Heater Guard, Necessary?

[justjon]

Hi guys,

Are heater guards really needed? I've heard heaters can harm the fish, and mine at the moment is just open in the corner of the tank now i've removed my Juwel Filter box, should I buy one?

I tried to get one at my LFS but they didn't sell them

 

[jameshunter63]

i think its a prop to make you buy extra's. iv had heaters for years. seem fine. Btw, how did you remove the filter box?? did you need to empty the tank first?
thanks
james

 

[justjon]

Hi James

Cheers, I kept all the water and fish in - And was very careful and took my time, I purchased a yellow snappable-blade stanley knife from B&Q (81p), and extended it and cut the silicone , then just gently angled it and pulled it off for the bottom pieces.

I'll post a pic in the other thread in a tic.

 

[justjon]

Posted a pic on http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/338309-new-fluval-205/ =)

 

[jameshunter63]

o fantastic!! im buying an external so soon will be tacking it out. bet yours looks much bigger now!!
Just done a little research on the heater guard and it seems that they sell it to protect the heater from falling rocks etc. Glad about that cus i often see my SAE lying on my heater!!
thanks!
james

 

[Destination Doha]

i can see ya point on Heater Guard but i had a stupid plec that sucked on a 300 watt Heater and just sat on it till it burnt his belly so i got one. also if you ever have a Heater break it will hold the bits in it inside the Guard so you dont have to pic out all the bits and pieces from the bottom of the tank

 

[shroob]

It depends on what sort of fish you keep. If you have fish that like to rest on things eg. plecs, leaf fish, loaches then it would probably be useful. The same goes for aggressive or powerful fish eg. large cichlids as these might break the heater.

If you just keep guppies or danios, then there might not be a reason to have one.