What size breaker

carlosngloria · #1 12/19/2007, 04:34 PM

What size breaker do you all use on your tanks? And what size tank do you have? Im going to be setting up this 210g and I want to run it to its own breaker. I know I need to install a gfi also. I cant get the gfi breaker for the pannel I have in my home. I have the ****ty zinsco breakers

nyvp · #2 12/19/2007, 04:55 PM

Depending on how far the tank is from your breaker box, I would go with #12 wire to a 20 amp breaker. for a 210 I would run 2 lines to be safe. I have 4 dedicated 20 amps on my 560/g which looking back is a lot. I wanted half my lights ( I have 4 400's watt lights ) on one circuit 2 on another and my pumps split on the other two. my thought process is I didn't want my pumps on the same circuit or my lights all on one circuit incase one pops. hope that helps.remember you only want to go to 80% of a breakers value so its not as much as it sounds.

Remember I'm not a electrician and you should contact a licenced electrician or engineer before doing anything.

asm481 · #3 12/19/2007, 05:09 PM

Two different circuits is definitely a good idea. GFCI's a must as you stated. Now, 2 15 amp circuits would be "Ok", with 2 20 amp circuits best. 14 ga. wire for 15 amp and 12 ga. for the 20 amp. As nyvp said I split my lights and pumps over both the circuits I run for my tank. Return pump on one circuit, close loop pumps on the other.

carlosngloria · #4 12/19/2007, 05:15 PM

thanks for the info