Heater and Filter

[mike0605]

Hi everyone.

I need a heater for my 30 inch long by 15 inch wide by 12 inch high tank.

Not sure exactly how much water it holds but wondered what size heater I would need. At the moment the tank is going to be used to grow on my jade eye cichlid fry but this is temporary as the main aim for the tank is to have a go at breeding my leopard frog plecos L134. I have 3 of these unsure of sex but thought id give it a go and hope i have mixed sex plecs.

Anyway, I need to know what watt heater is best. I have always used 200w and 300w on my 3 and 4 foot tanks in the past with no worries however, for this setup would i need a 100.150 or 200 watt? Thanks.

Also I really want to go with a Eheim aquaball for internal filtration and wondered what the best one to get would be as I am unsure how high/tall they are and as my tank is only 12 inches high I did not want it to stick up out of the tank.

all recommendations welcome.

Thanks.

 

[D-MAC]

For a well heated room 4 watt per gall will do perfectly... If its a cooler room step it up to 6 watts per gall...As you will have around 19 galls of actual water in the tank a 150watt will be more than plenty ...I really like the Sera brand of heaters as they are not expensive and come with a heater guard as standard and a 5 year warranty.
Have a look at the Eheim biopower 160 filter, they are the same size as the aquaball but has more surface area, so can cope with a larger water volumes...The next one up is the Eheim biopower 200 and is 11" top to bottom

 

[AndyEllard]

I've just got an Eheim Biopower 160 and it is a great filter. It fits in my 12" tall tank nicely.
I bought it from Zooplus.co.uk it's £31.99 but you get 10% off if it's your first order with them so it only cost £28.79 and free delivery too!
http://www.zooplus.co.uk/ask?query=biopower&num=20

 

[jessonthenet]

I think it is 1 watt per litre heated room and 2 watt per litre unheated as a rough guide.

Trying to convert your dimensions comes up 88 litres, if that is right 100 watt heater would work in a heated room but 150 watt would stop fluctuations especially when it comes to winter.

If my maths is **** then correct me lol.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
I'll pass on the heater, but I would go down a different route for the filtration. I'd keep the Eheim Aquaball, but I'd add an external. I like Eheim Classics, and I would get a 2nd hand Eheim 2213 via Aquarists Classified, Ebay etc.

It may seem like over-kill, but it makes sense in the long run.

cheers Darrel

 

[bigbird]

Heater 150W should be fine. I have 2 filters in each of my tanks, one internal and one external. Always find this a good option and additional protection. cheers jk

 

[mike0605]

thanks guys I have painted the tank black inside and out (just kidding lol) I have painted the back, sides and bottom with blackboard paint.

I will be going for an eheim external and an internal not sure whether to go with aquaball or the biopower 160.

I will also be going for a 150w heater as advised. Cant wait to get the tank up and running lol it is always exciting starting a new setup. Thinking of thinning out the fish in my 4 foot tank and actually having a go at breeding my l134 in the 4 footer and using this 30inch by 15 inch wide by 12 inch high for some zebs but not sure of their availability atm.

 

[D-MAC]

not sure whether to go with aquaball or the biopower 160.

If its only for water movement then go with the cheaper aquaball...You can always add the eheim substrate pro to one of the pods at a later date, turning it into a biopower filter.