The best method to work out the wattage of heater required for your home aquarium fish tank is to consider the average ambient temperature of the room and work out how much extra heat will be required to increase the temperature of the water above this. I would always recommend using 2 heaters for your aquarium which are equal to the total wattage required. So for example if you have a 100 litre aquarium and need to heat it from 18 degrees to 28 degrees (10 degree C increase) then the table recommends using a 100W heater. I would however use 2x 100W heater. Provided you are using thermostat integrated heaters (of which most are these days) then you will not use up any more power or electricity as they wont be on for as long to heat the water. This is simply a precautionary measure in case one of the heaters fails, the secondary heater would still be capable of heating to the correct temperature, giving you time to purchase a replacement second heater. This is purely a guide and should give a good rough estimate of what you would need for your fish tank to ensure the right temperature is maintained.

It cannot hurt to have too much wattage of heat in the aquarium as they will simply turn off if the tank has reached the desired temperature.Aquarium HeatersChoosing an aquarium heater may not seem like a major deal, but pick the wrong size or brand and you could end up with some problems in your fish tank. Choose one that's tough to work with and you're going to find yourself frustrated and annoyed. In this article I'll tell you about what I look for in an aquarium heater and how to make the best choice you can for your tank. It's a mistake to pick up a cheap heater from a big-box store and expect it to do the job. A little research and reading will help you make a better decision, and potentially save you from some major headaches. I can't even imagine how many different aquarium heater brands I've used over the years. Some were good, and others really, really bad. Perhaps you can learn from my mistakes! Along with a good filter, the heater is among the few pieces of equipment your fish need to stay healthy.

Taking a moment to make a smart decision here can pay off down the road. What to Look ForSo, what separates a good aquarium heater from a bad one? When I consider a heater for my fish tanks, I look at a few factors: It must be adjustable. This may seem like a no-brainer, but there are some heaters on the market that are pre-set for a certain temperature. You can't adjust them. I avoid these, because if you need to raise or lower your tank temperature there is nothing you can do about it. I'd rather a heater with a thermostat I can control. The control knob must be easily accessible when the heater is in the tank. Some of these things seem like they were made by people who never owned a fish tank in their lives. The better ones will have a nice big control knob that's easy to grab and twist when the unit is in the water. I want to see some type of numbered system, either on the control knob itself or another readout. It's nice if it tells me what temperature the heater thinks it's set at, but any numbers for reference are fine.

Ideally, I'd like a readout I can easily monitor from the front of the tank. Keep in mind that just because your heater thinks it is set at a certain temperature doesn't mean the tank water will necessarily be that temperature. You still need a separate thermometer so you can make adjustments. Safety features: It should be fully submersible. fish tank sydney gumtreeThis is pretty common, but watch for it anyway. fish tank filter snapdealAnother useful feature is an automatic shut-off in case the water level suddenly drops. fish tank filters marineShatter-proof and shock-proof are some other words you should look for when choosing your heater. Read the specs of any heater you are considering and look for these features.

My Top ChoicesI've compiled my three best picks for aquarium heaters based on my own experiences and research. Always read reviews carefully when choosing your heater. Look for cases where defects in the heater caused major issues for aquarium owners. I'm not talking about people complaining the heater was off by 5 degrees. I mean cases where heaters cracked, exploded, or heated the water uncontrollably. In fact, there were a few brands I've had good experiences with but didn't feel comfortable recommending based on other people's stories. I tried to keep the options affordable while approaching the criteria I outlined above, but remember that quality is important in a key item like your aquarium heater. Here are three heaters I recommend checking out: Cobalt Aquatics Neo-Therm Cobalt Aquatics is a brand with some innovative ideas, and I particularly like their Neo-Therm heaters. Here's a fantastic heater that meets all of my criteria and then some. Firstly, it's shatter-proof, so no worries of cracked glass or similar disasters, and it has thermal protection circuitry.

Setup is super simple: Install the Neo-Therm and it will sense your tank water temperature. Then, use the "One Touch" system to set your desired temperature. According to Cobalt, the Neo-Therm will maintain your water temperature within half a degree. The readout is easy to view from outside the tank, and it can't be much easier to set than the "One Touch" design. Even though the thermostat seems very accurate on the Neo-Therm, I'd still use a separate thermometer to gauge water temperature. The Neo-Therm Heater from Cobalt Aquatics Eheim Jager Aquarium Heater Eheim is a German brand with a good reputation in the aquarium industry. This heater is a great option that gets a lot of positive reviews. It's fully submersible, and has an automatic shut-off should the water level drop. Even better, via the TruTemp dial you can calibrate it to more precise temperature settings, so it's about as accurate as you can get. The Eheim Jager heater is also made from shatter-proof, shock-resistant glass.

There are some real horror stories out there about what can happen with a low-quality heater when they crack. Choosing a well-made heater like this one will set your mind at ease. Note that the temperature reading is in degrees Celsius, so we Americans may need to do a little math. But that still provides reference numbers for adjustment. You should be monitoring your water temperature separately anyway! Aqueon Pro HeatersAqueon Pro aquarium heaters feature a big, easy to adjust knob on top with a clear temperature setting indicator. They are made of shatterproof material, they're fully submersible and come with a lifetime guarantee. The Aqueon Pro also has a red/green indicator light, letting you know if your aquarium is at the right temperature. Many heaters simply have a red light that lets you know whether the thing is working or not. Aqueon heaters always get good reviews, and I have some pretty good experiences with Aqueon products myself. I've found them to be accurate and durable and have used them in freshwater tanks as well as brackish setups.

There are various "rules of thumb" floating around out there when it comes to choosing the correct heater size. One thing I've noticed about aquarium care over the years more than any of my other hobbies: Rules of thumb have the potential to get you in a lot of trouble! The main concern here is choosing a heater too powerful for your tank size, so underestimating is better than overestimating. Instead of guessing, check the manufacturer's recommendation for the individual heater. They should be able to tell you exactly which heater is right for your tank. Remember that there is more to choosing the right wattage heater than tank size, so math and "rules of thumb" only help you so much. Your ambient air temperature will play a part in how hard your heater needs to work, as will the flow rate of your filter and even the strength of your lighting. After you install your heater, monitor your tank to make sure the temperature is staying in the correct range. For tropical fish you're aiming for 75-80 degrees.

Once you know how the heater is performing in your specific environment, you can make adjustments as needed. It's true for temperature as well as many other aspects of aquarium care: By closely monitoring your tank you often can stop problems cold before they get out of hand, and prevent the heartache of losing your fish.What Size Aquarium are You Trying to Heat? Under 10-Gallon 10-30 -Gallon 30-55 -Gallon Bigger than 55-GallonSee results More TipsA bad heater can literally destroy your tank overnight. You could cook your fish, electrocute them or if the heater cracks and water seeps in, it could explode. Such happenings are rare these days, but choosing a quality heater makes a big difference. Always keep an eye on any new heater you install in your tank. Monitor the water temperature independently and make sure everything is okay. Even a good aquarium heater brand may have a rare defect. Good luck choosing your new heater. Remember to monitor your tank for any issues, and use a separate thermometer to measure temperature changes!