30 Gallon Heater

Hi!
I need to get a different heater, because mine currently is at 78-79 degrees and non adjustable. I need to get it down to 75 degrees to help the life and health of the fish. What wattage and size would you recommend for a 30 gallon tank?

Also, if my temp. is at 78 degrees, and I put in another heater and set it to 75 degrees, would the water naturally get colder and be cold enough to drop down to 75 degrees?

Thanks!

 

You'd want a 150w heater.

No, it would not get colder because you still have the other heater set at 78

 

No, I'm saying if I took out the other heater completely, and put the new one in, would it cool off the three degrees?

Sorry for the confusion!

 

It would depend on the room temp. If it's not warmer than 75, it should stay at where you set the heater to.

 

I have a 100watt aquel in my 32g reef and that does the job, the ehiem jaegers are awesome cost effective heaters too I have a 300watt in my 120 that's spot on to.

 

Can I get a 200 watt, or would that be too much?

 

I have a 200 watt eheim jager in my 36 gallon. It really depends on what the temperature of the room is versus the temperature your trying to achieve in the tank.

I think my husband is a polar bear because my house is never above 70 degrees in winter or summer.

So trying to maintain a difference of a least 6 degrees sometimes more I opted for a larger heater.

 

Yes, it all depends on how climate controlled the room it's in is. A 100w heater will be plenty if the room is always 68+. If it gets much colder than that in the room during winter or nights then get a 150w or two 100w or a 100w and 50w even would work. Whatever is cheapest if you ask me!

 

The room temperature is around 80 in the summer, would it still be okay to add the 200 watt, or do I go with a smaller heater?

 

If the room temperature is 80 and you want the tank temperature lower a heater will not achieve that for you if I'm reading this correctly.

 

Well, do I even need a heater, then? My water temperature won't be 80 degrees if the room is, will it be?

 

The room temperature is around 80 in the summer, would it still be okay to add the 200 watt, or do I go with a smaller heater?

As Bettanewb said if the room is 80 then you'll need a lot of surface agitation with fans aiming at the surface to cool the tank. The other option is to get a aquarium chiller for hundreds of dollars...

Take a read at this if you prefer DIY: DIY - aquarium cooling fans

 

My house is set to 73 and my tank that dosen't have a heater is around that temp too, maybe a degree or two warmer because of the lights.

 

If I cool the room off to 75 degrees, would that lower the temperature?

I really don't want to have to do the fan thing, if I can.

 

If I cool the room off to 75 degrees, would that lower the temperature?

Possibly with enough surface movement and a different heater with a thermostat but generally my tanks are 2-3 degrees higher than the room temperature just from the lights and pump motor heat alone.

 

If I cool the room off to 75 degrees, would that lower the temperature?

I really don't want to have to do the fan thing, if I can.

Yes eventually.

 

Can I just unplug my heater and see what happens?

 

You can unplug the heater but the tank will not cool past the temperarure of the room unless you are actively trying to with fans and such

 

The water in your tank, if left alone with no heater, will slowly adjust to match the temperature of the air in the room. Light fixtures on the hood will warm it a little. LEDs usually not much, fluorescents a degree or 3, halogen lights or halides can heat a tank significantly. Fans can abate this somewhat. Coolers are a more expensive option.

As mentioned before, a 100 watt heater will be plenty to heat your tank 5-9 degrees F above room temperature. 150 watts will allow you to treat for ich. Any higher wattage will still work, you could kill hydras with it, but you run the risk of cooking your fish if the thermostat malfunctions. Which does happen sometimes. I run a 150w heater on my 60 gallon to heat from 72 to 78.5. The indicator light is on infrequently. Good luck! Sounds like you may not even need a heater, depending on how cool the room gets at night or in the winter.

 

Thanks! I will see without the heater what the temperature gets. The winter could possibly be a problem, I will have to wait and see!

 

UPDATE: I have been running a fan with my hood open since 4:00 this afternoon, and k unplugged the heater. The temperature has dropped from 80° to 78°ish. If I keep it going all night, and tomorrow, do you think it would drop down to 75°? And would that be dropping too fast for my fish?
Thanks!

 

No, that's not dropping too fast for your fish. They can deal with that.