recommendations for a good heater 180l tank?

[Flossybean]

I need to buy a new heater for my 180l tank and I'm wondering which is the best to buy. And am i better off with one either end? Any advice welcome.
Thanks

 

[Flossybean]

I need to buy a new heater for my 180l tank and I'm wondering which is the best to buy. And am i better off with one either end? Any advice welcome.
Thanks

I've bought one please ignore this post

 

[Byron]

I will comment on the one or two heaters question as that will still be relevant regardless of the brand of heater.

I always use two heaters in tanks that are longer than 3 feet (90 cm), one at either end and next to the filter intake or return, or both if it is a canister. Tanks up to this length can work with one heater, provided it is adequate wattage and provided the room does not get colder than about 10 degrees lower than the intended tank temperature. Heaters will not and cannot adequately heat a tank in a room that is colder, and they will burn out faster the harder they have to work.

 

[Flossybean]

Thank you. Mines 3 feet long so i guess the one heater will be ok? I've bought one heater but already have one so i can do two if needs be just the one i had was too small for the tank on its own

 

[Flossybean]

I can put a thermometer at both ends too to check if the temperature changes from one end to the other

 

[Byron]

I can put a thermometer at both ends too to check if the temperature changes from one end to the other

You will always see temperature differences in an aquarium, except perhaps for the smallest tanks. The water above the substrate will be cooler than close to the surface due to thermal stratification, and it may vary from end to end too. My heaters are always at the back in either (or both if two) corners, so I tend to keep the thermometer at either front corner.

What wattage heater did you get, and which brand, if you don't mind my asking? The wattage is important; higher wattage heaters tend to be much more reliable, and last much longer. I still have 200w heaters that have been running now for just over 20 years. I also had three or four 50w heaters that failed after just a few months if not weeks. One heater in your 3-foot 180 liter tank should be a 250w or even 300w. If you have two, they could be 200w or preferably 250w.

Have it beside the filter return, or the intake. This ensures water will circulate around the heater better; left alone the water will heat and rise but not spread out as well as it does if there is flow in/out of the filter beside it. If it is a fully submersible, you can position it horizontal instead of vertical down closer to the substrate. Warm water, like warm air, rises and cold sinks, which is why the water at the substrate will be cooler. If you have rooted plants this factors in as well, as the cooler water is drawn down into the substrate where it is heated by the decomposition of the organics, and the warmer water rises up into the tank, so there is a natural circulation from this too.

 

[NickAu]

I know Im late to the party but when it comes to heaters buy the best you can afford, avoid those cheap Chines made ones at all costs.

 

[Flossybean]

I've bought a 300W one from Amazon it's a make called Zoohi ........ now thinking i should send it back because it's not a brand i know?

 

[Byron]

I've bought a 300W one from Amazon it's a make called Zoohi ........ now thinking i should send it back because it's not a brand i know?

I know nothing of this brand, it may be good or may not.

My last heater purchase was an Eheim Jager, and if I needed another it would be the same. But there are other reliable brands I have not used I'm sure.

 

[seangee]

I've bought a 300W one from Amazon it's a make called Zoohi ........ now thinking i should send it back because it's not a brand i know?

I bought one of those over Christmas as an emergency purchase. Put it in yesterday and so far so good. Calibration is slightly off but that is quite normal. In my case setting to 22.5C gives me a temp of exactly 25. There were a good few bad reviews about the Eheim (and thermostat failures) so I decided not to spend the extra money.

I have ordered a thermostatic controller though as a belt and braces approach. If the heater stops working you have several days (or even weeks depending on the room temp) to sort it out. If the thermostat fails you wake up to cooked fish - no matter how good or expensive the heater was.

 

[Flossybean]

I know nothing of this brand, it may be good or may not.

My last heater purchase was an Eheim Jager, and if I needed another it would be the same. But there are other reliable brands I have not used I'm sure.

Tha

I bought one of those over Christmas as an emergency purchase. Put it in yesterday and so far so good. Calibration is slightly off but that is quite normal. In my case setting to 22.5C gives me a temp of exactly 25. There were a good few bad reviews about the Eheim (and thermostat failures) so I decided not to spend the extra money.

I have ordered a thermostatic controller though as a belt and braces approach. If the heater stops working you have several days (or even weeks depending on the room temp) to sort it out. If the thermostat fails you wake up to cooked fish - no matter how good or expensive the heater was.

What's a thermostatic controller? Thanks

 

[Colin_T]

Aquarium heaters and most heaters in general have a thermostat built into the electronics. The thermostat is attached to the dial you set to get a particular temperature. It controls the heater and turns the heater on and off when needed.

A thermostat simply stops the heater running continuously and cooking everything. It allows the water to be kept at a particular temperature.

 

[Flossybean]

Aquarium heaters and most heaters in general have a thermostat built into the electronics. The thermostat is attached to the dial you set to get a particular temperature. It controls the heater and turns the heater on and off when needed.

A thermostat simply stops the heater running continuously and cooking everything. It allows the water to be kept at a particular temperature.

Thanks Colin x

 

[seangee]

Tha

What's a thermostatic controller? Thanks

Belt and braces
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B018K2DKYW/?tag=