Heater Help Please.

[jasminekiddell]

Hiya my heater arrived for the betta tank just now but before i put it in im wondering what i should have the heat on, the choices are, 20c/68f, 22c/72f, 24c/75f, 26c/79f, 28c/82f, 30c/86f, 32c/89f, 34c/93f.
I was thinking 26/79 but i'd like your opinion thankyou.

 

[Tonym]

I would go for 26c/79f i have my tanks at this temp.

 

[doggiebag]

I have mine at 80f, so yes, I would go with 79f too.

 

[pippoodle]

try setting the heater to 26 for a couple of days and keep an eye on the tank temp - sometimes you need to put it to 28 to get a steady 26 on some of the lower wattage cheaper models - not saying yours is a cheapy one

 

[lilacamy931]

Just as above! Remember dont turn it on until well positioned and hands out the water before turning on! Luckily I havent been shocked yet but there is time! There are some funny stories on here about it, but only funny because it wasnt fatal!

Good luck! Let us know how Shimmer gets on!

 

[CTlovesKS]

79F to 82F

Have fun

 

[jasminekiddell]

Ok thanks guys, and its an 100watt, i was going to get a 50watt but i thought the 100watt would be more suitable.
I'll pop it in after my new tank set up.
plus itsa really good one, for only £8 what a bargain its really good!

 

[Winterlily]

Er um, just checking. The 100 watt heater is for what size tank? This your 5 gallon/21 litre?? If so, that's WAY too strong. 25 watts is all you need on a 5 gallon. Could probably do a 50 watt if you had to (I'm told doable, but not necessary and will use more electricity than necessary), but definitely no need for a 100.

 

[jasminekiddell]

Oh right, i just got that because it has the right sort of heat for the betta but i guess the other would have im not really any good with working out wattage and tank size, well i already have it now so i'll have to keep it x
Whats so bad about using 100watt, it may use more electricity but i dont mind and neither do my parents, it still does the same heat.

 

[stevefish21]

Hi
A higher wattage heater will heat the water quicker. Technically it will use more electricity whilst its heating the water, but as it will be on less due to heating water quicker, it'll probably work out the same in the long run. The only issue with a high wattage heater in a smaller tank is if the thermostat breaks. The water temperature will rise rapidly.

Always monitor the temp with a good glass thermometer, as the settings on heaters are not always accurate.

 

[Winterlily]

The only issue with a high wattage heater in a smaller tank is if the thermostat breaks. The water temperature will rise rapidly.

Yep, exactly. Just had my heater crash on me this morning. 5 1/2 gallon tank, 25 watt heater, set to keep the water at about 77F. Thermometer said just about that (77-78ish) when I got up in the morning, and by about an hour later, I reached my hand in to prune a plant and wondered why on EARTH the water was so warm. Looked at the thermometer - 84. Eighty-four?!? I look at the heater, the light's on, indicating it's STILL on. I turned it way down (to like 65) just to see what it'd do, and it still stayed on. Needless to say I unplugged it and went out and bought a new one. But I don't want to think what would've happened if I wasn't around or it'd been a stronger heater. He'd've been Betta Soup.

 

[jasminekiddell]

I do have a good glass thermometer that i got off someone bran new, so no problem there and i'm keeping a close eye on the heater over the next few days, and the light doesnt come on much, more at night.

 

[Truck]

28oC

bettas come from warmer waters in the wild.

 

[jasminekiddell]

It's set on 26 for now just to makesure its all working and everything, and its at the right temperature now x

 

[Winterlily]

28oC
bettas come from warmer waters in the wild.

One of mine does best around that, but the other does far better and is happier more around 78F/26C. I certainly wouldn't go lower than that, generally though, or much higher than 80-8F2/28C.