heaters in overflow?

[robzilla]

can heaters be put in the over flow? it would be a great place to hide them, as the one i got is too long for my sump.
or would i be better to get 2 short ones for the sump?

[saltynuts]

heaters in the overflow is the best. you don,t have to worry about hiting it in the sump.

[mark]

Sure. Should be good anywhere as long as they're placed where there's flow.

[Matt]

I keep mine in the overflow. As far as I can tell, it is ideal. Little chance of breakage, good flow for heat distribution. To the second part of your question, lots of people advocate for two heaters, to prevent a single point of failure.

[rant]
Is there any piece of critical aquarium infrastructure that has more potential for (and history of) catastrophic failure? OK, I'll give you "float switch", but heaters have to be second, at least.
[/rant]

[ron101]

I always keep a heater in the tank. Yes it is not as stealth but if the return pump ever blows or seizes, there will still be heat in the main tank.

[untamed]

OK for heaters in the overflow, but you have to remember that if you ever shut off the return pump (or it stopped), the overflows would go dry. Dry heater = bad.

[marlincoral]

my overflow dosent go dry when my return pump is shut off it just drops 2"

[Matt]

Yeah, I guess the assumption is that your overflow doesn't drain when the pumps stop.