How many Watts per gallon?

[Fishyfanatic]

I'm sure this has been discussed before. I tried searching for the answer but came up with over 1,000 results and it was impossible to go through all of them. Anyways. In regards to heaters, what is the ratio between Watts and Gallons of water? I just want to make sure I have adequate heating in the 150 gal tank.

 

[bzbee]

It depends on how big a delta your ambient temperature is from your target temperature. In the middle of a Chicago winter, you'll probably need a higher rated heater than a similar setup in Florida.

Heater Size Guide
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/tipsandtables/l/blheatersize.htm

 

[Fishyfanatic]

We keep it at about 74 in the house. The desired temp, about 76.

 

[Fishyfanatic]

So based on that chart, three 300 Watt heaters is plenty for the tank then. Right?

 

[An t-iasg]

Yes, that looks like more than enough. The heaters are keeping the water steady at 87 degrees or so for your ich treatment, right?

Larger bodies of water hold heat better than a small one. So as you increase in tank size, especially for your large tank, the 5 watt per gallon rule doesn't hold exactly true anymore. What brand of heaters do you have? I have seen slightly different charts on different brand's websites.

 

[Fishyfanatic]

The temp isn't at 87 yet. We are gradually increasing the temp. By tomorrow it should be at 87. Aquarium Systems heaters.

 

[thatonegirl]

I believe the rule of thumb is 3-5 watts per gallon.