Proper Heater Placement

[Frank77]

So...that tank my friend left me didn't include a heater, which was fine before, but winter is approaching here in Canada, and I wanted to be prepared.
 
It's a submersible heater rated for 10-30 gallon tanks, I have a 20.
 
Right now, the only place I could put it, due to the cord length is right near the intake for the filter about half way up the tank.
 
Is this OK? Should get an extension cord and put it somewhere else?

 

[Chad]

I just like to make sure my heater isn't up against other equipment or decorations etc. I also usually lay mine horizontally near the bottom of the tank. Or in the case of my marine tank it's in the sump. 

 

[Ltygress]

Heater placement is mostly a matter of preference, but I take water current and other equipment into consideration. As long as yours is not close enough to melt the filter intake, it's actually a good spot. Water in that area is probably moving fastest. The warmer water will probably be sucked up by the filter, and spit out of the top, sending it across the cooler water to the far end of the tank. And warming up the far end is one of the hardest parts!

The other suggestion would be horizontally along the side furthest from the filter. That would cause the warm water to be sent DOWN by the flow of water from the filter (where the coolest water usually is), across the bottom, warming it up a bit, and then back up into the filter before being spit back out towards the heater.

Either of those two mean the heater water isn't just "standing" there. It's actually being pushed out into the rest of the aquarium.

 

[Frank77]

OK, good info!
 
Thanks to both of you!

 

[NickAu]

I have 2 heaters in  both my 2 foot betta tank and the 6 foot livebearer tank,  I place 1 next to the intake and 1 next to the outlet from the filter.

 

[Frank77]

OK, so, my plecos have taken to wedging themselves between the heater and the tank.....would it get hot enough to hurt them? So far, it barely even comes on, but I am sure it will be working more as the winter kicks in.
 
Are they smart enough to move if it gets too hot?

 

[NickAu]

 
Are they smart enough to move if it gets too hot?

Yes.
 

 
OK, so, my plecos have taken to wedging themselves between the heater and the tank.

 
Sounds like they need hiding spots like caves.

 

[Frank77]

They have a few hiding spots they like to use, they move from spot to spot, but I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to have more. I don't actually have something big enough for them to be fully hidden in now.
 
I did try to make a cave from an old BPA free water bottle. I cut the ends off, and placed it under their driftwood, they absolutely ignored it for two weeks, so I took It out, as it looked bad in there, and since they didn't take to it.
 
I read for breeding they should actually be only big enough for them to get into, I wasn't hoping for breeding yet, but that they'd have a nice place to hide.
 
Thanks!

 

[NickAu]

I have 2 of these my male loves it and they look good in a tank. They are a few bucks each on ebay. Both my BN's love trying to eat the algae on my heater. 
 

 

[Frank77]

A couple of those would be great. I'll get some ASAP.
 
LOL..about your BN's...my albinos also like to munch on almost everything in the tank.
 
Thanks!

 

[Far_King]

For my 200 litre I've got a hydor inline heater which heats the water before it gets to the tank, therefore circulating warm water.
 
It does a great job of keeping the tank warm.

 

[Frank77]

Those look cool, and not so expensive.
 
We'll see how my heater copes with the winter, hopefully I wont need to upgrade.