Heater setup question

Yes, but what if your return pump failed? for this reason you would want them in the same body of water

 

If you loose power your heater isnt going to work anyways. i would put the probe in the DT or if you have a big enough sump you can put it in there, but not in the same chamber as the heater. I would not worry about "cooking" your sump. wouldnt it be worse to cook your DT if you had the heater in the DT and the probe in the sump? I put both in the DT. My heater is hidden in the overflow chamber, and my probe is in the opposite corner. I have the same heater as you only the 500w version.

 

Again, if your return pump were to die (not due to power outtage) the heater would run in the sump and potentially kill off a refugium...not a good set up - they should be in the same body of water.

Btw, all it takes is one curious little snail to stop or completely break an impeller and *poof* no circulation.

 

man, no love If it's any consolation, I knew what you meant ;D

 

I don't think I agree with this. If you cook your sump and the macro algae dies off that is going to release a lot of toxins quickly and could nuke you display. Macro algae may still be more sensitive to heat too, as they still are collected from cooler waters, such as the GOM. So, they may be less temperature tolerant than corals actually. Also, in the last several years, there has been a number of studies showing you can "pre-bleach" or acclimate corals, to de-sensitize them to large temp increases, but I am not aware of any evidence suggesting you can do the same for macro algae. So, it's possible that you sump may actually be more sensitive.

So, not much better. I think the safest bet is a is a heater in both the display and sump. Also, controllers can be good, with their own probe and relay to over-ride the heaters probe.

 

My sump is a wet dry and to fit the heater I had to remove the baffle ( it did not actually do anything anyway)
If I pit the probe in the sump it would be in the same chamber.
I am really trying to avoid having the heater in the DT.

 

Keep them as far away from one another as possible and go for it. I understand the "not in the DT" position as I have the same opinion. Good luck with the set up !

 

Do you have a built in overflow? heaters can go in there, then you get the benifits of having it in the DT(kinda) without the ugliness.

 

I have never done that before – but I suspect that the water in our overflows does not turn over 100% all the time, thus I would fear the DT might run cool if the overflow retains the warmed water – just a thought based on NO experience on my part.

 

Assuming a traditional design, where the standpipe is at the top of the overflow, I'd think it would work due to convection currents. The heater will heat water, which should remain on top and then go through the overflow and the cooler water should settle to the bottom until it get heated and rises. Would be an interesting test though, can't speak for sure about the efficiency.