tank in the morning and at night, you're going to know if the temp drops off.