New heater process

I just bough a heater for my 2.5 Gallon tank which holds two guppies (I know this is a little small). The heater is the Hydor 25W Theo submersible. I bought this heater because its what amazon had, fit my price point, had pretty good reviews, was adjustable, and most importantly has two day shipping with prime. I was stupid and thought I could get away without a heater in a tank that small. It worked for almost a week, but then with one windy night with my dorm room window open it dropped the temp down to the 64-66 range. This is way too cold for guppies. Normally I am in the 68 range. The thermometer says it is slowly heating up. I know I can't change the temp too quickly with fish when I get the heater. The only other container I have to house the fish (and I don't want too) is a Tupperware container that has been used to transfer old water to the sink during water changes. It has never been washed or been in contact with chlorinated water. I'm gong to outline my current plan below, and may ask some questions in () after that step.

1. Rinse off heater with dechlorinated water
2. Suction cup heater to back of tank as close to the filter as possible (Can I do this even if the suction cup is submerged)
3. Let heater sit for 15 minutes or so
4. Set heater at current temp of tank
5. Let heater sit for an hour
6. Raise temp by X degrees (What should my X be)
7. Let heater sit for Y (What should the duration of Y be)
8. Repeat step 6 and 7 until desired temperature is reached. Probably in the 71 to 75 range.

What do you think about this plan? I also bough seachem dechlorinator and some dried bloodworms as treats. Thanks.

Link to the heater

 

I just bough a heater for my 2.5 Gallon tank which holds two guppies (I know this is a little small). The heater is the Hydor 25W Theo submersible. I bought this heater because its what amazon had, fit my price point, had pretty good reviews, was adjustable, and most importantly has two day shipping with prime. I was stupid and thought I could get away without a heater in a tank that small. It worked for almost a week, but then with one windy night with my dorm room window open it dropped the temp down to the 64-66 range. This is way too cold for guppies. Normally I am in the 68 range. The thermometer says it is slowly heating up. I know I can't change the temp too quickly with fish when I get the heater. The only other container I have to house the fish (and I don't want too) is a Tupperware container that has been used to transfer old water to the sink during water changes. It has never been washed or been in contact with chlorinated water. I'm gong to outline my current plan below, and may ask some questions in () after that step.

1. Rinse off heater with dechlorinated water
2. Suction cup heater to back of tank as close to the filter as possible (Can I do this even if the suction cup is submerged)
3. Let heater sit for 15 minutes or so
4. Set heater at current temp of tank
5. Let heater sit for an hour
6. Raise temp by X degrees (What should my X be)
7. Let heater sit for Y (What should the duration of Y be)
8. Repeat step 6 and 7 until desired temperature is reached. Probably in the 71 to 75 range.

What do you think about this plan? I also bough seachem dechlorinator and some dried bloodworms as treats. Thanks.

Link to the heater

I feel like you are overthinking it. Just install the heater, wait 15 minutes, then plug it up. Do this when you are at home for the next few hours (4 or so) so you can monitor the temp of the water and adjust the thermostat on the heater if needed. Quite often when you set the heater at 72, it really makes the water a few degrees hotter or colder, so you may have to adjust a bit.

 

Dolfan thanks yeah I'm an enginneering student that has a problem over thinking. Thanks for the simple approach that makes this a lot easier.

 

Dried bloodworms seemed a bit harsh on some guppies I had a yr ago.
Frozen brine and frozen bloodworms were much easier for them to pass. Plus a piece of a veggie tab every once in awhile.

Also if you can setup a brine shrimp hatchery..thosr helllppp so much. You can feed em live. Nutrient packed food. And mabye start getting enough to sell to friends with tanks

 

kidxxgrimm thanks I unfortunately cannot set up a brine shrimp hatchery. I just don't have the resources too yet. Thanks for the insight, I figured they would be treats fed once every week or two. Just to provide some variety.

 

Also. I believe blanched pea's are a really good for constipation in guppies.

Research that. I don't remember fully. But I'm pretty sure its blanched peas

 

@kidxxgrI'm yeah its peas. Been feeding those but think constipation is gone now. If I rememeber right it was the fiber in the peas that was indigestible which pushed things out, and there was something else too in the peas that helped. These worms are like 50% fiber so it hopefully helps them. Also it might help coax one into eating but that's a whole other thread