bout to call it quits....

What is the ambient air temperature?!

 

what size of tank is it? 12 gallons? There is no way a 300 watt heater is needed regardless of how cold the air temp is. Why not move it upstairs?

 

Something is not right here. My 55G sump is in my basement where it is 56 degrees and my 135G display is on the main level where we keep it about 67 and I have no problem keeping a 74-76 temp. I have a cheap 250 watt heater. I run LED and T5's

 

Take the sick off for a day and see if that helps. I have a spare heater I can send you to see if it makes a difference.

 

Take the sick off for a day and see if that helps. I have a spare heater I can send you to see if it makes a difference.

 

It might not be possible. One watt is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 liter of water by 1 degree celcius. We are trying then to raise the temperature 11.1*c (70*f-50*f) of 83.16 liters (22 gallons)= 923.6watts....yah we're a bit underpowered. Of course there are other properties at work here, like the insulative properties of glass, flow rate, oxygen exchange, surface area/mass ratio etc etc etc. But if you've got it up to 70*f then you have a lot of extra physical properties working in your favor, because according to the empiracle formula, 300watts is underpowered by the factor of 1/3 to even raise the temp to where you have it now! I wish this was a little more conslusive, but I'm going to guess that we're underpowered. The insulation might do the trick!

 

Do you live in an old farm house Travis? 50 degree air temp is LOW!
I still find it hard to believe that a 300 watt heater won't get that little bit of water warmer then 70. I'm not saying your wrong, I've just never heard this sort of thing before.
Good luck, keep us posted.

 

according to my calculations that 300watt heater should actually only be able raise the temp of the water from 50* to ~57*. But again there are surface area:mass differences, and the insulative properties of glass and other factors at play here. But it's perfectly clear to see that 300 watts is just not enough!

You should put your wife in the basement with all her clutter /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/biggrin.gif ops! Did I say that?!

 

Andy,

We of course are t calculating any of the other things that are putting off heat in the tank like, pumps.

I though am of the opinion that the insulation would help, but not bring the temperature to an acceptable level. Still have to increase the wattage of heating. Blue Board though/insulation will be cheap and save money over time.

 

You can also insulate the tubing which would help alot.

 

Is the sump sitting on the concrete floor? Definitely putting a layer of insulation board between the tank & the concrete would help a ton. You could also consider doing a coldwater reef /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/wink.gif I'm sure a lot of people would love to have your problem!

For what it's worth, my 20g tank is in the basement where the ambient air temp is about 60-62F, and I have a 150watt heater that doesn't have any problem keeping it at 80F... I also use a 50watt heater for my water change water which sits directly on the concrete and I can heat 10-15gallons of water to 80F no problem with it...I do keep a lid on it to help keep the heat in. Eitherway, I think a little effort would make your setup work....and definitely check your heater is working properly.

 

So do you still run your hex?

 

Well don't give up on it, insulating those joist most certainly won't hurt.