I’m sure many of us have had this concern: what happens when your heater quits while you sleep? Will it be too cold for my livestock? If you aren’t ready for it, then yes.
It seems unavoidable. Heaters is perhaps one of the most overlooked items in aquarium hobby. I’m sure we all think about lights and filters.
But the tool that protects our tropical fish from freezing death are typically some plain ol’ stick of plastic or glass buried beneath a plant. Heaters aren’t created equal. Some crack, some fluctuate wildly, and some has no safety functions whatsoever.
The best doesn’t necessarily mean it’s most expensive gizmo. The best means you know how well it’s built, what kind of safety mechanism it has, and how well it will distribute heat. The best means a quiet, consistent performer that last for years.
How to Choose a Reliable Aquarium Heater
Calculating the Right Wattage
First consider the wattage rating compared to the size of the tank. In general, you want to use three to five watts per gallon of water. That way your heater won’t run continuously at max output which will result in more wear on the internal thermostat.
Not only that but it raise the possibility of a heater failing. Now if you’ve got a fifty-gallon tank, and you put it in a cool room, that two-hundred-watt heater may not be enough. A four-hundred-watt heater would of had plenty of capacity and run efficiently with cycling on and off.
Choosing Between Glass and Silicone Heaters
Know what kind of heater you’re purchasing. For decades, the industry standard has been submersible glass heaters. When installed properly, these are effective and durable heaters.
When not, however, they is quite fragile. If the water level becomes too low, it can break the heater. Glass heaters will run without water, which can lead to an explosion.
Now, if you change some water or your tank evaporates a lot, this is a very real possibility. You don’t want that if you forget to unplug heater when performing water changes. For something new, consider ceramic and silicone heaters.
Manufactured by companies such as Eheim, silicone tube heaters are about as indestructible as you can get. They either float freely within the tank water or wrap around the outside of aquarium glass. Flexible, they’re perfect for a planted aquarium.
Delicate plant roots could be crushed by a rigid glass heater. Plus, your plants may cover the heater and block air flow to the element. The bad news is the price.
Expect to pay at least double what you’d spend on an entry level glass heater for one of these specialty devices.
Essential Safety Features to Look For
The other safety feature… One you cannot compromise on, is dry-fire protection and/or an automatic shutoff.
If the heater senses it’s exposed to air, it shuts off. That protects you from overheating your tank and any possible fire danger. More advanced heaters will has external thermostats too.
These are placed outside the tank and when the water becomes too warm they shuts down power to the heater. This is another level of protection. It costs very little but provides great peace of mind.
Optimal Heater Placement for Even Heating
Where you place your heaters is also important. They need to go where there is a decent water current. Ideally, they should be near the output of a filter.
This will allow the circulating water to spread the heat more evenly around the tank. If you have a heater sitting in a dead corner, then it will create hot spots which are stressful for fish and can give inaccurate readings by the thermostat sensor. You want the water temp to be consistent.
You don’t want warm on the surface with cold below.
Maintaining and Replacing Your Heater
Buy quality, research the company and check their warranty. Big names such as Tunze, Eheim and Aqueon has been around for years.
These guys back their product and typically offer superior service to customers. Yes, buying cheap aquarium equipment (no name, made by who knows who) saves you some cash up front. More times than not these things will go belly up in less time then a month.
You’re left with a tank full of dead fish and a useless heater. I know it’s tempting but is saving a few bucks on a heater really worth the potential loss of your entire system?
Check your heater often, even the highest quality heaters will wander.
Double-check that your heater is actualy holding the proper temp by using a separate thermometer you trust. Don’t trust what your heater says. It may be off (the heater’s digital readout won’t always reflect its actual output).
Catch problems early and avoid potential disasters. Checking it only requires a few seconds, avoiding damage control takes hours. Replacing a heater is a very easy job, however.
It’s all about when you do it. You always want to unplug the old heater before removing it. If your new heater doesn’t have the same wattage, let the water cool down some before installing.
The last thing you want to do is shock the fish with sudden temperature changes, such as adding cold water. Securely install your new heater. Make sure that it is completely submerged.
Let it adjust a bit and then check the temperature again. You don’t see a good aquarium heater. If it’s doing its job, it is working invisibly.
It doesn’t get noticed. You’re having fun with the hobby. Your fish are happy because the temperature is stable.
You’ve made the right choice and protected both your investment and your livestock. The lights at the store have dimmed but you know the heat will continue to run. It’ll be constant and safe.
