Heater Issues

[zimma]

hey guys, new to the forum and just went tropical with a tank ive had for about 4-6 months, and im having some issues with the heater i have, its a oldish 100w heater that my dad had in the shed from when we used to have a tank...

the issue im having atm is that the temperature is really eratic, like one minute it will be only 18-20 degrees and after a hr or 2 the pilot light wont come back on and the temp isnt rising, ill turn the heater up just so the pilot light comes on and itll shoot up to 27-28 degrees so wondering if this is normal or if the heater might be a bit old or on its way out... the temp gauges are both on the opposite side of the tank to the filter and the heater is mounted on the rear quarter side near the filter uptake btw

 

[evilchild]

sounds like it. what size tank you got?

 

[8inary]

for the sake of £15 thereof, I would replace the heater. I have seen too many tanks that have actually boiled due to faulty heaters and yes, the fish became cooked fish

 

[zimma]

its about a 30L tank, and currently has a 100w heater in it so that could be overkill too perhaps? but yeah the temp seemed fine at first (steady around 24-26 degrees) but in the last day its been fluctuating badly so if it doesnt resolve itself i may buy a new heater, btw is there any rules for wattage to litres of water or where it should be placed?

 

[evilchild]

check this out might help you out a bit
http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/heaters.htm

 

[zimma]

thanks for the help guys, seems my heater is twice as powerful as i need for my size tank, plus i just checked the current room temp and its about 25, so im thinking i may have turned the adjustment knob to far to raise the temp back up, i might see if the temp settles overnight, if not i may have to invest in a new heater thanks for the quick responses too

 

[darkwolf29a]

Definitely want to change that one. Take it from one who has, accidently, boiled his fish....it's not fun to clean up and really smells.

 

[8inary]

if you think your heater is faulty, I would...this is just me and it depends on your room temp, but I would remove it and let the tank run of room temp for a day or so, .....depending when you can get a new one.

I have accidentally turned off my heaters and not noticed till a week after. Due to the room temp the tank was fine

just noticed a link and a guy is selling some heaters off cheap...jump in matey!

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=226196

 

[zimma]

i would but im from australia thanks for the link anyways yeah ive boiled fish before by accident... had a cold water setup with 5 or so white clouds and a couple of danios a few years back, forgot to close my curtain on a hot day, came home and all the fish except one danio were dead sunlight had been hitting the tank all day and well it was basically at spa water temp... but yeah its summertime here in aus. and the average temp is over 30 with it being in high teens at night, so might turn the heater off now and take the heater out tomorrow morning and buy another from the LFS round the corner, i think a 50w is only $15 so not a expensive investment if it means saving my guppies