Pond Boss Forums AERATION Systems questions Submersible Heater, Anyone???

I have 4, 30 gallon tanks that I'm raising tilapia in. I have the temp at 80, but want to get it up to 86. It is a recycling system with a 100 gallom reservoir. I want to put the heater in the reservoir. Do any of the experts out there have a suggestion?

Thanks

I can easily heat 65 degree water to 73 degrees F in a 100 gallon tank (at an ambient room temperature of 70 degrees) in about 16 hours using one 300 watt heater.

A larger aquarium heater on the order of 600-750 watts (or smaller ones totaling that power) should be able to maintain mid-80's temperatures in a recirculating system, if the ambient air temp around the tanks is 70 deg F.

Actual temps in the 30 gallon tanks will be slightly lower since they are farther away from the source of heat; if the water recirculates fast, it may not be noticeably cooler in the small tanks.

Thanks for the info Theo. I can keep the ambient air temp around 80 deg F, thats how I'm heating the water now. Are there any heaters that you preffer over another?

and if that doesn't do it, get a 1000 watt,110 volt electric hot water heater element from home depot for about 14 bucks. Just tie it into a heavy duty extension cord. I also use a simple timer. run it about 2 hrs. a day for a 150 gall. tank

I don't have any selection info; I'm just using a couple of heaters obtained from a fish-raising dentist who had some extras that were originally given to him. So I'm twice removed from actually shopping for them.

I'd use any large submersible aquarium heater with a bult in thermostat. Howard's timer idea would also let you uise heaters that didn't have built in controls. I think you'd have to tweak things to get get the temp range you want either way, although the timer method should have larger temp variation over the course of 24 hours.

How about the floating stock watering tank de-icers? I've used them but have no idea how effective they would be in a 300 gallon indoor tank.

IME watering trough de-icers are factory preset to heat to about 40 deg F. Plus, the floating ones (without a safety cage, anyway) are a huge No-No in a plastic trough.

I think I'll give the hot water heating element a shot.

Thanks guys.