Fish Tank Heaters

An important part of setting up a new fish tank is choosing a heater, especially if you are planning on keeping fish that have a specific temperature requirement. Being aware of the different types of fish tank heaters is a very important part of pet care, since it will allow you to give the inhabitants of your aquarium the best fish pet care possible. Most heating mechanisms are designed to heat a certain number of gallons, so it’s important to keep in mind the size of your fish tank when purchasing a fish tank heater. Here is some general information that will help you to become more familiar with fish tank heaters.

SUBMERGED HEATER

There are certain types of aquarium heaters that are designed to be completely submerged at the bottom of a fish tank. The effectiveness of these heaters depends on the natural process of warmer water rising to the top of the fish tank. As this heated water rises, it produces a natural circulation of the water in the tank. However, some people argue that this creates a constant and noticeable disparity between the temperature at the bottom of the tank and the temperature at the surface. Because of this, thermometer readings of the tank’s overall temperature may be affected depending on where they are placed on the tank, making it harder to maintain an average temperature.

ENCASED HEATER

Some fish tank heaters are designed to be placed in a fish tank while still being attached to the top of the tank. This is accomplished by a glass tube that encases the portion of the heating mechanism that extends below the surface of the water. Since this could also result in an uneven distribution of heat, some encased heating systems include a thermostat which can be placed in the opposite end of the tank from the heater. This ensures that the heat produced by the heating mechanism has to be adequately circulated to reach the thermostat which controls the heater’s operation.

IMPORTANCE OF THERMOMETERS

It’s very important that you keep more than one thermometer that is constantly monitoring the temperature of your fish tank. It’s possible that one of your thermometers may malfunction, as some thermometers have slightly different temperature readings. When reading two thermometers, it is usually best to take the average of both temperature displays as the actual temperature of your tank. Many fish are extremely sensitive to changes in temperature, which can cause a significant amount of stress on their internal systems.

PLACEMENT OF YOUR FISH TANK

In order to ensure that your tank’s heater is able to operate properly, it’s best that you place your fish tank in an area that is not subjected to any variations that could possibly affect temperature. This means that it is usually best to place your fish tank away from direct sunlight, heating monitors, drafty areas or places where there is a door leading to the outdoors. This will greatly help you in maintaining a comfortable temperature in your fish tank.