Heater sizeing is bigger ok

**Desertfish** · 12-24-2012, 05:50 PM

I noticed that one of the online stores is having a sale on the Via Aqua heaters and it is very resonable to purchase a 200watt heater. This heater would be used in a 20 gal tanks so it is oversized. Is there any problem with doing this? thanks Mike:help

**Cliff** · 12-24-2012, 05:58 PM

It should work fine. I am currently using a 300 watt heater in my 40 QT tank as I have a spare one and don't want to buy another heater

The only potential problem would be if the heater gets stuck in the "on" postion. But I have only personally experianced that once so it's not really a big risk.

**Goes to 11!** · 12-24-2012, 06:03 PM

Nope, Provided it operates correctly it will only turn on & off as required to keep the water at the temp you set.

The only issue is if it doesn't work correctly [EG: It sticks on - Not common with decent heaters btw so don't panic

] and it will cook your tank quicker than a smaller heater but unless you catch either in the time frame before this happens [unlikely] you still have the same problem --> Busted heater.

EDIT: Ninja'd by Cliff! :-P

**Desertfish** · 12-24-2012, 06:06 PM

Cliff thank you for that my brain was saying that it was a silly worry but better safe than out a bunch of fish. have a great Holiday Mike

**Desertfish** · 12-24-2012, 06:09 PM

850R
Thank you, I thought this would be the responce but have never done an over sized heater in a tank and you are right if you are not there to catch it the out come is the same. Thank you and Happy Holidays.

**Shidohari** · 12-24-2012, 06:57 PM

using a spare 50w heater in my 4 gallon tank and i have it on almost the lowest setting so it would heat up the tank to the temp i wanted it at without baking the water and the fish...

+10000 to the posts that came before. HAPPY HOLIDAYS

**Goes to 11!** · 12-24-2012, 07:09 PM

YVW Mike & same to ya

.

Originally Posted by Shidohari

using a spare 50w heater in my 4 gallon tank and i have it on almost the lowest setting so it would heat up the tank to the temp i wanted it at without baking the water and the fish

Mommy already explained how heaters operate to maintain a temp but the comment above indicates you aren't fully grasping it [You are not simmering soup

], You should reread her post..

**Rocksor** · 12-24-2012, 07:38 PM

currently using a 200w heater on a 15g quarantine tank in the garage. It keeps the tank easily around 80F even when the temp in the garage gets to the 40s

**jeffs99dime** · 12-24-2012, 07:50 PM

One thing to consider is the length of the heater. Most of the higher wattage heaters are pretty long and as a result will not fit in the traditional straight up and down configuration inside the tank. I don't know if that is what you want to do but I just thought of it in case you were.

**Desertfish** · 12-25-2012, 12:17 AM

Jeffs99dime
That had gone through my mind and that will not be a problem since the heater that is in it is sideways so to be hidden behide plants. 24" tank 15 " heater and all is well but thank you if I had not thought of this it could have been a real problem in some installs. Happy Holidays to you Mike