Heating 400+ gallons

May I suggest simply putting 1200 watts of light on it just 8" from the surface /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/wink.gif (actually that might work the water would probably retain the heat pretty well over night in that much volume depending on surface area).

I would look at those won brothers 500 watt titanium heaters/controller, or the aquamedic titanium heaters. (I had a whole bunch of those aquamedic controllers go to crap on me after a year fyi, maybe they've worked out their problems with them, but the heating elements are still good, and really durable).

 

The only heater that seems to work well over a long period of time are the Ebo-Jager heaters. Oh wait, they are Eheim Jager heaters now. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif

How big is your sump? Any chance of putting a 400W MH on it to grow out frags or to light a fuge? You could use it to supplement a heater. If you are going to waste that many watts to heat your water, you might as well make it worth your while.

 

"won brothers 500 watt titanium heaters/controller"

I'll second the Won Bros Titanium heater. I used mine over 12 years and it's still working. It just doesn't fit in a Biocube or it would be in there.

 

We use a 1000 Watt Aquamedic Titanium heater and a Medusa dual controller for our 700 gallon system.  We keep the house temp at 68 during the winter and run 150W metal halides over the tank.  We have all external pumps except for a small Rio 1700 internal pump running the reactor.  We have had no issues with maintaining heat with this heater.

 

I love the via aqua titanium heaters they work great.

 

Just to fill people in since Gered isn't its over a freshwater pond! Also I suggested the Via Aqua heaters but they don't really go high enough the biggest one goes to like 100 gallons

 

Definately 3 or more seperate heaters...protect the failure of one. I, personally, would never use one on a 400 or even a 200. Equipment will fail...sooner or later. Heaters are a cheap investment compared to the rest.

 

Posted By IrishStock on 11/14/2010 09:58 PM
Definately 3 or more seperate heaters...protect the failure of one. I, personally, would never use one on a 400 or even a 200. Equipment will fail...sooner or later. Heaters are a cheap investment compared to the rest.
Yeah, I wouldn't suggest using only one either. Redundancy is key!!!! (of course that was OregonReef's motto too, and IDK how the hell that thing collapsed)
I would suggest using 2 500 watt heaters, even though the suggested algorithm is 3watts/gallon that really only applies to smaller aquariums smaller than 100 gallons. Going with 2 500's should give you an appreciable, but non-leathal dip in temperature if one heater does fail. If one of 3/+ smaller heaters goes out you probably won't notice within 2 or 3 days, or at all.

 

Gered, I've got two 400 Watt Radium heaters with DIY Lumenarc heat reflectors I'd sell you for $250! /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif

 

lmao, are they submersable? I wonder what happens if you submerse them! lol POPPPPPP!