Using A Heater Too Big For The Tank?

[Geoff1991]

Well, as you may have seen this thread, i want an external heater and cant find a 100w one in the UK. Im considering getting the hydor 200w external heater, for my 15G tank. My only worry is... Its too big. Am i right in thinking that this will only be a problem if it malfunctions? So it should be ok as long as i regularly check the temperature of the water?

 

[JenCliBee]

Well, as you may have seen this thread, i want an external heater and cant find a 100w one in the UK. Im considering getting the hydor 200w external heater, for my 15G tank. My only worry is... Its too big. Am i right in thinking that this will only be a problem if it malfunctions? So it should be ok as long as i regularly check the temperature of the water?

TBH m8 even if a 100 watt heater fails it will still boil your fish, just take longer, 200 watt is a big heater for a 60l tank i would be more concerned over temp fluctuations than it actually malfunctioning

 

[Geoff1991]

Yeah, i know theres always the risk... IVe heard of people using bigger heaters before, just wanted to check...

 

[afishdude]

I used to run 300w in my 10g tanks for beta breeding. They are really sensitive to temp change so the 300w would keep the temp right where I wanted it.

 

[Mikaila31]

Why a 100 watt? My 15gal and my 20 gal both use 50watt heaters. 200watt would be way too much, IMO 100watt is still a lot. If the heater malfunctions it will just cook your fish faster. I had a 300watt in my 55gal, once it malfunctioned I replaced it with a 200watt. That heater malfunctioned last week, it was no where near as bad as the big 300watt heater malfunction. It was a rena smartheater, and still under warrenty. Its warning light lit up so I was able to catch it much faster.

 

[Geoff1991]

Its what came with my tank. I really want an external heater but i havent had much luck finding one the right size yet...

 

[Geoff1991]

An idea just popped into my head.

If i do end up going for a 200w heater, i could use one of these

http/www.eurorep.net/habistat/temp.htm

But then id be adding more to my tank when im trying to have as little equipment in my tank as possible. Hence the external heater... Hmm

 

[JenCliBee]

An idea just popped into my head.

If i do end up going for a 200w heater, i could use one of these

[URL="http/www.eurorep.net/habistat/temp.htm"]http/www.eurorep.net/habistat/temp.htm[/URL]

But then id be adding more to my tank when im trying to have as little equipment in my tank as possible. Hence the external heater... Hmm

It would be just a probe like thing in the water, however ive used these and there brilliant with reptiles etc etc but i dont know how well the probe would be under water?

 

[Geoff1991]

Not sure, i guess i could nick the one from our vivarium for a bit to try it...

 

[JenCliBee]

Not sure, i guess i could nick the one from our vivarium for a bit to try it...

Always worth a try lol

 

[Geoff1991]

I may do that sometime soon (not until after the inhabitants have been fed of course)

Although in my eyes, i cant see much of a problem with a bigger heater as long as i keep a check on the temperature. I do cold water changes and the temperature drops about 2 or 3 degrees when i do 50% and around 1 degree when i do a 25 percent (tested this while doing a WC after a pH crash). So there wouldn't be big fluctuations, but some here have more experience than i do and probably see a problem that i dont...

 

[JenCliBee]

I may do that sometime soon (not until after the inhabitants have been fed of course)

Well good luck m8 and hope it works, keep us updated on how it goes

 

[Geoff1991]

I may do that sometime soon (not until after the inhabitants have been fed of course)

Well good luck m8 and hope it works, keep us updated on how it goes

Cheers

 

[JenCliBee]

The only problem i can see is when the heater actually heats up and gets to the ideal set temp it switches off, a smaller heater will cool down much quicker than a much bigger heater so as it is cooling down it's still heating the tank water especially more so in a much smaller body of water, this may casue constant temp flutuations which could and may lead to stressed fish which could/may lead to an illness. That would be my only concern but in 60l of water the problem may be minimal, i guess you wont know untill you try though

 

[Geoff1991]

But then, doesnt the water cool down slightly going through the external filter giving a similar effect?