DIY Heater, build your own 2000 watt heater for $20 ***DONT USE COPPER OR NICKEL ELEMENTS!

[Rob Nash]

submersible virsion... http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/diy-heater-sub... ...this how-to has the link for the stainless elements.

After many variations, this is the simplest heater I've been able to build. I had to come up with this last year while waiting for my $600 heater to be built and delivered. when it finally arrived, I just left it in the box and continued to use the home built unit.

DO NOT USE THE COPPER ELEMENT FROM HOME DEPOT!  YOU MUST ORDER A STAINLESS STEEEL ELEMENT.   ....This is a 2000 watt element from Home Depot, a 1-1/2" to 1" reducer, a 1-1/2" uniseal, and a fitting with net pots to keep the fish off the element. I found that a heavy duty timer works for a thermostat. I run it for 15 mins on the hour to keep my 150 gallon tank toasty. this would be adjusted according to your needs. i have used this on as much as 600 gallons, but would recommend going to the 240 volt, 4000 watt for anything over 400 gallon. Note - the 2" net pots slip right onto a male threaded 1-1/2" nipple.

The top pipe is optional, i like to keep it as tall as the water level will allow. This will create a convective flow of water across the element. Works great!

here is the newer version...

[Rob Nash]

thats pretty cool. i just zip tie the cord to the riser, and when you drop it in the tank it stand up just fine.

[frank busby]

did you get all the parts from home depot?

[wes]

Hey frank wes here for the one I put together, based on the great insight of Rob is a yes. I purchased all the parts from home depot.

[Rob Nash]

everything but the Uniseals and net pots. they are available online and some of the better hydro shops.

The submersible unit was built out of home depot 100%.

[wes]

I am running it on a timer, I set it for 30 minutes on then 1 1/2 off it brought the water temp in one 300 gal fish tank and 3 grow beds DWT up from a temp of 60 to 78 in 3 days running them all the time, once the water got up in temp I just un plugged the element until I need it again.

[wes]

Love you guy you have saved me tons of cash and all my fish here in fla, thank you :)

[Raymond Nunez]

What department at Home Depot do you find the 
heating element ? And do you buy the iniseal
there as well I have not been able to find them. 
Thanks for sharing great idea. 

[Rob Nash]

in a Rubbermaid 300 gal

[bleu and em (New Urban Farmers)]

Beautiful work!

[Nathanael]

Rob Nash I am admiring your heater concept and had question... Do you happen to know a thermostat that can turn your heater on at a certain degree and then turn off when it reaches a second set temp? Like for instance turn on at 68 and turn off at 80?

I would love, here in Phoenix, to have this set up in my 400gl outdoor in-ground pound for my tilapia over winter. 

How often their in Austin do you find you need to use this during the winter months? Daily, weekly???

Thanks so much

[Philip Gauthier]

the heating elements will be with the Hot water heaters in the plumbing dept. and you should be able to get uniseals at a local plumbing supply house in your area, or AES has them http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategories/829/Uniseals but they are available all over online.

Raymond Nunez said:

What department at Home Depot do you find the 
heating element ? And do you buy the iniseal
there as well I have not been able to find them. 
Thanks for sharing great idea. 

[Rob Nash]

in central Texas it gets cold enough for the heater to run for two or three months. i have not used a kilawatt meter to see how much power it uses in that time. but i will warn you... what ever heater you use, you will notice it on the electric bill