When choosing an aquarium heater, there is various factors to consider. Many people will choose an aquarium heater based off the recommendation of the store in which they are purchased or the information stated on the packaging of the aquarium. However, an aquarium heater must have enough power to maintain the desired temperature in the aquarium.
If the aquarium heater dont have enough power to maintain the temperature of the water in the tank, the temperature will fluctuate, which can stress the fish. The amount of power an aquarium heater requires depends on the size of the aquarium in which the fish is contained and the temperature of the room in which the aquarium is located. Small aquariums will require more watts per gallon of water than larger aquariums.
How to Choose the Right Heater for Your Fish Tank
This is due to the fact that small aquariums will lose heat at a faster rate than larger aquariums. Additionally, the warmer the room in which the aquarium is located, the less power that the heater will require to maintain the desired water temperature in the aquarium. The species of fish that is contained within the aquarium can also impact the amount of power that the heater requires.
Fish that require higher water temperatures will require an aquarium heater that has more power than fish that require cooler water temperatures. For example, tropical fish may require a water temperature of the high seventies while some other fish species may require the water temperature to be cooler. If the aquarium contains a species of fish that require higher water temperatures, the aquarium heater must be able to reach that temperature in the room.
There are different types of aquarium heaters that can be used within the aquarium. Submersible heaters are aquarium heaters that you place into the aquarium and remain within the water. Inline aquarium heaters are placed into the plumbing of the aquarium filter while sump heaters are placed into a sump system.
Sump systems are often used for larger aquariums as the heaters can be placed away from the fish. Substrate heaters are the least common type of heater as they only heat the bottom of the aquarium. Where the aquarium heater is placed within the aquarium may impact the water temperature throughout the tank.
Aquarium heaters should be placed near the filter outflow as the moving water will help to distribute the heat from the heater to the remainder of the aquarium. If you dont place the heater near the filter, parts of the aquarium may become too warm while other parts of the tank may be too cold. Additionally, using a thermometer to measure the water temperature on the opposite side of the aquarium from the heater will help to determine the average water temperature in the tank.
To calculate the amount of wattage that an aquarium heater should have, you can follow a few steps. First, you should measure the volume of the aquarium. Secondly, you should measure the temperature of the coldest portion of the room in which the aquarium is located.
With these two numbers obtained with the heater, the wattage per gallon rate should be applied to the aquarium size to calculate how many watts the heater should have. An aquarium heater with more wattage than the calculation will ensure that the heater will not run constantly while attempting to maintain the temperature of the water. Additionally, for aquariums that contain over sixty gallons of water, it may be better to purchase two smaller aquarium heaters instead of one heater that contains the necessary amount of wattage for that large tank.
If you use two heaters, the added benefit of having two heaters instead of one allows for even heat distribution throughout the tank. Additionally, if one heater should fail, the other will continue to heat the water for the aquarium. One of the most common mistakes with aquarium heater selection is selecting an undersized aquarium heater for the tank.
When you use an undersized heater, the heater will run without stopping. Due to the additional strain that the heater is placed under, the heater will also have a shorter lifespan when using an undersized heater. Additionally, the undersize aquarium heater wont be able to keep the water temperature warm enough for the fish in the aquarium.
If the water is too cold for the fish, the fish may become sluggish or even develop diseases as a result of the water that is too cold for there needs. It is important to unplug the aquarium heater when changing the water in the aquarium as if the heater remains plugged into power and the water level in the tank is lowered, the heater could dry up and potentially crack the glass tube that contains the heater. Lastly, the heater may need to be replaced over time as the functions of the heater may degrade, which could lead to it failing and the tank having no heat at all.
Aquarium heaters should be replaced according to a schedule to prevent the heater from failing altogether. You should of checked the heaters warranty too. It is actualy very important to make sure you got the right one so your fish stays comfortabley warm.
