Aw, nuts!

[doug z]

I've recently become convinced to go 70g, rather than 55g..

Problem..

I ordered only a 150W Visitherm Stealth heater (good up to 40g), and only a Tetra Whisper 60 air pump (good up to 60 gallons)..

Damn..

Return them?

Or will I be ok, with the water displacement of the substrate, driftwood, etc. and the 25-50W Hydor substrate heater, set at 78F?

[doug z]

whoops.. Forgot to subscribe!

[Tolley]

two heaters can always be better than one so two 150's or 150 and 100 or whatever

but that filter wont be much use unless you could set up a quaratine and use it in tht.

[jbeining75]

What type of fish? My 55 gallon is using a 250w stealth. Usually rule of thumb around 4 watts per gallon. You have that substrate heater though. Depends on alot of things to the difference in tank and room temperature is huge. My 55 gallon runs a 250 watt its downstairs and the house stays around 68 through winter. My 37 is upstairs and its around 76 up there so I get away with using a 100 for my 37 because it doesn't have to push as hard. Push two pumps.

[doug z]

I want the temp to be around 79F, as that's the average temp acceptable to all my proposed fish/plants.

(corys, Cardinal Tetras, bristlenose plecostomus, swordtails)

And like I say, I'll have the substrate heater up to 78F, though I dunno if that will affect water temp..

[jbeining75]

Upto you. I'd use at least a 250 watt stealth if not a 300 to push the tank. Thats alot of water.

[shockshockshad]

A substrate heater for plants, yes? Well they are specifically designed to NOT change the temperature so you can just rely on your normal heater, and not have to worry about the substrate heter. They only heat the substrate- not the water.

[doug z]

So get another 150W, as Tolley suggests?

Or get a 250W Stealth (don't think they have a 300W) or some other 300W heater (what's a good one?)?

What about the air pump (will be using it at night, when the CO2 will be off)?

[jbeining75]

Doug stealth web says the 250 watt will cover 75 gallons. Generally the 75 gallons is what the heater will push to 86 degrees. You're going to set 79 so that should work.

Also visatherm makes a 300 watt heater. They are the same company that makes the stealth. Its called visatherm 300 deluxe. I think the 250 watt should work though for only 79 degrees.

[doug z]

Ok, I'll return the 150W, and get that..

Now about this air pump.. Anyone? :)

[jbeining75]

Also Tetra whisper makes a 100 gallon pump. That should give you significient airation!!

[jbeining75]

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:HQ2x8pX12BPgGM:http://di1.shopping.com/images/di/43/50/66/375f6f545361707a55526b776569664c475377-100x100-0-0.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://di1.shopping.com/images/di/43/50/66/375f6f545361707a55526b776569664c475377-100x100-0-0.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.shopping.com/xPC-Tetra_Tetra_Whisper_Air_Pump&h=99&w=100&sz=8&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=HQ2x8pX12BPgGM:&tbnh=81&tbnw=82&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtetra%2Bwhisper%2B100%26gbv%3D2%26svn um%3D10%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DG)http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:vvXsX__RTAvgcM:http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/7/6/9/2/4/webimg/37579877_o.jpg

pics of the heater and airpump
(http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/7/6/9/2/4/webimg/37579877_o.jpg&imgrefurl=http://item.express.ebay.com/Home-Garden_Pet-Supplies__Visi-Therm-Deluxe-300-Watt-Submersible-Aquarium-Heater_W0QQitemZ180208011213QQihZ008QQddnZHomeQ20Q 26Q20GardenQQadnZPetQ20SuppliesQQptdiZ1012QQddiZ98 4QQcmdZExpressItem&h=400&w=400&sz=28&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=vvXsX__RTAvgcM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dvisitherm%2Bdeluxe%2B300%2B%26gbv%3D2 %26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DX)

[doug z]

But I should definately return the 60 and get the 100, right?

[jbeining75]

What are you using it for. Just aeration or are you pushing something with it.

[jbeining75]

If your getting it online aquariumguys.com has the 100 for 21.99 the 60 for 18.99. For three dollars extra I would take almost double the aeration

[doug z]

What are you using it for?

Just for an air stone..

[jbeining75]

For three bucks more I'd go for the 100 just watch when you gang valve it to leak a little so you don't blow the airstone. I blew an airstone with a 100 on my 55 gallon gang valve was open fully when I plugged it in and bubbles the size of quarters started shooting out. :ssad:

[doug z]

Well, thing is I already ordered the 60, and it's in transit..

So do send it back with the heater, and get the 100?

Probably, I'm thinking..

But...

[jbeining75]

what are you stocking the tank with

[doug z]

15 Cardinal Tetra

8-10 Corydoras guapore OR Peppered Cory

1-2 Bristlenose Plecostomus (L-144)

1 male swordfish, 3 females

[jbeining75]

Hmm its a fine line I guess. Upto you. All fish if kept with low oxygen levels over time develop nerve damage and immune system damage. I would do the 100 but its completely upto you.

[doug z]

Yeah, I'll be doing pressurized CO2 injection during the day, and I'll get a CO2/PH moniter for it..

What's the oxygen level supposed to be at, btw?

[jbeining75]

Oxygen Test:

• This kit makes a rapid oxygen measurement possible. The optimum oxygen level is at least 8mg/L. Too low an oxygen content might result in an accumulation of toxic ammonia and oxygen deficiency for fish.
• Each kit will do 50 tests
This is from Salifert, they make O2 test kits, optimal dissolved O2 is 8mg/L. Filtration will put O2 back in tank though also. What filter are you running. If you use something like an Aquaclear 110 the 60 gallon air pump should suffice. The AC 110 pushes 550 Gallon per hour. Normal cycle push is around 5 times the capacity of the tank per hour. 70 gallon needs 350 gallons pushed and hour minimum. Messy eaters like my oscars require double that.

[cocoa_pleco]

youre fine with the heater, i have a 200w on my 90g and the tanks at 82f

[doug z]

What filter are you running?

Ehiem 2217


youre fine with the heater, i have a 200w on my 90g and the tanks at 82f

Hmmm.. It's too bad I won't be setting up my tank for a long while, so won't be able to see if it's good enough or not..

But I guess if Cocoa's is ok at 82 and 90g....

Hmmm..

[cocoa_pleco]

lol, its a amazing heater, 4 years old, used for probably 3 years straight, yet maintains a perfect 82f in a 90g

[doug z]

Is it a Stealth?

[cocoa_pleco]

nope, its a Tron. i havent seen the heaters on the market since 2004 but theyre good

[doug z]

i havent seen the heaters on the market since 2004 but theyre good

Good for you, bad for me.. :)

I'll see what Big Al wants for me to ship the stuff back..

Better to have plenty of overhead, than tax the heater and the air pump to their limits, I figure...

[spudbuds]

Another 150W heater would actually be best. When you run two heaters you can get better heat distribution and you have a backup in case one breaks.

I would upgrade the air pump. The pump has to push against the pressure of the water and the pump rated for 60g will have to work harder then normal in the bigger tank. It may work for a while, but it will probably burn out faster then normal.

- Bill

[doug z]

Do you have 2 heaters?


but it will probably burn out faster then normal

I tend to agree..

[spudbuds]

No, I have 1 250W on my 55g. It would certainly work fine to use a 250W on your tank if you prefer to just have one. Two just gives the benefits I listed, so that's the trade off.

[doug z]

Ok, gotcha..

[Dixie]

I like the idea of getting a second heater. It makes sence that in a big tank two would distribute the heat more evenly, plus I've seen alot of tanks with two. Also you're covered if one fails. I have 3 (used when I got em) pumps for airstones and run all 3 in my 55g.. I'm sure they are small though. I don't think it hurts to have to much air so my advice would be to keep the one and get another one of those too unless money is a problem. Some women errrr people say BIGGER is better but I say MORE is the best lol.

[doug z]

The thing with 2 is, I'm thinking I won't get as accurate a reading on my thermometer..

The probe has to be as far away as possible to get an accurate reading, and that means I would want it on opposite sides of the tank..

If I got 2, I'd be inclined to put the probe for the thermometer in the front corner of the tank, which won't look very nice..

Thoughts?

[gm72]

Air pump should be fine, I think. Always a good idea to have a spare lying around anyway just in case.

[doug z]

I was thinking about keeping both the heater and the pump for a quarintine tank..

I just got an email from Big Al's today saying that my order got returned to them because the address they put down was wrong, somehow..

So I'll see if they'll let me change the order..

[doug z]

Yeah, the blockhead who took my order screwed up and told me they don't ship to PO boxes in Canada, so I gave him my actual street address, thinking they'd be using a courier..

Well, they do ship to PO boxes, because they're using Canada Post (!!) and that's why my order got sent back (we ONLY have PO boxes in Mackenzie, pop. 5000)..

So they let me change the order, and I upgraded to a Whisper 100, and a Stealth 250..

So it's all good.. :)

[jbeining75]

Nice ... you got the 100 gallon pump and the 250 watt stealth. You'll love them both.

[jbeining75]

try hiding the digital probe behind scaping but allow it to float freely and not touch the glass so you have no outside influences

[doug z]

Won't it burn the plants andfish if it's just left to brush up against them?

Doesn't the little suction cup holders keep it away from the glass?

[jbeining75]

I was talking about the thermometer probe. I wouldnt have the heater touch anything yeah it'll burn up the stuff.

[doug z]

Ah, ok..

D'uh.. Spaced out there, sorry..

That makes more sense.. :)

Should I get a guard for the heater?

[NickFish]

Unless you have an oscar, arowana or something that could snap the heater in there heater gaurds are IMO a waste of money.

[jbeining75]

Doug is getting a stealth. Oscars arent gonna snap that thing.

[jbeining75]

they shouldbe fine if you see them developing territory near it just move it away a little.

[doug z]

Ok, thanks..