Shaner014

Is it safe to bury my heater underneath a gravel substrate? I would prefer not to look at it! Thanks!

Llama

I would not recommend that. Gravel is a poor conductor of heat, so it won't work well.

Secondly, how do you plan on cleaning that gravel? If you vac it up you'll smash the glass part of the heater.

Thirdly, while modern heaters are immersable, I would not risk burrying the wire myself.

Shaner014

Its a marine-land 50 watt heater, hard plastic "indestructible" shell. I would pull the heater out every week while vacuuming (of course after I have let it cool). I have it horizontal near the bottom of the tank now, about an inch above the gravel, so depth change as far as the cord would be minimal.

As far as gravel conductivity goes, It's a small 10 gallon tank, so I can't imagine it hindering the temp too much, plus I could turn it up a degree or two if need be.

My concern is more, will heat build up to unsafe levels around the heater itself because it is buried? Anyone try this before or do it now? Thanks!

aquarist48

I'm with Llama....that would not be a good idea. However, have you seen the marine land stealth heaters? They are black and kind of fade away into the background. (especially if your background is black teehee) too they are not easily broken like the glass ones.

Shaner014

The stealth model is the exact one I have, which is why I believe it would hold up to the stress of being buried. Still, anyone with experience with this? I'm sure someone has tried it! Thanks again for the quick responses!

shih-tzu mom

Yes, i had one -key note burnt out from being buried i figure and the heat did not go well hope this helps bella

Shaner014

ok, thanks. I won't bury it. I'll have to find some plants or a center-piece to disguise it.

Steve420

I'm pretty sure that the directions for the Stealth tell you not to let it touch gravel or decorations.

I have a 50w on my 10 gallon (running vertically) and I never take it out to clean. I just unplug the electricity and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes (while i'm cleaning up from my 55 gallon and moving to the 10). After I add new water, I just let it "settle" for a few minutes so that the internal thermometer on the heather adjusts to the new water temp. Click the power back on and I'm good to go

Shaner014

yea i've since decided against this, i keep my heater low enough in my tank where i don't even need to unplug it while doing the water change, it stays submersed

Tombo

Shaner014,

i am only a beginner fish keeper, put my friend who got me into fish keeping has her
heater under speical heat conducting substrate that she bought for £10.00 or $6.10
(aproximatly). Hope this helps