200W Heater In A 25L Tank?

[Alm0stAwesome]

So I'm looking into buying all the bits I'd need to set up a hospital tank. I've got a spare 200w heater lying around and if it won't cause any harm I'd like to use it instead of buying a new one. I'm planning on using a 25L plastic tub for the tank and getting something like the Hagen i24 for the filter.

Thanks!

 

[Man of fish]

I'd say it wouldn't even fit..... ?

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

It fits

 

[micko]

If you can sleep at night knowing you may wake up to fried fish if the heater jams on then go for it.
Personally I wouldn't do it.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Errr...surely that would happen if the heater jammed on in any case?

 

[DJH584]

Others who know better than I will no doubt advise you, but I would be inclined to get a 25W heater for that - 200W in 25l seems a tad OTT. Your fish might suffer due to wild temperature changes due to the water being heated too quickly. There is also the danger that in such a confined space, if any fish gets in contact with the heater it will get burnt. I seem to recall another thread on this issue and recollect that the advice given there was the same.

David

 

[micko]

"Erm" yes, your right. But they'll get fried a lot quicker with that size of a heater if that does happen, giving you less of a chance to do something about it.
I've two heaters in most of my tanks unless they're under 50litres. With both heaters it still works out at 1w per litre but if a jam on does happen on one it will have less of an effect than if it were one heater.

I'm not telling you what to do, its up to you at the end of the day.

 

[justin85]

if the heater has got a built in thermostat that cuts the power out once it gets the water to the required temperature then it will be fine, I use a 250w heater in a 30L breeding tank and the water stays at the exact temperature i set it to.

Also if your worried about the fish coming in contact with the heater, you can pick up a heater guard for like £5 on ebay.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

lol well haven't you just complicated things justin! Yeah that's true but I will prob just buy a 25w heater for the cost of a guard

 

[Man of fish]

Yeah you could prolly get a 25 watt for about £5-10

 

[justin85]

lol well haven't you just complicated things justin! Yeah that's true but I will prob just buy a 25w heater for the cost of a guard

In my experience, the small 25w heaters don’t keep the water temperature stable and I have lost a whole tank of fry because of it, but that might be down to the 25w heater I was using. Sorry about complicating things