Any Thoughts On Cable Heaters

[Aquaguy2330]

I am currently putting together all the things I need for my tank and I have most everything picked out. The one thing I can't decide on is the heater. When done with my tank the plan is to not be able to see anything but fish and decorations. Filter intake and return will all be hidden behind background. I am building a canister filter so I really don't have a good hiding place for the heater. I was thinking about a hydor cable heater but I have no experience with them. Anyone ever use them or currently using one?

 

[Tuxyu3]

You mean like an in-line heater? The only advice I can give is to make sure the model fits your filter pipes, I cannot stress that enough! Not all models will fit all kinds of piping you see.

 

[Aquaguy2330]

No this is a cable that is ran in a zig zag pattern under your gravel.

 

[DrRob]

I've never used one myself, but they've been around for years. I've seen claims about promoting plant growth, or stunting it (mainly promoting), but the biggest gripe I've know from people who had them was that they fail, and you either have to dig up the whole substrate, or just bung in a normal heater as well, which is what they all ended up doing.

Now times may have changed, but it was reliability that stopped them really in the past.

In-line heaters, such as the hydor are better regarded.

 

[Tuxyu3]

Apologies for my ignorance.

I've never used one myself, but they've been around for years. I've seen claims about promoting plant growth, or stunting it (mainly promoting), but the biggest gripe I've know from people who had them was that they fail, and you either have to dig up the whole substrate, or just bung in a normal heater as well, which is what they all ended up doing.

Now times may have changed, but it was reliability that stopped them really in the past.

In-line heaters, such as the hydor are better regarded.

This sounds like good advice to me