Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Aquarium Heaters

There are two types of aquarium heaters: submersible and non-submersible. Submersible heaters are entirely encased in a watertight glass tube. Nonsubmersible heaters hang on the tank’s frame; the glass tube rests in the water, but the unit must never be fully submerged. Both types work the same way: A thermostat turns the heating element on and off in response to the temperature, just like your furnace. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions to set the temperature to the desired range. (For Bettas, the range is 79 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.)

A general rule for determining heater size is to get 5 watts of heater per gallon of water. So a 20-gallon aquarium needs a heater that is at least 100 watts.

Always make sure to unplug the heater when you remove any water from the tank. If the heater turns on while it is dry, it may get hot enough to crack when you put it back in the water.

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