Upgrading tank, Heating?

[on4now4]

Hello,

I have been running a successful aquaponics setup for a few months now out of a 20 gallon tank. Just some guppies and goldfish. Now although I got into this because I was interested in growing plants (Basil, Oregano, Mint, etc.) It has really elevated my interest in fish. I know its just a couple gold fish but I love watching them swim around haha. So now I am looking at a bigger tank. Something around 200 gallon.

Now my question right now is in regards to heating a tank so large. I want to do a freshwater tropical fish tank. Will need to be kept in the range of 75-80F. But how big of a heater will I need? I have run it through a number of calculators on the internet and received vastly different answers. Ranging from 300 watt to 6000 watt. My ambient room temp where I will be keeping the tank is around 55F.

Any advice would be appreciated. If I need a 6000 watt heater I do not believe that this will work because I just cant justify the heating bill.

 

[ericwithac]

Hello,

I have been running a successful aquaponics setup for a few months now out of a 20 gallon tank. Just some guppies and goldfish. Now although I got into this because I was interested in growing plants (Basil, Oregano, Mint, etc.) It has really elevated my interest in fish. I know its just a couple gold fish but I love watching them swim around haha. So now I am looking at a bigger tank. Something around 200 gallon.

Now my question right now is in regards to heating a tank so large. I want to do a freshwater tropical fish tank. Will need to be kept in the range of 75-80F. But how big of a heater will I need? I have run it through a number of calculators on the internet and received vastly different answers. Ranging from 300 watt to 6000 watt. My ambient room temp where I will be keeping the tank is around 55F.

Any advice would be appreciated. If I need a 6000 watt heater I do not believe that this will work because I just cant justify the heating bill.

I have a 55g tank and I have the Fluval 200L. So with some basic math, 200/55 is roughly 4 and 4x200 is 800. I would guess that a 800w heater would suffice.

 

[Rpeinhardt]

3 to 5 watts per gallon is a pretty common rule of thumb but it depends on where you live.

A home in Southern California or Arizona will be closer to 3. A home in upstate New York or Michigan with super cold winters will want 5 or more easily.

 

[on4now4]

3 to 5 watts per gallon is a pretty common rule of thumb but it depends on where you live.

A home in Southern California or Arizona will be closer to 3. A home in upstate New York or Michigan with super cold winters will want 5 or more easily.

Yes, Exactly. I live in Michigan. It is currently below 0 outside. and my inside temp is low often down to the 50's