Good Heater for 90 Gallon

[Circus]

I have been looking at heaters for when I set up my 90 gallon semi aggressive tank. I want one that will be consistent and stable for 79°F. I prefer adjustable heaters and am looking at 300 Watts. Brands I have looked at are Aquatop, Aqueon Pro series, Fluval, and Eheim. Are there any real differences, or does it just come down to "a heater is a heater"?

 

[Fishmanic]

Get two 200 watt heaters, separated by a couple of feet. Stay away from really cheap brands.

 

[Circus]

Get two 200 watt heaters, separated by a couple of feet.

Does that keep the water temperature more stable? Should I place them vertically or horizontally?

 

[Fishmanic]

I would place them at a 45 degree angle. Good brands are Fluval, , or Eheim in my opinion.

you need to calibrate them to get to proper temperature. You can't rely on the settings on the heaters.

 

[Fishmanic]

two heaters are better because if one fails by not heating, the other will take over and prevent too low a temperature. And two heaters will heat a large tank more evenly than one larger heater

 

[Circus]

Thank you. I usually go for what is on sale for my smaller tanks, but with the big tank I actually have the time to fit it correctly. And not just scramble as usual.

 

[Fishmanic]

Here's a good source discussing heater requirements.

Selecting the Proper Heater for Your Specific Application

 

[Circus]

That was pretty helpful! How do you calibrate a heater? I always assumed they came that way...

 

[Fishmanic]

actually, I have had an earlier version of aqueon pro heaters and also have the newer version. I liked the older version but the newer version has a less visible on--off light and the dial doesnt line up with actual temp. So I cannot recommend the newer aqueon pro heater.

 

[Fishmanic]

actually disregard my calibration post... do a youtube search for calibrating whatever brand you end up buying...calibration is important as indicated temp often varies from actual temp

 

[Fishmanic]

you need to have an accurate thermometer to properly calibrate your heater

 

[Circus]

The eheim and fluval both seem to have good reviews, so I will compare prices vs shipping on a couple online stores. And buy a thermometer, as I don't actually own a good digital one.

 

[Fishmanic]

also I imagine that calibration instructions should be included in instructions for whatever brand you buy.

 

[Fishmanic]

read reviews on Amazon to get an idea of people's experiences

 

[Circus]

I appreciate all of the advice! Until now I didn't realize exactly how complicated choosing a heater could be...