Aquarium Heater Calculator: Find the Perfect Heater Size for Your Tank

Your aquarium ensures the survival of cold-blooded creatures, which rely upon water temperature to control their physique temperature. Therefore, offering and sustaining the precise temperature is essential. Relying in your setup, you possibly can select to make use of one or a number of heaters. Heater capability, or heating energy, is proven by its wattage score.

Table of Contents

1 Sorts of Aquarium Heaters
2 Discovering the Proper Aquarium Heater Dimension
3 Suggestions for Utilizing Aquarium Heaters
4 Extra from The Spruce Pets

Sorts of Aquarium Heaters

You’ll be able to resolve on the kind and variety of aquarium heaters to make use of.

Grasp-on-tank: These heaters connect to the tank’s rear, sometimes with suction cups, a hook, or one other fastening machine. They’re solely partially submerged and are much less environment friendly than different kinds of heaters. Nevertheless, they supply ample heating for smaller tanks. For bigger tanks, it is advisable to make use of multiple hang-on heater on reverse sides of the aquarium.

Submersible: Submersible heaters are totally submerged in tank water and might be mounted horizontally or vertically on the again. They’re usually positioned horizontally close to the substrate and provide extra constant and environment friendly heating than hang-on heaters, particularly in bigger tanks.

Heating cable: That is positioned underneath the gravel or substrate and is linked to a management unit, helpful for freshwater-planted aquariums to eradicate lifeless spots. Nevertheless, repairing or changing the cable requires disturbing the substrate, making it a much less splendid alternative for saltwater reef techniques.

Discovering the Proper Aquarium Heater Dimension

Sizing a tank heater is dependent upon the tank’s water quantity, the room’s common temperature, and the specified water temperature for the tank.

For heater wattage, the rule of thumb is 2.5 to five watts per gallon of water quantity. Extra wattage could also be wanted primarily based on the specified temperature enhance. If utilizing a number of heaters, their whole capability ought to match the required wattage.

To regulate for room temperature, subtract the room’s common temperature from the goal aquarium water temperature. The result’s the required heating in levels.

Utilizing the aquarium heater dimension chart beneath, discover your aquarium dimension within the left column. Transfer to the column exhibiting the variety of levels the aquarium must be heated. If between ranges, go for the following bigger dimension.

Instance:

Common room temperature: 68 levels F
Goal water temperature: 77 levels F
Heating required: 9 levels F (77 – 68 = 9)
Tank dimension: 20 gallon
Heater dimension wanted: 50 watts

Aquarium Heater Dimension Chart
Tank Dimension	Warmth 5 Levels C 9 Levels F	Warmth 10 Levels C 18 Levels F	Warmth 15 Levels C 27 Levels F
5 Gallon/20 Liter	25 watt	50 watt	75 watt
10 Gallon/40 Liter	50 watt	75 watt	75 watt
20 Gallon/75 Liter	50 watt	75 watt	150 watt
25 Gallon/100 Liter	75 watt	100 watt	200 watt
40 Gallon/150 Liter	100 watt	150 watt	300 watt
50 Gallon/200 Liter	150 watt	200 watt	two 200 watt
65 Gallon/250 Liter	200 watt	250 watt	two 250 watt
75 Gallon/300 Liter	250 watt	300 watt	two 300 watt

Suggestions for Utilizing Aquarium Heaters

In bigger tanks, or when the room temperature is considerably beneath the specified water temperature, think about using two heaters. Set up them at reverse ends of the aquarium for even heating.
Utilizing a number of hang-on or submersible heaters is advisable for even warmth distribution and fewer pressure on every unit. If one fails, the temperature will not drop too quickly, permitting time to switch it. It is clever to maintain a backup heater.
The heater tube size is essential as a result of warmth rises. Usually, it ought to match your aquarium’s peak.
Verify for warmth sources and room temperature fluctuations across the aquarium. Your tank is perhaps close to a vent or intermittent warmth sources inflicting temperature adjustments.
All the time unplug the heater when draining the tank to stop overheating when it is not submerged.
Some heaters have numbered thermostat settings for exact temperature management. Others have controls starting from low to excessive with out particular temperatures. The previous is less complicated to make use of, however all the time confirm the setting maintains the right aquarium temperature.

Place the heater close to the filter’s water outflow to disperse heated water all through the aquarium.
Use an aquarium thermometer to confirm the heater maintains the right temperature. Transfer the thermometer to numerous aquarium spots to make sure uniform temperature.

The Greatest Aquarium Heaters, In accordance with a Pet Fish Veterinarian