How Does Wattage On Heaters Work?

[Durbkat]

I was wondering how many watts for a heater is needed for each US gallon of water?

 

[BigC]

http/www.thatfishshop.com/reference/calculators.htm#volume
For all you fishkeeping needs.
Regards
BigC

 

[rdd1952]

General rule of thumb is 5 watts per gallon. Thus a 10 gallon tank needs at least a 50 watt heater. Same applies to filters. They need to be rated at least 5 times the tank volume so a 10 gallon tank needs a filter rated at least 50 gph.

 

[Durbkat]

So that explains why in my long 20g it is only 76 when it is set on 78 because I'm using a 50 watt in the tank because the lps said it would be fine. So would that mean I would actually need a 275 watt heater for my 55g because the 200 watt heater heats the whole tank to 78 easily?

 

[Durbkat]

http/www.thatfishshop.com/reference/calculators.htm#volume
For all you fishkeeping needs.
Regards
BigC

Is there a site like this to calculate it in inches since I don't know how longxtallxand wide it is in CM?

 

[The-Wolf]

General rule of thumb is 5 watts per gallon.

that is a general rule of thumb, but like all such rules it is not set in stone.
the wattage required all depends on the ambiant room temperature too
as this will aid the heating of the tank of indeed the cooling of it too.
There is a site that has a heat calculator on it [that takes into account the room temp](boondocks) but I can't find the link ATM