Keeping A Tank Warm Enough Without A Heater?

[Norm_Deplume]

Hi all, new here.

My son got a 10 gallon tank kit (Marineland brand) for his birthday last month. We got it all set up, got 2 platys in it, and it's nearly all cycled. But we've found that the heater's thermostat is not working anymore; it was 84F in there this morning! It just stays on, getting hotter and hotter, in spite of the fact that we've turned the control all the way down. Marineland won't do anything about it unless we mail the heater back to them first, for them to "evaluate," after which they'll either tell me I'm crazy or will send us a new heater. Customer service lady said that the fish would be fine without heat for a few weeks, but it's getting to be fall, and our house can get pretty chilly overnight in this weather. What is truly safe for our platys? If the temp in their tank falls to 70F/21C will that harm them? Should I forget about their crappy warranty and just buy a new heater?

 

[SandraNewbie]

The safest thing to do is probably to get a new heater and see of Marineland will foot the cost of it having determined that their product was faulty, or at least send you the value of the broken heater but no Guarantees on that.

I have seen platy's sold as a coldwater fish by P@H and I can honestly say they "survive" in water at 20 degrees (68F) but they don't look happy about it.

There are ways to heat a tank while there's no heater in it but none of them are brilliant.

I used a floating bottle with warm water in it (at upper tank temperature) tied near a corner when I was having powercuts and it reduced the fluctuation overnight. No ill effects but be very sure you've got the temperature right so you avoid cooking your fish. (if you've got a powerhead, put the bottle near that to even out the temperature)

I also insulated the tanks by wrapping blankets around them on all sides (and some of the top) to help hold the heat in overnight.

I wouldn't have wanted to do it for more than a couple of days.

Best of luck.

 

[MBOU]

Always keep a spare heater for this very reason

I would buy a new heater and see if you can get another one out of Marineland at the same time, then you will at least, hopefully, end up with a spare one.

SandraNewbie, its generally only Variatus Platies that are sold as subtropical (unheated or heated) rather than all of the platies. but that said, I agree with you, sound advise

 

[lolobunnz]

Be sure to handle the heaters gently at all time. Hard water deposits can also stick to the heater and make it over heat. Once in a while give it a gentle wipe with you hand or something safe and soft to prevent these build ups. unplug the heater any time any part that is supposed to be under water isnt. Also always try to match water temp during water changes for the good of the fish and glass heaters can crack if the flux in temp is great enough.

Also, if you had gotten the set up at a US petsmart they will let you bring in and exchange even with out a receipt. Heck, they will take and exchange things bought ar another store even if it wasnt from a pet store. I kno! I used to work there

 

[SandraNewbie]

SandraNewbie, its generally only Variatus Platies that are sold as subtropical (unheated or heated) rather than all of the platies. but that said, I agree with you, sound advise

Maybe should be Variatus Platies, but this is Pets@Home we're talking about. I honestly wouldn't be surpised to see Discus sold as coldwater in the local one.

 

[Norm_Deplume]

Also, if you had gotten the set up at a US petsmart they will let you bring in and exchange even with out a receipt. Heck, they will take and exchange things bought ar another store even if it wasnt from a pet store. I kno! I used to work there

I think they'd only let me exchange it if I brought the entire kit back. But it's just the heater that doesn't work.



Thanks everyone for your replies. I'm hoping my husband can pick up a new heater this afternoon on his way home from work. We've been manually plugging and unplugging it since Sunday to keep the temp near 78F and it's not been fun.