In Line Heater?

[Kage17]

Hey guys for now my 125 is not getting the sump, it's just too under researched and too hot for me to be outside messing with it. Building my stand is enough in 100 degree weather for now. I ordered a Fluval FX5 in the mean time and wanted to get an in line heater to clean up my tank inside. Anyone have and opinions or experince with these and what brand makes the good ones.

Thanks,

Kage

[Kmuda]

Hydor is the brand you want but I'm not sure how well one would connect to an FX5. First off, the flow rate from an FX5 may too high and I'm not sure about running in-line with the ribbed tubing. There also may be a hose size step down required.... something I don't like to do with a powerful canister as it is a risk leak and may affect filter dynamics.

[Ahab's Foot]

These are good regular ones: http://www.oscarfish.com/accessories/aqueon-pro-heater.html I've had a similar Aqueon model for over a year. These days that's a ringing endorsement.

[Kage17]

Thanks Kmuda I suppose my best course of action would be to call Fluval and talk to the people that make it.

I've been usinga 150W pro in my current set up as well Ahab, I agree it's a great heater and I have had no issue with water temp and it's running strong. I just would like to un-clutter the tank but I suppose if this is not possible I will just have to get creative muwahahah .

[Renegade87]

Hydor is the brand you want but I'm not sure how well one would connect to an FX5. First off, the flow rate from an FX5 may too high and I'm not sure about running in-line with the ribbed tubing. There also may be a hose size step down required.... something I don't like to do with a powerful canister as it is a risk leak and may affect filter dynamics.

Kage17,

Kmuda is spot on. I got 2 of the Hydor 300w inline heaters. What isn't easily found is that the OD on the heater output is 5/8". Your FX5 hose is at least 1". As Kmuda points out, you'd have to reduce that FX5 hose down to the 5/8" on the inlet side of the Hydor. It can certainly be done (I found some 5/8 in. Barb x 1 in. Barb Hose Adaptors I needed to plumb my two 300W Hydor In-Line heaters to my Marineland C530 canisters. I ordered them from MarineEast.com - $2.81ea.)
but how much would this diameter reduction impct the flow rate and overall filtration? If it'll work at all on an FX5 without serious leakage?

Not trying to "rain on your parade" Dude, but rather helping you not make the same mistake I could've made (I have since picked up a couple of Fluval E series 300w heaters for my 155). I didn't want all the clutter on the back wall either (2 x filter intake, 2 x filter output, 2 x heater, airlines...).

[jonesboy]

I successfully attached a Hydor to my C-360. I would think it would be similar to your FX5. I just removed the red screws on the heater that are meant to tighten it to the tubes, slid on the tubing from the filter, and then secured it with some spare screw type or worm clamps I had lying around. This has worked with no leaks for more than a year now.

[christian123]

The c 360 has a flow rate of 360 gph the fx5 has a flow rate of 607 gallons per hour. I would not consider these filters to be comparable in terms of inline heaters.

[Kage17]

I don't really want to use a reducer to go from 1" to 5/8" as I've been reading that can over time be bad for the pump. What I was thinking was to just split the pumps return and do a 1" T joint to (2) 5/8" and put an in line heater on one and an in line uv sterillizer on the other.

[Kmuda]

That could work Kage but be sure to use a "Y" fitting and not a "T" fitting to reduce (or eliminate) push back on the pump.

[Renegade87]

I successfully attached a Hydor to my C-360. I would think it would be similar to your FX5. I just removed the red screws on the heater that are meant to tighten it to the tubes, slid on the tubing from the filter, and then secured it with some spare screw type or worm clamps I had lying around. This has worked with no leaks for more than a year now.

jonesboy,

Very nice. I'll look into that on mine as well. What is the ID of the hoses for the C-360? My C-530s have 1" ID hoses.