Fish Tank Heater

[tyler88]

Hey im not really new to keeping fish but i just moved and set up a new ten gallon tank. The problem im having is with the heater im using. With the CFL lights on during the day my tank stays exactly at 78 F, but when i turn off the lights at night it quickly drops almost below 74 F. The heater comes on and off but the temp stays low, if i turn it up then during the day it gets too hot. The heater is an ELITE 25w. Any suggestions?

 

[Firecc]

Hey im not really new to keeping fish but i just moved and set up a new ten gallon tank. The problem im having is with the heater im using. With the CFL lights on during the day my tank stays exactly at 78 F, but when i turn off the lights at night it quickly drops almost below 74 F. The heater comes on and off but the temp stays low, if i turn it up then during the day it gets too hot. The heater is an ELITE 25w. Any suggestions?

My only suggestion is to try to set your tanks to the temp you want without the lights, only run your lights for a short time at night. I am not an expert, but to keep moving the temperature changes from 78 down to 74 will really stress your fish. Freshwater typically like it around 72-74, if breeding then around 78 for the pregnant females.

 

[tyler88]

Hey thanks for the reply. I only have An opaline gourami in the tank so far so the 78 F im aiming for is fine for him. Also im not changing the temps like this on purpose, during the day with the lights on im not having any problems its after the lights are off the heater just doesnt seem to be doing its job.

 

[lilfishie]

your heater is too small for the tank, ideally you want atleast 1 wattage per liter, yours will need a 50 watt

 

[tyler88]

Ok thanks, ill try to get a bigger one soon. While i have this going, is 78 F ok for a guppy fry? It came in one of the bags from the pet store and im keeping him in the same tank.

 

[lilfishie]

he should be fine

on a side note you Gourami will get too big for your tank A Dwarf or Honey is much more suited

 

[tyler88]

ok, and yea i know the gouramis too big. After i move over the 40 gallon he will go back in there. I just didnt know how else to move my fish.

 

[lilfishie]

Thats all good then

 

[Mowbz]

your heater is too small for the tank, ideally you want atleast 1 wattage per liter, yours will need a 50 watt

+1 The only issue here is the size of the heater, its having to work too hard in that tank.

I dont want to scare that c rap out of you, but its normaly this that causes heaters to fail. And they normally fail in the "on" position (If its a bi-metallic switch type) which proceeds to boil the tank. With a 25w, it would take some time, but i would definately recommend getting another 25w in there ASAP, or change them out for a 50w to save space.

 

[Aqua Tom]

your heater is too small for the tank, ideally you want atleast 1 wattage per liter, yours will need a 50 watt

+1 The only issue here is the size of the heater, its having to work too hard in that tank.

I dont want to scare that c rap out of you, but its normaly this that causes heaters to fail. And they normally fail in the "on" position (If its a bi-metallic switch type) which proceeds to boil the tank. With a 25w, it would take some time, but i would definately recommend getting another 25w in there ASAP, or change them out for a 50w to save space.

sigh, not true. Heaters nearly always fail in the off position, it is just the occasional, one in a fifty thousand that doesnt, that makes us all paranoid.