saulat

Hi,

Fairly new and just wondering if it is ok for my heater to actually touch things such as live plants, fake plants, large rocks, or cheesy decor? Would aid in hiding and if I stack rocks high could they be around/on top of the heater?

Does anyone have a spray bar for their aquarium to help aerate the water or know where I could get one??

Thanks.

Beth1965

I try to keep live plants away from the heater, they tend to get spots and or melt where the heater touches them. Rocks shouldn't be an issue. If you want to put things aorund the heater to hide it just remember that you want to keep access to it when/if you need to remove it for some reason.
Dont have an air bubbler.
Have you cycled your tank?
Beth

saulat

No I just started the aquarium and plan on keeping 2 fish in it till it is cycled. I picked up a used filter, a test kit, and something to lower ammonia levels. I was mainly worried about potential dmg or malfunction of the heater if I had it touching a rock. The 30 gallon hex has less room than I expected to arrange decor but I am thinking I want to stack rocks high and just have the heater somewhere in the back of them.

I read a faq where someone said instead of an air stone they had a bar to spray water at the top of the tank. I dont think my tank would lend itself to one easily but, I like the idea of it.

Chrisson

If you have a rock close to it be careful that it doesn't collapse and break the heater glass.

Shawnie

Hi saulat...The heater should be near either the outtake area of your filter, or buy a bubble wand with an air machine..having water flowing around it , helps alot...I wouldnt put any decorations and such near it, as it could break or melt very easily.....heres a pic of a bubble wand, or you can get just a bubble stone.. lg_rd_120809_17542D.jpg that will also help keep the surface water moving and not get stagnant...

mathas

At the risk of telling you something you might (or might not) already know, spray bars as you describe are used in conjunction with canister filters. All you've said so far is that you "picked up a used filter", but didn't say what kind.

So to start with: what type of filter did you get?

If you do have a canister filter, there are a lot of methods on the internet (such as this) for building a DIY spray bar, or you could look for a retailer that sells accessories for that brand of filter and see what's available.

saulat

Oh, I had no idea about the canister filters. It is a top fin I believe that hangs over the side of the aquarium and sucks water into a plastic tube. The water then runs through a charcoal filter and flows out. Had an issue finding a filter as I guess they were bought out by another company, there was one that fit however. I just read about them and it is not a canister filter. Thanks.

kimb

Just another thought saulat, if you are stacking rocks make sure they are stable. You don't want them tumbling down onto your fish! Good luck with your tank.