Trouble keeping 20 gallon above 74 degrees. How do I heat it up more?

[SQW]

I have a relatively cold house which is seriously impacting the temperature of my aquarium. What can I do to increase the temperature? I have another bigger heater, but the temperature is always too high on the lowest settings.

This is my current heater. Complete garbage but it does the trick.
Tetra HT30 Submersible Aquarium Heater & Electronic Thermosat, 100-watt - Chewy.com

 

[Mikedick77]

That heater should work. Maybe you have a malfunctioning heater. It happens. Thermostats go bad. Consider yourself lucky you didn't wake up to Guppy Gumbo one morning. I've heard of a few like that.

Maybe you just need a different heater all together.

 

[Ghelfaire]

What about a preset heater?

 

[coribirdie]

Having two smaller heaters is suggested a lot, on opposite sides of the tank and angled diagonally/horizontally

Cover your aquarium with a lid, close windows in the room it’s in, draw blinds too if possible, etc. all the things you’d do to keep a room warm. Maybe even fix an insulating pad / towel/blanket to the back of the tank.

 

[Lebeeze]

I use an ink bird on all my aquariums. You set what temp you want, plug your heater i to it and it will never go above or below what temps you set it for. They are only about $50 Canadian so not bad for never cooking your fish .

 

[DuaneV]

You need a properly sized heater if youre either not able to heat it up or its too hot. Buy the correct size for the tank and put it on the proper temp. On top of that, you cant skimp on your house heat if you have tropical fish. You have to be willing to keep the temp at or about 68 at least. When I was breeding and had 40+ tanks I didnt put heaters in any of them. I just kept the basement 80 degrees. WAY cheaper and easier.

 

[Kathylee]

I was having somewhat of the same issue. 20gal in basement & it's getting cold quick here! I bought a new heater & kept the old one as a backup (as sugggested by someone on here) It was a long Aqueon 100W Submersible Adjustable heater I set it to 80° & at the opposite end the thermometer says 78° it was under 30$ I've also been using blankets to wrap around the aquariums at night & fastening with clothes-pins. Best fix I've come to so far. Room temp is kept at 72°

 

[DuaneV]

Kathylee, us Mainers have it tough. -20 in the winter, 90+ in the summer. My sister in San Diego has no idea how we survive here, and Im not joking. lol They come in the summer to visit and if it dips into the 70's at night theyre freezing. lmbo

 

[Kathylee]

Kathylee, us Mainers have it tough. -20 in the winter, 90+ in the summer. My sister in San Diego has no idea how we survive here, and Im not joking. lol They come in the summer to visit and if it dips into the 70's at night theyre freezing. lmbo

I know!!! I seriously would move if I could afford it. It's not even Halloween & there was snowflakes today! Crazy. I'm glad there's other Mainers on here who can relate lol
But in regards to keeping the tank warm, yeah a 100W adjustable heater should work & can also wrap tank up w a blanket or some older towels.

 

[Kathylee]

I have a relatively cold house which is seriously impacting the temperature of my aquarium. What can I do to increase the temperature? I have another bigger heater, but the temperature is always too high on the lowest settings.

This is my current heater. Complete garbage but it does the trick.
Tetra HT30 Submersible Aquarium Heater & Electronic Thermosat, 100-watt - Chewy.com

So I just wanted to update your question with my current situation. This past week where I live, it's been in the low 30°s- mid 40's outside and my tanks heaters are all preset to 78° & the water evaporation is REAL. There is like 2 maybe 3 inches gone out of my 20 gallon. From it being warm in there & cold out here, so I just wanted to bring that topic up as well.
Have you looked at any new heaters yet? Or, what are you thoughts about all this?

 

[Lebeeze]

Does your tank have a lid?