Question For Those With Substrate Heaters

[Bloo]

I did my tank rehaul this past weekend - pics and full descript to follow later this week in my "evolution thread" - it's been too busy these last few days ) but I just have a quick question about these under substrate heaters.

I added a Renacor 15W for my 19 gallon tank (which should be perfect) - but I'm a tad concerned about the heat it seems to generate
I removed my fish from the tank for 24 hours while I did the tank and they had the filter and tank heater with them in a huge plastic container. As I didn't have a spare heater to run in the actual tank overnight, I just let the tank run with a spare filter to clear out any fine particles from the water and then was planning to warm things up before adding the fish, seeded filter and heater back in the next day.

The thing is, the next morning the tank was 26 degrees Celsius (79F) which is my normal tank temperature anyway. So I decided not to add the tank heater and just see what the temperature does.
With the lights on, it pushed up to 81F (27C) - which is still perfectly fine.

BUT

So, is this normal ? It seems to hover around 26-27C without a normal tank heater

 

[Bloo]

that will be no one then ?

 

[Angry_Platy]

I use a substrate heater and it doesn't change the water temperature at all.....

Weird though

 

[emo]

I think that's it doing it's job then. It shouldn't change your tank temperature I don't think, as it's just there to keep the roots cosy. The regular heater will only come on when the heat drops below the set temperature, so I reckon the heater cable is keeping your water at a steady temperature so the regular heater doesn't need to click on.

I would advise monitoring your heat during the night though, if you are removing the regular heater. Do you run the cable on a timer with your lights? Or did you manage to get the DIY stat mod made up?

HTH.

 

[Bloo]

Thanks. Though I really don't see the point of putting my regular heater in, if between the substrate heater and the lights I'm getting so much heat already. It's not like the substrate heater will auto-regulate itself

Nope - the heater cable is on 24 hours and unmodified (at the moment). No timer switch.
I haven't been able to check the temperature at 3am yet, but at midnight at was 26C and at 6am it was 26C (and we do not even house heating on during those hours).
So I'm a bit confused

 

[hunterm8]

i would say they will all heat the water to a certain extent i have a 20w jbl for my 40g which i havent set up yet but when i checked it worked i could feel the heat with my fingers so i know it will heat the water to a certain extent.

 

[Walt]

id still put the heater in...
it isnt gonna fire up unless the temp drops, right?
And if the temp Does drop, right now youd be in trouble.....

 

[Bloo]

You're probably right - but my great concern is: is it supposed to be "this hot" ?

 

[prankster705]

I think, that terrarium (yours is supposed to be meant for terrariums to) heating cables generate a lot of heat, so it wouldn't be unusual to heat it up that much.

 

[simonbrown403]

I was going to get a Rena heater cable being that they where the only ones i could find in my area.
I was warned off them by one of the lads at my lfs, he said they generate to much heat and burn out quickly because of it.

Have you thought of using a thermostat to control it and put your heater in as a back up.