What's the lowest water temp?

[cowboycove]

I turned on my heater for the first time since the tanks been up. Been on for 2 days but the cold weather is dropping my tank temp to 70. The heater hasn't done sh!t. (300watt). Maybe it's because my sump is in the garage and not insulated and I have 40' of exposed plumbing under my house. It's hoovering at 70 and goes up to 74-75 when the light goes on. I read a post saying lethal temp is 62. But anything below 70 sounds scary to me.

 

[BeanMachine]

Sounds like you need a couple more heaters. I wouldn't want my tank swinging 5 degrees per day. 2 to 3 I'd be more comfortable with.

But your right, I would first get some foam insulation for the sump. Also are you certain your heater is working? Do you have an apex?

 

[cowboycove]

Sounds like you need a couple more heaters. I wouldn't want my tank swinging 5 degrees per day. 2 to 3 I'd be more comfortable with.

But your right, I would first get some foam insulation for the sump. Also are you certain your heater is working? Do you have an apex?

No Apex. Heater light is on. Not sure if its working. I'll grab it later. Last time it was in it worked. I unplugged it and left it floating in there. I'll insulate the sump this weekend. I'll also order a 600 watt heater. This satellite sump cr@p is burning so much electricity.

 

[gumbii]

get a bigger heater,and build an inline housing for it... i just built one for the planted tank i'm building... since heaters look ugly, and i can use a canister the whole tank...


let me upload pictures...

 

[xmas_one]

That exposed plumbing is probably killing you. Slap some pipe insulation on it, it should make a big difference.

 

[cowboycove]

That exposed plumbing is probably killing you. Slap some pipe insulation on it, it should make a big difference.

I sprayed can foam on the outside pipes. But the rest is under my house. I really don't want to go down there. Lol. I'm scared.

get a bigger heater,and build an inline housing for it... i just built one for the planted tank i'm building... since heaters look ugly, and i can use a canister the whole tank...


let me upload pictures...

Picture please. I have no idea what inline is. Pscott recently posted something about coiling stuff with the hot water tank. Sounds like a good idea but my hot water tank isn't too close to my tank or sump.

 

[gumbii]

i was going to make a how to thread now that the cold is coming... anyways, this makes all of your water from your return pass though the heater... so it's more efficient, and can handle the temperature better...

parts list...

a 1/2" uniseal... got it at amazon... for fatter heaters like ebo jager, use a 3/4" uniseal...
1 1/2" to 1" reducer...
1" to 1/2" MPT reducer... 2 of these...
1" tee...
1" slipxslip connector...
about 2 feet of 1" thin wall PVC from home depot...
1/2" threaded to slip barb for the hoses, 2 of them...
and a heater...

here's how i cut everything and before i glued it...

with the dremil, i made the hole bigger in this reducer so the uniseal could fit...

tada...

here are other pictures that are self explanatory...

 

[Tangwich]

You didn't disclose "fly not included"

 

[gumbii]

You didn't disclose "fly not included"

it's for size reference...

 

[mark.a.smith405]

That exposed plumbing is probably killing you. Slap some pipe insulation on it, it should make a big difference.

I agree. The area under your house is getting really cold. Any attempt to heat in the sump is probably being lost in the 40' section of exposed piping. Insult that ish mang. Under my house sucks big time. I wear long sleeve and and pants. Tape the ends of them to make sure nothing gets in there. We've got big ol
spiders n **** down there. Good luck man. Also, adding a bigger heater is going to cost you a lot in energy. You are going to be spending a lot of money long term to not insulate the pipes.

 

[Fly5150]

You didn't disclose "fly not included"

It's his buddy...he can't kill him.


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[Fly5150]

Why is the sump in your garage?


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[BeanMachine]

No Apex. Heater light is on. Not sure if its working. I'll grab it later. Last time it was in it worked. I unplugged it and left it floating in there. I'll insulate the sump this weekend. I'll also order a 600 watt heater. This satellite sump cr@p is burning so much electricity.

Heaters are notoriously not accurate as far as the on board temp control. It may not be turning on at the proper temp. You are asking for an issue not having your heaters on a controller.

If that big boy heater of yours gets stuck on... say hello to fish soup. Yum.

 

[solitude127]

i was going to make a how to thread now that the cold is coming... anyways, this makes all of your water from your return pass though the heater... so it's more efficient, and can handle the temperature better...

parts list...

a 1/2" uniseal... got it at amazon... for fatter heaters like ebo jager, use a 3/4" uniseal...
1 1/2" to 1" reducer...
1" to 1/2" MPT reducer... 2 of these...
1" tee...
1" slipxslip connector...
about 2 feet of 1" thin wall PVC from home depot...
1/2" threaded to slip barb for the hoses, 2 of them...
and a heater...

here's how i cut everything and before i glued it...

Do you not worry about the uniseal heating getting melted by the heater?

 

[cowboycove]

I almost have no room to mess with plumbing. Can I jam my heater in the drain or maybe at the output ? How many watts and is titanium any better or more efficient?

 

[cowboycove]

Why is the sump in your garage?


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I have a midget stand. No room for much down there. So I was trying to be fancy when I set it up and sent it to the garage. The return alone is adding 40$ a month. I'm ready to give up on this b!tch.

And about the bigger heater. I heard the bigger the better since it doesn't take as long to heat it. So it turns on and off vs staying on all day?

And I have a temp controller . should I hook it up to that? I know my heater is way off. I also have an old school ac Jr but don't want to try and figure that sh!t out.

 

[innerspark]

i was going to make a how to thread now that the cold is coming... anyways, this makes all of your water from your return pass though the heater... so it's more efficient, and can handle the temperature better...

parts list...

a 1/2" uniseal... got it at amazon... for fatter heaters like ebo jager, use a 3/4" uniseal...
1 1/2" to 1" reducer...
1" to 1/2" MPT reducer... 2 of these...
1" tee...
1" slipxslip connector...
about 2 feet of 1" thin wall PVC from home depot...
1/2" threaded to slip barb for the hoses, 2 of them...
and a heater...

here's how i cut everything and before i glued it...

with the dremil, i made the hole bigger in this reducer so the uniseal could fit...

tada...

here are other pictures that are self explanatory...

Pic's of this installed on the system? It's a great idea and I may have to do this on my new tank I am getting in a few weeks.

 

[gumbii]

Pic's of this installed on the system? It's a great idea and I may have to do this on my new tank I am getting in a few weeks.

System is not built yet... But i will use them in line with a fluval canister...

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[gumbii]

Do you not worry about the uniseal heating getting melted by the heater?

Why...? The water will cool it down... Plus, look at the water level line.. M is below the unseal...

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[solitude127]

Why...? The water will cool it down... Plus, look at the water level line.. M is below the unseal...

Sent from my LG G4 Note using Tapatalk

Oh ok. Thx