Heater Research

HI everyone,

I hope your all healthy and safe. Before all this mess with the pandemic began, I planned on having a Betta tank set by now. Due to everything going on, that's been delayed for a bit. The state has pretty much shut everything nonessential down until the end of April. I've had plenty of time to do lots of research. For a bit of background, I did have fancy goldfish during college. A heater wasn't necessary.

I've been researching compact heaters for a 3 gallon nano tank. It has a cover and I plan on purchasing a Finnex Stingray clip on light. As for heaters, an always on heater is a no go. I'm leaning towards a 25 watt heater. My bedroom is the coldest room in the house. It's on the northwest corner and when it's below 50 degrees, it's always a few degrees colder than the rest of the house. So with the house set at 72 degrees during the day and it being a few degrees cooler, the heater has to work a little more to keep the tank warmer. At night, the heat drops down to 69. During the summer, the AC goes on when the house reaches 78.

Is 25 watts too much? Should it be a 15 watt heater? I'm considering the Marina 25 watt heater or the Theo Hydro. Aquatop sells a 25 watt nano heater but I can't find any reviews on it. There's always the cheap ones sold in eBay. I could buy 2 and keep a spare sitting around. I watched the video about heaters and thought, maybe a 15 watt. After filtration, who knew a heater would leave me with questions.

 

A bigger heater never hurts, but you should keep an eye on it. I think a 25 Watt heater would be fine.

 

Following. I need compact submersibles for my 3 gal betta tanks. The unicliffes (sp?) work fine for my 10 gal, but they're too long for these cubes. Finding a good one that's also adjustable isn't easy it seems.

 

Following. I need compact submersibles for my 3 gal betta tanks. The unicliffes (sp?) work fine for my 10 gal, but they're too long for these cubes. Finding a good one that's also adjustable isn't easy it seems.

I've been digging around and I'm trying to decide between the Hydor Theo 25 watt or buying something like the Marina 10 watt and adding a second if needed. I'm not willing to spend money on a cobalt neotherm and Eiheim heaters won't fit in the tank. Small heaters seem to work or fail quickly. The hydor was the smallest adjustable heater I could find.

I bought an Aqueon 3 gallon rimless cube tank from Petco at the beginning of March. For filtration, I picked up an Aquatop CAF 10 sponge filter and will most likely use my tetra whisper air pump with a control valve. I have a cat and need to keep the tank closed up as possible.

Normally, I would head over to my local fish store for everything. Due to the pandemic, they only allow 6 people in the store for 10 mins at a time.

Following. I need compact submersibles for my 3 gal betta tanks. The unicliffes (sp?) work fine for my 10 gal, but they're too long for these cubes. Finding a good one that's also adjustable isn't easy it seems.

I just ordered a 25 watt Hydor Theo heater online from Premium Aquatics. It's on sale for half off and with shipping, it was $13.

 

The heater arrived today. At first I panicked because the box was way bigger than the tank, but it fits in my 3 gallon with no issue.

 

Following. I need compact submersibles for my 3 gal betta tanks. The unicliffes (sp?) work fine for my 10 gal, but they're too long for these cubes. Finding a good one that's also adjustable isn't easy it seems.

Thought I would post a heater update. I set the tank up last week and it seems the heater has a faulty thermostat right out of the box. The first day was okay but the next day the heater would not turn off. Tank was at 86 degrees. I turned the heater way down thinking maybe the calibration was off. The Hydor heater was set to 69 degrees but the water was 85 degrees. I contacted hydor and will try to get a replacement.

This morning I made a quick run to Petsmart and picked up a Topfin 20 watt preset heater.

 

After a flat preset nearly made betta boulliabase in one of my cubes, I ordered the 25w adjustable submersible from Uniclife (HT-6025.) I already had a 100w, and it holds the temp in my 29gal tall perfectly. I hesitated because they're 8in long, but I found if placed horizontally under the internal filter, it's actually less obtrusive than the flat presets; plus, I never really need to get to it after getting the initial temp right. At the same time, the Aqueon preset in the adjacent cube stopped working (I have a graveyard of unreliable heaters!) I ordered two more, installed yesterday in the cube and in a "new" setup, and I'm just as happy with them. The only complaint I have (and it's not really) is the initial tweaking, ie., setting it at 82 produces water of 85; however, it allows for "in between" setting, then holds that temp like a champ. Highly recommended.

 

After a flat preset nearly made betta boulliabase in one of my cubes, I ordered the 25w adjustable submersible from Uniclife (HT-6025.) I already had a 100w, and it holds the temp in my 29gal tall perfectly. I hesitated because they're 8in long, but I found if placed horizontally under the internal filter, it's actually less obtrusive than the flat presets; plus, I never really need to get to it after getting the initial temp right. At the same time, the Aqueon preset in the adjacent cube stopped working (I have a graveyard of unreliable heaters!) I ordered two more, installed yesterday, and I'm just as happy with them. The only complaint I have (and it's not really) is the initial tweaking, ie., setting it at 82 produces water of 85; however, it allows for "in between" setting, then holds that temp like a champ. Highly recommended.

I'll have to look into a Uniclife heater. I'm not too thrilled Petsmart brand heater isn't adjustable but they were the only store open Sunday morning. Even my local fish store only sells Aqueon presets for smaller tanks.