Substrate Heater cables

[Sanj]

The reason I am asking is because I have come across articles that seem to calim they are important for long term stability of planted aquariums. This is in relation to biochemical reactions, amaerobic stagnant areas etc. thing is counldnt you poke the gravel with a stick or somthing every now and to mix it a bit??

I dont have these in my aquariums, but I have only had the longesr on for 14 months.

 

[Lateral Line]

I have read, and understood, the articles and the science behind these things. I can see what they are supposed to do. I have used UltraTherm under tank IR pads, and Dennerle in substrate cables. In over 30 years of keeping massively planted tanks, I have to conclude that in practice, the difference they have made for me is too small to notice.

Wild plants do not have heater cables under them.

 

[Sanj]

Ah well thanks for that Lateral line.

I was having a little panick. My new aquarium is coming tomorrow and when i thought i had all the equipmwnt sorted I thoght about these cables, started read up on them and didnt like some of what I read in some of them lol

ive been looking on Planted tank also and they also seem to have mixed ideas over the necessity of these cables. I just want the plants to grow dense and healthy and over a long term.

If i needed cables then this would delay things.

 

[Sanj]

Erm well my lfs did have some, and not as expensicve as American sites seem to suggets (well that is a change lol).

Im going to try it and see overtime if there is any significant difference as compared to the other aquariums. Also it may help a small bit towards heating as the Juwel 400 only comes with one 300W heater and accoriding to the dimensions of these aquariums they are ~480 litres.