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Category: Heaters

  • How To Heat an Aquarium Without a Heater

    How To Heat an Aquarium Without a Heater

    Heating an aquarium, especially during cold winter months with a power outage can be incredibly challenging. Winters can be brutal, and cold can creep into older and poorly insulated homes very quickly. Although many fish have a fair amount of temperature tolerances, it’s important to have a plan ready in case the temperatures drop below that threshold.

    Besides power outages, having dozens of aquariums running individual heaters can be expensive. You use up a lot of outlets, spend money on replacements, and risk purchasing a faulty heater which can ruin a fish tank. Warming an aquarium in different ways might be a better option. This guide will discuss many options to warm your aquarium during power outages and a recommended method to warm multiple aquariums to help lower those high electricity bills.

    Heating the Room

    A room with many fish tanks is called a fish room, and heating a fish room is often cheaper than heating individual fish tanks. If you have a room completely devoted to your fish tank hobby, it might be time to toss the aquarium heaters and switch to something that will heat the whole room instead. Heating the room instead of individually heating aquariums has a few perks:

    • Cost saving
    • Heaters won’t break in your aquarium
    • No more heater replacement
    • Saves outlet space

    I have dug around to see the best way to heat a fish room. Many aquarists suggest using an Oil Filled Radiator Heater, such as the PELONIS Oil Filled Radiator Heater. As a bonus, I would recommend also using a fan, like the Genesis 20″ Box Fan, on a low setting to help disperse the heat around the room. You’ll want to choose the heater and fan that is appropriate for your room’s size.

    The reason many fishkeepers enjoy using this type of heater is that it uses less electricity compared to a space heater, and also doesn’t get as hot, which lowers the chance of it causing a fire. You’ll have to look to see whether your heaters use more electricity compared to the Oil Filled Radiator Heater before deciding whether this switch makes sense.

    Add a Well-Fitted Lid

    Equipment such as hang on back filters, circulation pumps, and lights create heat as a byproduct while working that will warm your fish tank. A lot of heat from water is lost at the surface. Something as simple as adding an aquarium glass top can help warm a fish tank. When you add a lid to your aquarium, you are essentially creating a barrier between warm fish tank water and cool ambient air. It takes longer to alter temperature through glass than a large opening such as the top of a fish tank.

    This method isn’t ideal, because you may not reach a desired aquarium temperature, and you might not have enough equipment running to warm the fish tank. Also, keeping a stable temperature will be impossible because you’re ideally at the whim of the ambient temperature and whatever equipment you have running. There are a lot of glass top options on Amazon, you’ll just have to match the available options with the dimensions of your fish tank.

    How To Heat Aquarium During Power Outage

    If you’re stuck in a power outage and do not have a way to warm your aquarium, there are a few things you can do to help your fish tank when your heater is out of commission. These are temporary solutions that can provide relief for your slowly cooling aquarium. You can try one method or both to help keep your aquarium warm.

    Wrapping a Blanket Around Your Aquarium

    If your power is out, and the temperature in your home is slowly dropping, you may be worried that your fish tank temperature will also drop to dangerous levels. A temporary but quick solution is to wrap your aquarium with a blanket. The blanket will help insulate your fish tank for some time while you wait for the power to return. Besides a blanket, you can use styrofoam or something like FOAMULAR insulation to temporarily protect your aquarium from the cold. Styrofoam and FOAMULAR are great at keeping heat in and cold out.

    Heating Aquarium With Water Bottles

    You can likely boil some water if you have access to a gas stove during power outages. In a pinch, you can boil some water, place the hot water into a plastic bottle, or a bottle with a secure lid, and place that into the aquarium. The water will slowly release the heat into the aquarium. You can repeat this process until the power comes back on. If you have a small fish tank, keep an eye on your aquarium’s thermometer so the temperature doesn’t get too warm. I recommend a battery-operated air pump, like the AquaMiracle Battery Powered Aquarium Air Pump, to help move the water around as well as provide much-needed oxygen to your fish for elongated power outages.

    Keep Cool Water Fish

    If you’re not attempting to warm your aquarium but instead are trying to avoid using a heater but still want to keep fish in an aquarium, consider purchasing cool water fish. Many different species of fish will do great in colder water. Goldfish and White Cloud Mountain Minnows are just two of many different species that are great options. Regardless of what you decide to keep, it’s important to research their preferred habitat type, tank mate compatibility, aquarium sizing needs, and other husbandry requirements before purchasing them.

    Final Notes

    There are many different options to warm your fish tank without a heater. Unfortunately, most of these options are only temporary solutions for very short periods. If you want to rid yourself of your heater altogether, you’ll have to consider cool water fish or other cold water-loving animals to keep in your aquarium. Check out the 6 Best Aquarium Heaters for Freshwater & Saltwater Fish Tanks if your heater is on its last legs or has recently broken. If you have your own method for keeping your aquarium warm, let me know!

  • Do You Need a Heater For a Saltwater Fish Tank?

    Do You Need a Heater For a Saltwater Fish Tank?

    Saltwater aquariums are one of the many branches within the fishkeeping hobby. Most of the animals kept in these types of fish tanks do best in water temperatures ranging between 72°F and 80°F. You could be even more specific and say that they will do best in water temperatures between 76°F and 78°F. Although a lot of aquarium equipment gives off heat, reaching the appropriate temperature is often impossible without the assistance of something like an aquarium heater.

    Another thing that heaters provide is stability in water temperature, which is important to keeping a successful aquarium. In the oceans, temperatures can swing quickly for short periods. However, we are not working in the ocean, instead we are keeping an ecosystem in a glass box, and want to provide the best for the inhabitants. Small swings in temperature will probably occur in your fish tank, but we are trying to avoid that. Stable water temperatures will help lower the amount of stress brought on your fish, coral, and invertebrates.

    So yes, generally you will want to provide your saltwater aquarium with a heater. There are of course exceptions to the rule, which will be covered in this article but I recommend keeping a heater running on your saltwater fish tank. If you’re looking for ideas on which heater may work best for you, check out 6 Best Aquarium Heaters for Freshwater & Saltwater Fish Tanks.

    Disclaimer for Heaters

    Unfortunately, heaters are not picture-perfect pieces of equipment. They use large amounts of electricity in short bursts to warm your fish tank. Because of this, heaters are prone to being equipment that is likely to break, compared to other equipment. If you put your hand in your aquarium and feel a shock, it’s likely the heater is the culprit. If you feel a shock from your aquarium, it’s very important to remove the source of that electrical current. Take a look at How to Check For and Remove Electrical Current in a Fish Tank for information on the subject.

    There are two things I recommend purchasing to help protect yourself and your fish from a potentially faulty aquarium heater. First, I would recommend purchasing a Titanium Grounding Probe. This probe is made to “send” electrical current out of your aquarium, which will help protect you and your fish. You can purchase the Rio RV2735 Titanium Grounding Probe or if you have 2 aquariums, consider getting Encompass Titanium Grounding Probe (2-Pack).

    Your heater can malfunction in a way that it turns on and never turns back off. This can cause catastrophic damage to your aquarium by cooking whatever is inside. A great way to protect yourself from this is with the Inkbird Aquarium Heater Probe. This probe has a built-in over-temperature sensor fault alarm. This is an additional way to protect your aquarium from a potentially faulty heater.

    If you’re in the market for a new heater, check out the Innovative Marine Helio PTC Smart Heater. It’s a little pricey but could be well worth the investment. It comes with a smart controller, temperature sensors, an alarm when temperatures get a little too high, and a boatload of other features.

    Exceptions to Requiring a Heater

    There are only two reasons I could see someone not needing to run a heater on their saltwater aquarium. Both situations are not very common but I wanted to state them regardless. First, if you keep your home anywhere between 76°F and 80°F continuously, you probably do not need an aquarium heater. Many of us live in climates with swinging temperatures which prevents us from doing this. One could still be kept in the aquarium as a fail safe, incase the home temperature ever dropped to lower temperature, but that’s completely up to you.

    Also, if you enter the world of cold-water marine fish, you will not be using an aquarium heater. Instead, you’ll likely have to set up a chiller on your fish tank to maintain the proper temperature for those species of fish. These two scenarios are few and far between, but they do occur.

    Final Notes

    Saltwater aquariums can get very expensive. It’s best to create habits to lower the risk of your investment and to provide a great environment for the fish, coral, and invertebrates you choose to add to your aquarium. A heater is a fantastic way to raise your aquarium’s temperature and keep it at a stable level. Unfortunately, they are known to malfunction, but that’s why we have tools to lower the risk and danger when that does happen. If you have a heater set up that works great for you, please let me know! I love to learn from fish keeper’s personal experiences.

  • Aqueon Pro Heaters – Specs, Dimensions, etc.

    Aqueon Pro Heaters – Specs, Dimensions, etc.

    Aqueon Pro Aquarium Heaters are some of the most popular heaters available on the market for freshwater and saltwater aquariums. They’re sought after due to their tough build and durability. They come in five different sizes, which provide a different output of wattage. The smallest of these heaters will warm aquariums up to 20 gallons, and the largest will warm your fish tank up to 100 gallons. This article will dive deeper into each model, and I intend to provide the specs, dimensions, and many other features of these heaters. Before I jump into the details of each model, I will discuss some features that each heater shares.

    Adjustable Heat Setting Dial

    Each Aqueon Pro Heater comes included with a dial at the top that allows you to adjust the temperature to your needs. For this heater model, you can adjust the heating setting from 68°F to 88°F. From fish that tolerate cool water like Zebra Danios to fish that need incredibly warm water like the Discus Fish, this heater model will cover your bases.

    Shatterproof Build, Fully Submersible, & Auto Shut-Off

    This is a shatterproof aquarium heater because it is not made out of the glass like many others. Also, because of the material used for the build, the heater itself is nearly indestructible. It can take a beating from large fish such as Oscars. The Aqueon Pro Heater Series is also fully submersible. This allows you to put it into your fish tank at different angles to hide it behind decorations, plants, or rockwork. However, do not tilt the heater top below the bottom. This will cause the heater to shut off for what I assume are safety reasons.

    The Aqueon Pro Heater has a nice feature that forces it to auto-shutoff when it overheats. It’s a nice safety feature that will help protect your aquarium from cooking if the heater were to fault out. As an extra bit of protection, I do recommend purchasing a temperature controller, like the Inkbird Aquarium Probe Thermostat. The controller has an over-temperature sensor with a fault alarm, which should help prevent a fish tank from overheating.

    Aqueon Pro 50

    The Aqueon Pro 50 Submersible Aquarium Heater is the first and smallest of the series. It is rated for fish tanks up to 20 gallons and uses 50 watts of electricity. This heater measures 1.5″ x 1.75″ x 9″. Ideally it will be great for 10 gallon, 15 gallon, or 20 gallon aquariums. You may need a smaller heater for 5 gallon fish tanks. You can buy the Aqueon Pro 50 watt Heater on Amazon by clicking the link, or you can find this heater in other online shops or at your local fish store.

    Aqueon Pro 100

    The Aqueon Pro 100 Heater is slightly larger than the Pro 50 in size and wattage. This is a 100 watt aquarium heater and is rated for fish tanks up to 40 gallons. It also measures to be 1.5″ x 1.75″ x 10.5″. This heater is 1.5″ longer than the previous model in this series. The Aqueon Pro 100 Submersible Aquarium Heater is a fantastic choice for 29-gallon, 30-gallon, and 40-gallon aquariums. You can check this heater out at Amazon by following the link.

    Aqueon Pro 150

    The next jump up is to the Aqueon Pro 150 Submersible Aquarium Heater. This model uses 150 watts to warm your fish tank water and measures 1.5″ x 1.75″ x 12.75″. It is recommended to be used for aquariums that are up to 55 gallons. I would even recommend using this heater for 40- or 30-gallon aquariums. This is only if you can comfortably fit it into the fish tank. Take a look at this heater on Amazon by following the link above!

    Aqueon Pro 200

    The Aqueon Pro 200 Heater is the second largest model in this series of submersible heaters. It uses 200 watts to warm your aquarium and measures 1.5″ x 1.75″ x 12.75″. It shares the same measurement as the Aqueon Pro 150 but has a little more power than the previous model. This heater is rated for fish tanks up to 75 gallons. Consider picking up one of these at Amazon by clicking on the link above.

    Aqueon Pro 300

    The final and largest heater in this series is the Aqueon Pro 300 Submersible Aquarium Heater. This behemoth of a heater will use 300 watts of electricity and measures 1.5″ x 1.75″ x 15″. It is also rated to warm aquariums up to 100 gallons. It should also do incredibly well warming 75 gallon and 90 gallon fish tanks. Don’t forget to pick this one up on Amazon by following the link.

    Final Notes

    Aquarium heaters come in all shapes and sizes. Not many of them have as beefy of a build as the Aqueon Pro Submersible Heaters. These heaters are built to last and know how to handle a beating from larger fish. If you need a heater that can hold its own against large fish, really consider picking up one of these. If you’re looking for other types of aquarium heaters, check out the 6 Best Aquarium Heaters for Freshwater & Saltwater Aquariums. That guide will discuss the various and many popular heaters available in the hobby.

  • Fluval M Series Heaters – Specs, Dimensions, etc.

    Fluval M Series Heaters – Specs, Dimensions, etc.

    Fluval is one of many companies that provide heaters, aquariums, lighting, and other products for the aquarium keeping hobby. The company has been around since 1975 and continues to release products for all to enjoy. This article will specifically discuss the many different-sized M Series Heaters made by Fluval. We will begin with the small Fluval M50 Heater, and make our way to the largest of the series, which is the Fluval M300 Heater.

    General Fluval M Series Heater Information

    Before we move onto the details of each heater, let’s discuss some of the features that the heaters share between them. The following are features that this heater series contains.

    Mirrored Finish & Fully Submersible Design

    A very interesting feature that can be seen with each of these filters is that they all have a mirrored finish. The goal of this mirrored finish is to allow the heater itself to blend into the surroundings. It does this by reflecting the aquarium’s colors to camouflage itself.

    Fluval M Series Heaters are designed to allow full submersion. This is a fantastic feature because it allows you to hide them behind decor a bit easier. An added bonus to this is that you can also position this heater series horizontally. The only flaw to fully submerging your heater is that you’ll have to dip your hand into your aquarium to change the temperature.

    Computer Calibrated Thermostat & Temperature Control Dial

    This heater series comes equipped with a computer-calibrated thermostat. This makes fish-keeping a little easier because the thermostat should sense when the water hits the desired temperature and shut off. Once the water temperature drops, the heater should fire back up and bring the temp. up again.

    The Fluval M Series heaters come with a fairly straightforward control dial that allows you to adjust your temperature to your needs. You can adjust and turn your dial to a wide range of temperatures. On the low end, you can set your temperature to 66° F, and 86°F on the high end. This provides you with a large range of fish of different species.

    Fluval M50 A781

    The Fluval M50 Submersible Heater is the smallest in this series of heaters. It is a 50 watt heater that is made to be used for aquariums up to 15 gallons (57 Liters). This heater has a fairly small footprint. It has a footprint of 11″ x 1″ x 1″. This may be a little large for Nano-fish tanks but should work very well for 10-gallon aquariums. Be sure to check out the Fluval M50 on Amazon!

    Fluval M100 A782

    Next, regarding size is the Fluval M100 Submersible Heater. This 100 W aquarium heater is an excellent choice for fish tanks up to 30 gallons (100 Liters). Although it uses twice as much wattage and can heat more aquarium water, Fluval M100 Heaters still has the same footprint as the M50. The M100 footprint is 11″ x 1″ x 1″. If you can afford a larger heater, I would recommend picking this one up over the Fluval M50 Heater. Before we move ahead, consider checking out the Fluval M100 on Amazon!

    Fluval M150 A783

    The Fluval M150 Submersible Heater is rated for aquariums up to 45 gallons (150 Liters). This model in particular uses 150 watts which is a bit more than the M50 and M100. The M150 Heater is also the first that is a little larger. It has a footprint of 13″ x 1″ x 1″. Not much larger, but it can make a difference. Overall, it is a good heater but you will likely need to get the larger M200 for something like a 55-gallon fish tank. You can pick up the Fluval M150 on Amazon!

    Fluval M200 A784

    The next heater on this list is the Fluval M200 Submersible Heater. This heater is rated for fish tanks up to 65 gallons (245 Liters). This is a 200 W heater that shares the same dimensions as the Fluval M150. Those dimensions are 13″ x 1″ x 1″. This heater is an excellent candidate for 55 gallons aquariums but falls short as a recommendation for 75-gallon aquariums or larger. For larger aquariums, I recommend the Fluval M300. Be sure to check out the Fluval M200 Heater on Amazon!

    Fluval M300 A787

    The final and largest heater in this series is the Fluval M300. This submersible heater is rated for aquariums up to 80 gallons (302 Liters). This heater uses 300 W to warm your fish tank so it packs a punch. As stated above, this is the largest of the M Series heaters in both wattage and length. The Fluval M300 Submersible Heater measures 15″ x 1″ x 1″. Large aquariums should easily hide this heater regardless of size. At the time of writing this, the Fluval M300 is not available on Amazon, but be sure to check it out on the FluvalAquatics website!

    Final Notes

    The Fluval M Series Submersible Heaters are just one of many types of heaters available to purchase. I have personally used these heaters for both freshwater and saltwater aquarium and am consistently happy with the results. If you have any experiences or comments about this heater series please share them with me! If you’re looking for heaters from different brands, take a look at the 6 Best Aquarium Heaters for Freshwater & Saltwater Fish Tanks!

  • 6 Best Aquarium Heaters for Freshwater & Saltwater Fish Tanks

    6 Best Aquarium Heaters for Freshwater & Saltwater Fish Tanks

    Aquarium Heater Summary

    An aquarium heater is used to warm a fish tank to provide ideal conditions for fish, invertebrates, and other animals. Fish tank heaters come in different shapes, sizes, and styles and it can get a little overwhelming deciding which is best for you. From personal experience, I prefer getting heaters that are one size above what is listed on the box. I feel the heater doesn’t work as hard and warms your fish tank faster when it’s a little larger. Regardless of my personal preference, this guide will discuss some of the best aquarium heaters available. After you’re done choosing a heater that works for you, check out some of the Best hang on the back filters available!

    Table Of Contents
    1. Do you need a heater for a fish tank?
    2. 1. Aqueon Pro Aquarium Heater
    3. 2. Fluval M50 Submersible Heater
    4. 3. Eheim Jager TruTemp Aquarium Heater
    5. 4. Hygger Titanium Aquarium Heater
    6. 5. Fluval E Series Advanced Electronic Heater
    7. 6. Aqueon Mini Fish Tank Heater
    8. Extra Aquarium Heater Tips
    9. Final Notes

    Do you need a heater for a fish tank?

    Before we begin, I want to answer this question because it comes up from time to time. The answer is, it depends. A heater is a nice piece of equipment to have because it helps maintain stable water temperatures. However, you may not need a heater if the temperature of the room your fish tank is kept in sits in the temperature range your fish does best at. If your home’s temperature is 76°F, you will probably be able to get away without keeping a heater for many tropical fish. Make sure the temperature matches the needs of your fish. Also, the only other real exception to the rule is if you’re keeping cold water fish like Goldfish, White Cloud Minnows, etc.

    1. Aqueon Pro Aquarium Heater

    I would like to start this list with the Aqueon Pro Aquarium Heater. It is made with thermal plastics and shatterproof housing. To put it lightly, this heater can take a beating from big fish. I would like to see Tiger Oscars or other large fish try to break this. The Aqueon Pro comes in 5 different sizes (listed below) with varying wattages for different sized aquariums. You can click the following link which will take you to the Aqueon Pro Aquarium Heater purchase page on Amazon.

    • Aqueon Pro 50 – (up to 20 gal.)
    • Aqueon Pro 100 – (up to 40 gal.)
    • Aqueon Pro 150 – (up to 55 gal.)
    • Aqueon Pro 200 – (up to 75 gal.)
    • Aqueon Pro 300 – (up to 100 gal.)

    The Aqueon Pro Heater has a temperature adjuster knob that allows you to change the temperature setting from 68°F to 88°F. You can fully submerge this fish tank heater however, it will stop working if the top of the heater is lower than the bottom when placed horizontally. Lastly, this Pro Heater is great for both fresh and saltwater aquariums.

    2. Fluval M50 Submersible Heater

    Next on our list of fantastic heaters is the Fluval M Series heater. This heater is quite reliable (like many Fluval products). A very cool feature this Fluval heater has is its mirrored finish. This is done on purpose to help your heater blend into the surroundings. The mirrored finish will help hide your heater in your aquarium. Take a look at the different sizes of this filter and choose which is best for you. I included the following link, which will take you to the Fluval M Series purchase page on Amazon.

    • Fluval M50 – (up to 15 gal.)
    • Fluval M100 – (up to 30 gal.)
    • Fluval M150 – (up to 45 gal.)
    • Fluval M200 – (up to 65 gal.)
    • Fluval M300 – (up to 80 gal.)

    Furthermore, this series of submersible heater has a control dial to easily adjust the temperature. Like many other heaters, you can submerge the Fluval M Series heaters. It can also be used for both fresh and saltwater aquariums.

    3. Eheim Jager TruTemp Aquarium Heater

    The Eheim Jager TruTemp Aquarium Heater is a powerhouse! It has one of the largest temperature ranges (65-93° F) when it comes to heaters. This Eheim Heater also has a dry protection control. That means the heater should shut off when it is not submerged. It’s a nice safety measure in case your aquarium ever decides to leak and drain all of its water. This series of heater can warm aquariums from 5 gallons to ~260 gallons. The list is provided below and you can this link will take you to the Eheim Jager TruTemp Aquarium Heater purchase page on Amazon.

    • Jager 25W – (up to 7 gal.)
    • Jager 50W – (up to 16 gal.)
    • Jager 75W – (up to 26 gal.)
    • Jager 100W – (up to 40 gal.)
    • Jager 125W – (up to 53 gal.)
    • Jager 150W – (up to 79 gal.)
    • Jager 200W – (up to 106 gal.)
    • Jager 250W – (up to 159 gal.)
    • Jager 300W – (up to 264 gal.)

    The Eheim Jager Heater can be mounted horizontally with no problems. It also has a control knob so you can easily adjust the temperature. Lastly, the housing of this Eheim Heater is made from shatter-proof glass.

    4. Hygger Titanium Aquarium Heater

    The Hygger Titanium Aquarium Heater is awesome partly because it comes with a separate controller to aid in getting the ideal water temperature. You can fully submerge this heater as well as place it horizontally if needed. It is shatterproof while also being anti-corrosive so it is great for both freshwater and saltwater fish tanks. The Hygger Titanium Heater comes in a range of sizes which are listed below. Click on the following link which will take you to the Hygger Titanium Aquarium Heater purchase page on Amazon.

    • Hygger Titanium 50W – (up to 10 gal.)
    • Hygger Titanium 100W – (up to 25 gal.)
    • Hygger Titanium 200W – (up to 45 gal.)
    • Hygger Titanium 500W – (up to 120 gal.)

    The controller is used to adjust the temperature of the heater. It is a nice feature because you will not have to get your hands wet if you want to adjust your fish tank’s temperature.

    5. Fluval E Series Advanced Electronic Heater

    The Fluval E Series Heater is the tool of the future. If you’re looking for a heater with all the bells and whistles, check this one out. The E Series Heaters use a VUETECH alert system. The VUETECH alert system uses a little screen to alert you when water temperatures are safe, too cool, or too warm. The screen will turn green when all is well, blue when the water temperature is cool, and red when the temperature goes too high. It comes in a variety of sizes and you can click on the following link which will take you to the Fluval E Series purchase page on Amazon.

    • Fluval E50 – (up to 15 gal.)
    • Fluval E100 – (up to 30 gal.)
    • Fluval E200 – (up to 65 gal.)
    • Fluval E300 – (up to 100 gal.)

    That’s not all for this heater. It also has a microprocessor with dual sensors which help to provide very accurate temperature readings. Also, the Fluval E Series Heater has a protective housing to prevent decor, fish, and invertebrates from coming in contact with it.

    6. Aqueon Mini Fish Tank Heater

    Last on our list is a heater you may not expect. I wanted to add the Aqueon Mini Fish Tank Heater onto this list because it is specifically designed to heat nano fish tanks. It is rated for fish tanks up to 5 gallons so it is an excellent choice for desktop aquariums.

    Also, this fish tank heater is incredibly compact and fully submersible. It has a thermal safety shut-off to prevent your aquarium from overheating. It’s a cool little heater and an option for anyone who loves setting up nano aquariums. Click on the following link which will take you to the Aqueon Mini Fish Tank Heater purchase page on Amazon.

    Extra Aquarium Heater Tips

    There are many questions regarding heaters. This next section is devoted to answering some that are commonly asked.

    How do you heat up fish tank water quickly?

    In a normal healthy environment, you do not want to heat fish tank water quickly. You will want to increase water temperatures gradually. However, if for whatever reason you need to heat your water quickly, you can do them in a variety of ways. You can add another heater and adjust the temperature to your needs.

    Consider filling empty water bottles with warm water and placing the bottles into the fish tank. This will slowly release warm water into your tank. Do not pour warm/hot water directly into your fish tank because it can be dangerous for your fish!

    How do I know if my aquarium heater is working?

    To test whether your aquarium heater is working, start by filling a bucket with freshwater. You can either allow the water to sit to reach room temperature or you can start your test right away. Put a aquarium thermometer into the bucket and record the temperature. After the temperature is recorded place the heater you want to test into the bucket and see if it warms the water. I would recommend adjusting the heater’s dial to 80~ ° F to guarantee it warms passed room temperature.

    How to keep a fish tank warm without a heater?

    Long term, you can’t keep your fish tank warm without a heater unless you keep your house at the appropriate temperature. However, if your house temporarily lost electricity, there are ways to slow down your aquarium from cooling.

    1. Wrap and cover your fish tank with towels for insulation
    2. If possible, fill bottles with warm water and place bottles in fish tank
    3. Remove some cool water and replace with warmer water
    4. Purchase a gas powered generator to use during outage

    There are probably other ways to heat your fish tank without power but there are the first that come to mind.

    Final Notes

    Aquarium Heaters are an incredibly important piece of equipment for most freshwater and saltwater fish tanks. Without them, it would be nearly impossible to keep many of the fish we enjoy. I hope this list of fish tank heaters gives you an idea of the many options available and allows you to choose which is best for you.