Many aquarium fish are inhabitants of warm rivers and tropical reservoirs. Therefore, warm water is vital for them. The most comfortable water temperature is 26-27 degrees Celsius. If in summer this temperature is possible for natural reasons, then with the onset of cold weather, even with the heating turned on, the water in the aquarium will not be warm enough. This is why heaters are so necessary. Their choice should be approached responsibly. And it is advisable to find out in advance how to install a heater in an aquarium.
So, aquarium heaters are important equipment that is needed to maintain a comfortable environment for the fish.
Our online store strongly recommends ordering heaters for your aquariums if:
• you live in a cool climate; • your fish do not tolerate temperature changes well; • It is important for you to create comfortable conditions for your inhabitants. On our website you will learn how to install a heater in an aquarium. When choosing a heater for an aquarium, pay attention to the power and the availability of temperature control. The choice of this equipment largely depends on the volume of the aquarium. 10 watts are usually enough to heat 4.5 liters of water. There are two types of heaters (depending on the installation method): • Non-submersible - they can and should be lowered only to a certain mark, while the upper part of the heater is located above the surface. • Submersible - they need to be placed directly under water. They have a longer service life.
Please pay attention! Modern heaters have special temperature sensors that regulate water heating. That is, there is no risk of overheating of the water element. You can set the desired temperature yourself using the built-in regulator. There are electronic and mechanical thermostats.
How to Install a Heater in an Aquarium: Step-by-Step Guide
Don't know how to install a heater in an aquarium? Read our tips. All modern heaters are waterproof and can be installed both vertically and horizontally. It is important to know that this device should never be inserted into gravel or sand. The second important point: the water level should always be above the MINIMUM WATER LEVEL mark (it is marked on the heater body).
How is the heater attached? Typically, the heater is installed using a bracket and 2 suction cups. It is attached directly to the wall of the aquarium. Where should the heater be placed? Ideally, it should be fixed in a place where uniform and constant circulation of water is ensured. Please note: you can connect the heater to the power supply only after 15 minutes have passed from the moment it was installed in the aquarium. That is, it is very important to wait until the temperature of the bimetallic switch in the heater and the water in the aquarium are equalized.
If you are wondering “How to install a heater in an aquarium,” you should know: • This device should not be installed too close to the water surface. The fact is that water constantly evaporates. And you may not notice how the upper part of the equipment ends up in the air, and this will lead to disruption of the device and its failure. • Never install the tube at the very bottom of the aquarium. There should be a distance of about 2-3 cm to your bottom. • Ideally, the tube should be placed next to the oxygen filter. Air emissions will contribute to uniform heating of the water. • As soon as you place the device in the water, do not rush to connect it to the electrical network. Due to temperature differences, the glass may crack.
Models of aquarium thermometers
A wide range of thermometers for aquariums comes in a variety of models, each of which has its own pros and cons. Depending on what is used as a temperature indicator, the following varieties are distinguished.
- Alcohol devices consist of a glass flask, inside of which a tinted alcohol solution is placed. In fact, they resemble thermometers for measuring the air temperature outside. They are attached inside the aquarium using suction cups. This model should be placed away from the heater, in a place where it is convenient to monitor the thermometer readings. When purchasing, you must take into account that it is problematic to install it in a round aquarium. However, this model is the most common and has good accuracy rates.
- Liquid crystal stickers are thin plastic stickers, on which, on one side, a thermochemical paint with a scale is applied, which changes its color when the temperature changes, and on the other, an adhesive substance for attaching to the outside of the aquarium wall. Since re-sticking the thermometer to another place may damage the scale markings, it is better to carefully choose the location. Such devices are suitable for all types of aquariums.
The accuracy is greatly affected by the thickness of the glass, direct sunlight and heating devices if they are nearby. Thus, the data from this type of thermometer may be inaccurate due to the fact that it is influenced not only by the temperature of the water in the aquarium, but also by the air in the room.
- Spiral thermometers determine the temperature of water by compressing and expanding a special sensitive spring.
- Electronic temperature meters . There are electronic thermometers with a built-in measurement sensor and with an external one. They are the most accurate, convenient and expensive. The batteries last for several months of operation. Models with a remote sensor consist of two parts - the sensor itself, which is immersed in water, and a digital display, which can be positioned as desired.
With its help, you can determine the temperature of not only water, but also the soil in different parts of the aquarium.
Varieties with a built-in sensor are completely sealed and are fixed directly inside the aquarium using suction cups. A sound signal alerts you to changes in the water temperature in the aquarium.
With thermostat
In conventional devices, after reaching the set temperature, it continues to work and heat the liquid. It must be constantly turned off, then turned on again, so that the water does not have time to cool down.
Heaters for aquariums with a thermostat have a specially built-in sensor that turns it off at the desired temperature, and turns it on when the water cools down again.
There are different types of aquarium heaters with a thermostat:
Aquarium thermometer
The modern market for fish keeping products offers several options for aquarium thermometers, which differ in the way they measure temperature, as well as in accuracy. But which thermometer is best for an aquarium?
Internal thermometers
Internal thermometers are placed directly into the water and provide information about changes in its temperature.
The simplest of them is a liquid thermometer for an aquarium, created on the basis of raising or lowering a column of alcohol depending on changes in temperature. This thermometer is fixed inside the aquarium on a special suction cup. The advantage is the low price, the disadvantage is some error in the readings.
An electronic thermometer for an aquarium with an external remote sensor is distinguished by the accuracy of the data, but is more expensive than an alcohol thermometer. It uses a thermistor built into a separate sealed capsule as a temperature sensor. Thanks to the thermistor's ability to quickly change its resistance depending on temperature, the microprocessor can constantly monitor and process the data coming from such a sensor and display it digitally on the display.
External thermometers
Such devices do not require immersion in the aquarium water to obtain water temperature data. These thermometers do not require frequent cleaning, do not take up space inside the aquarium and can last a very long time.
A sticker thermometer for an aquarium works thanks to the property of a special paint that changes its color when heated. It is attached to the outside of the aquarium, and therefore can respond to changes in air temperature near an artificial reservoir. This thermometer is also called a thermochromic thermometer for an aquarium. Also, such a thermometer can be found under the name liquid crystal. Many people wonder how to use a liquid crystal thermometer for an aquarium. So, you just need to glue it to the outer wall of the aquarium and monitor temperature changes.
How to install
To maintain an optimal microclimate in your home pond, you need to properly install an aquarium water heater. There are special marks on the body of the device indicating the liquid level. The device is installed so that there is water above the bottom mark. Since the liquid evaporates over time, it will be necessary to periodically adjust its volume in the container.
Do not install the water heater on gravel or sand located at the bottom, otherwise the device will quickly fail.
The heater is fixed to the walls of the vessel using a bracket with suction cups. This improves heating performance and efficiency. After installation, you need to wait about 20 minutes before plugging it into the network. The device must equalize its temperature with the surrounding liquid, then heating will occur gradually and evenly.
Thermometer in the aquarium
Li Ka
Depends on the size of the aquarium. If desired, you can place a second thermometer on a distant wall of the tank from the heater. Your thermometer is now showing the highest temperature. The further you are from the heating, the lower the temperature. And in the upper layers it is higher than in the lower ones. The difference in t° may be different. Depends on the volume of the tank and the power of the heater.
Natasha Dmitrienko (Ryabova)
The thermometer in the aquarium must be placed as far as possible from the heater and in the middle (or lower) layers of water. but it’s better to have 2 - one alcohol, as I said, and one sticker near the surface. It often happens that thermostats are off by half a degree, it doesn’t matter! But don’t chase a high temperature, it’s better to set it as low as possible (according to the type of fish), then if a disease occurs, it will be possible to improve the effect of treatment, or even cure it simply by raising the temperature to 30-32 degrees C. without fanaticism, because that the higher the temperature of the water, the less dissolved oxygen it contains!
Calculation of required power
An important indicator when purchasing equipment is the choice of power, which depends on the volume of the container. Most often, it is enough to purchase a thermostat for the aquarium or a simple heater with a power of 1–1.5 watts per 1 liter of water. It is better to choose devices that have a small margin, so that when the central heating is turned off, the heating can be increased.
Aquarium heater with thermostat
Many people do not buy water heaters because they do not want to spend time constantly monitoring the temperature. When the required temperature is reached, the device must be turned off manually. But there is a way out - just buy aquarium heaters with a thermostat.
Thermostats are equipped with a temperature indicator that operates at the desired temperature setting. The regulator turns off the device, and when the temperature drops, turns it on again automatically.
A heater with a thermostat provides the desired temperature without outside intervention. Modern devices are compact and affordable.
Heating devices with a thermostat can be of two types:
- electronic: high-precision instruments with an information display showing water temperature, minus – high cost;
- mechanical: a reliable device at a low price that needs to be adjusted manually.
Types of heaters
There are several types of heaters for home aquariums:
- Submersible is the most common option. The device is made of durable, safe plastic or glass. The device is immersed in water. For the safety of aquatic inhabitants, the heating element is packaged in a protective housing. Glass immersion devices use a ceramic filler with high thermal conductivity properties. Most often, submersible aquarium heaters come complete with a regulator, so there is no need to monitor the temperature.
- A flow-through heater for an aquarium is mounted horizontally near the filter pump. The body is made of safe plastic.
- Heater in the filter: some filter models come with a built-in heater, so there is no need to buy a separate device for regulation.
How to choose an aquarium heater
What to look for when choosing a heating device:
- the device must have a thermostat - this is a device that maintains the optimal temperature; when the desired value is reached, the device will turn off automatically; if the temperature drops again, the device will begin to heat the water;
- novice aquarists should take a closer look at models with a built-in emergency shutdown in case of damage or lack of water;
- type of temperature control: in some models the temperature is adjusted automatically, while in others it must be done manually;
- If you have a saltwater tank, choose a heating device that can be used in salt water;
- check the package contents: aquarium heaters are attached to the walls of the tank; if the kit does not include suction cups, they need to be purchased separately;
- functionality: some heating devices have a thermostat, an emergency shutdown function in case of damage, automatic temperature selection; if you are a novice aquarist and do not know how to heat water in an aquarium, buy a device with advanced functionality;
- power is the main parameter of the device, which must be selected according to the volume of the tank.
What is the best heater for a red-eared slider?
A plastic heater is better than a glass one because turtles cannot break it and cannot get burned on it. A glass water heater resembles a long glass tube.
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