What size for a second heater?

[Barliman]

Hi all,

It gets fairly cold at night (Well, by Los Angeles standards...) and my apartment doesn't hold heat well, so the heaters on my tanks struggle to maintain temperature. I was thinking of going to Petco or Petsmart today to get a secondary heater for each tank, so the main one doesn't have to work so hard.

So, what wattage should I get? Same as the heaters already in the tank? Half-strength?

And, any experience with Aqueon heaters? That seems to be the main brand in both places.

Thanks!

 

[BBradbury]

Hi all,

It gets fairly cold at night (Well, by Los Angeles standards...) and my apartment doesn't hold heat well, so the heaters on my tanks struggle to maintain temperature. I was thinking of going to Petco or Petsmart today to get a secondary heater for each tank, so the main one doesn't have to work so hard.

So, what wattage should I get? Same as the heaters already in the tank? Half-strength?

And, any experience with Aqueon heaters? That seems to be the main brand in both places.

Thanks!

Bar...

Figure on 5 watts for every gallon of tank volume. The second heater can be the same size as the one you currently have. If the first heater goes out, you'll have a backup with the same wattage. Place the second heater on the opposite side of the tank from the first one.

B

 

[Barliman]

Bar...

Figure on 5 watts for every gallon of tank volume. The second heater can be the same size as the one you currently have. If the first heater goes out, you'll have a backup with the same wattage. Place the second heater on the opposite side of the tank from the first one.

B

That's what I thought. Thanks.