What size heater for 55 gallon tank?

[llamas]

The questions pretty much sums it up.

I need a new heater for my 55 gallon tank and cannot decide how many watss I need. I see many sites saying 3 watts per gallon and many that say 5per gallon.

Which do you suggest?

The 250W version is only about $1 more and it would be over-doing it would it?

200watt would be good. If the 250watt is only $1, it can't hurt to go with it. It just means that the heater will have to be on less. if you're a penny pincher though the 200 is fine.

[llamas]

Ok. I was just worried about having too many watts :P In other words, didn't want the heater to be too hot for the tank.

Nah.
I mean, I do suggest having it in a place where there is the most water movement, like right near a filter output, but it's not a huge deal, and that is suggested for every heater. If you have a canister filter and really want to get nifty you could get an inline filter for it, but it is by no means necessary.

[jones57742]

Originally Posted by llamas and it would be over-doing it would it?

ll:

No.

TR

[Redwings]

Most heaters have temperature settings on the top, mine has been running 24/7 for 4 years and my water has always been 78-80 degrees no matter what.

Ya, they are very nice and consistent... until they break that is. Just lost a clownfish from a broken heater water was nearing 100 degrees before i caught it

[lohachata]

get a 300 watt heater......if you get a bigger tank you won't have to go buy a new one.
also;it wouldn't have to work as hard as a lower wattage heater to maintain a set temp.

Thats a good call in case you are trying to upgrade to a bigger tank some day. I think I had a 250watt on my 150gallon and the thing did fine...

[daniel89]

lol So should i move my heater? lol i have my filter on the left side of the tank and my heater on the right, but im gonna be getting a uv filter and sticking it on the right or some power head cause the water movement on the right is barely moving any thing over there.

IDK dude, it is fine either way, I just like a heater to be by the best water movement personally. Just gives a more consistent temperature throughout the tank. Either way the heat will dissipate throughout the tank.