Heating a big tank

[1234]

I am currently desiging a total system of 450 gals, how would one heat the water? Some mentioned a fireplug? What is that?

[z28pwr]

Here's a thread that discusses this.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=256933

[1234]

Thanks for the link- but who carries the fire plug?

[RicksReefs]

your pumps & lights will heat the water quite nicely,
your more likely to need a chiller. :)

[Mojoreef]

I use the bayonet style drop in. Its 1800 wattsand works well on a 1000 gallons.

Mike

[NRA4EVR]

I got my fireplug from jemery at Premium Aquatics.

[NRA4EVR]

RicksReef is correct, I have never had to use my fireplug, temp stays around 75/76 throughout the night, when my lights come on it raises the temp about 2 degrees over the course of sunrise/sunset

[slc]

Our 310 gallon system is heated solely in the sump (150g stock tank) in our basement. We made a box out of light diffuser grid about 18"Lx12"Wx12"H and attached 6 titanium heaters with plastic ties. One on each shorter side and two across the longer sides. We also have two back up 500w heaters to take up any slack. The water from the main tank falls onto the top of the box and gets dispersed through all four sides and gets heated very evenly. The MH lights and the pump also help to heat the water. We have very even temperatures even though there are no heaters of any kind in the main tank. In the summer we turn down the heaters in the sump slightly and the basement keeps the water from overheating. No chiller needed

[1234]

Thanks everyone for your input. Our tank will be in the garage :( as that wall is the only wall we have for an inwall tank. And being in the Pacific NW , gets a little chilly this time of year. It's a one car ajoining to another garage- like a condo.

[uryy4me]

You may be better off focusing on insulating the sump?