hssea

i purchased a stealth heater for my 26 gallon long aquarium. It's 100 watts and is rated for up to 30 gallons. should i have gone up one size, i didn't thinking the next size might over heat the tank, now i'm not sure. It will be replacing my walmart heater. also i think one heater is good, i have a airstone wand just below it. Thanks just wanted some input

susitna-flower

I feel it is better to have a bigger heater....I use 2 125 w in my 55 gallon tanks...it helps keep the water temp even, and they don't have to work as hard. It also helps in case one fails, the other is still there. If the thermostat is working properly a bigger heater will just not come on if your tank is up to temperature.....but when it does come on, it will run a shorter time.

hssea

so i should not take back the 100 watt for the next size up, but instead add i second one How small can the second heater be

capekate

Hi Hssea
I use 200w heaters in my 29g tanks.. If you could exchange it, I would just get a higher wattage for your tank. Its cheaper than going out and buying another heater, IMO.
~ kate

Tavel

I tend to disagree with the others here.

I go with small heaters because they heat the tank more "gently". The large ones will heat it very quickly and probably overshoot (heaters are on or off...there's no in between). While the smaller heaters heat slowly and are less likely to overshoot, reducing rapid temperature fluctuations...which is what stresses/kills fish.

I can see the case for two heaters, but then you run into the same problems...unless of course you really had one as a "backup" and was set 2-3 degrees lower than the primary. But then you won't know if the backup is defective! hahaha

I think yours is perfect, just place it horizontally because that's a pretty long tank.

COBettaCouple

We have a 100w stealth in our 30g tall and it keeps it at 80F very consistently. I think your tank will be ok.