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tacks
Sat Mar 27, 2004, 11:40 AM
I am trying to set up my 90 gallon tank for discus I cant get my water to 85 I have a 3 watt heater which my lfs says is fine but it is not and that is the biggest they have any suggestions would be great thanks tacks

AdelaideAnt
Sat Mar 27, 2004, 12:09 PM
So that is around 333 litres. You will have to go for 2x 200watt heaters, one at either end.

Anthony 8)

luvfishies
Sat Mar 27, 2004, 10:28 PM
tacks, the "rule" is 5 watts of heater for every 1g. So in your 90g, you need about 450 watts.

In tanks that are over 3' long, I feel it's better to have 2 slightly undersized heaters at each end. That way, if one "sticks on", your fish don't boil, and if one fails "off" the temp drop is far more gradual.

I agree with AA....2 @ 200 watters is the way to go.

For Comparison: in my 55g (4' x 13") I have a 200 watt, and a 250 watt. Anything less and the tank doesn't stay stable at 86*F.

Himbo
Sun Apr 11, 2004, 08:26 AM
Okay, this may be a dumb question, but I'm young and not used to the foot and inches measurements....

How do you work out the volume? How many feet square in a foot square? How many feet square in a gallon? What kind of gallons do people useually speak of - I know there are two.

I'm getting two tanks that are 2 feet by 16 inches by 20 inches - how many 200W heaters will I need?

Thanks

flukes
Sun Apr 11, 2004, 09:17 AM
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/aq_calculator/index.php

a US gallon is 3.87 litres.

Anyway use that calculator too work out the volume.

Mattzilla
Mon Apr 12, 2004, 09:33 AM
i have a 200 ltr tank with a 300 watt heater at each end...works for me.

flukes
Mon Apr 12, 2004, 10:42 AM
300watt at each end? sounds like OVERKILL!! I think with heaters its better to have more then less!!

My 225ltrs i was thinking of having 2x200watt.

Mattzilla
Mon Apr 12, 2004, 11:42 AM
yeah it probably is a bit of an over kill...but i was able to get 100, 200, or 300 watt for the same price, so i got the 300 incase i decide to use them on another tank, or if one breaks then the other one will do until i replace the broken one.

my tank temp only ever goes up or down by about +/- 0.2 degrees, so at least they keep a constant temp.

matt

flukes
Mon Apr 12, 2004, 12:49 PM
well thats it, its better to have more than less