First, subtract the average temperature of the room the aquarium is located in from the temperature at which you wish to maintain the aquarium water.Using the Aquarium Heater Size Guide below, find the size of your aquarium in the left hand column and move to the column that shows the number of degrees the aquarium needs to be heated. If the heating requirement is between levels, move up to the next larger size. In larger tanks, or a situation where the room temperature is significantly below the desired water temperature, two heaters may be required. Heaters should be installed at opposite ends of the aquarium to heat it more evenly.Average Room Temp = 68 degrees FDesired Water Temp = 77 degrees F-----------------------------------------Heating required = 9 degrees FTank Size = 20 gallonHeater size needed = 50 wattsThoroughly wash aquarium gravel, rocks and ornaments with warm water, then add them to your tank. Do not use soap or detergents—they are highly toxic to fish.

To wash the gravel, put it in a colander over a plastic pan or bucket and add water. Stir the gravel, drain, and repeat until the water stays clear and is free of debris. Fill your tank approximately one-third full with room temperature water from a clean bucket. Pouring the water onto a plate or saucer sitting on the gravel will help keep the gravel in place. Add a water conditioner, like Tetra® AquaSafe® Solution, to de-chlorinate the water. Chlorine is fine for you, not your fish! Connect the airline tubing from the air pump to any air outlets inside your tank, such as air stones or decorations. By using an aquarium check valve, you can safely locate your air pump underneath your aquarium. (A check value is a small valve that is placed in the air tubing outside of your tank. It acts as a stop, preventing water from backing up and out of your aquarium if the power is turned off.) Aquascape with live and/or plastic plants. Ideally, these should be arranged to hide your equipment.

If you’re adding live plants, make sure the water is warm enough for them. Plant the roots gently below the surface of the gravel, leaving the crown (if the plant has one) exposed. Remember to keep live plants moist until they’re planted—wet newspaper works well. For optimum growth and root development, use an aquatic plant fertilizer such as Tetra® FloraPride® and the proper lighting. Add the rest of the water. Fill your tank to the bottom of the top frame —leaving some air space between the water and the cover. Set up your filter and “cycle” your new tank. If you are using… Fill them with filter materials or filter cartridge. Position them according to instructions. Make sure it is primed (filled) with water. …”hang on tank” filter that has a pickup tube: Extend the tube as close to the bottom of the tank without being in the gravel. If it is too long, you can cut it to length and reattach the intake cage. Be sure to open the filter lid and fill the filter with water to “prime” the pump.

Important: “Cycling” your tank means growing the correct, healthy bacteria on a new filtration system to remove dangerous toxins. Add Tetra® SafeStart® Solution, and you can quickly cycle your tank and add fish right away.fish tank gravel green Secure the submersible heater near your water flow and place the thermometer as far away from the heater as possible.fish tank filter south africa Make sure you have a thermometer that’s easy to read. fish tank heater 300 wattsMost retailers sell an adhesive thermometer that adheres to the outside surface of the glass. Plug it in only after it is in the water. Plug in your air pump, power filter and heater and start them up. Important: Do not switch on the heater when it’s not immersed in water—the heating element can malfunction and overheat, and the glass tube can shatter if placed in water while hot.

Check the air outlets and adjust the settings. Make sure water is flowing properly through your power filter. Adjust the heater to the proper temperature. It will take 24 hours for the temp to stabilize and you may have to adjust your setting. Wait 24 hours to ensure all equipment is working properly before adding fish. Check the conditions and temperature after a few hours. Water in new aquariums will often turn cloudy for a day or two. This is caused by a harmless bacterial growth and should disappear naturally. Check the pH and hardness of your water using a Tetra® Test Kit and our convenient My Aquarium App. Your new aquarium is fish-safe, fish-ready and fully equipped. Introducing your new pets to their new home, which you can see how to do here. If you have any setup questions or need any help or support, feel free to contact one of our friendly TetraCare experts. We’re always happy to help.Tronic Aquarium Heater, Electronic 50W, Submersible.

Choosing the type of heater to use in your aquarium isn't difficult as long as you know the differences between the varieties of heater. There are four basic types of aquarium heaters; immersible heaters, submersible heaters, substrate heaters and filter heaters. Here are details about each of type of aquarium heater, how they work and what each type is best used for. ViaAqua 50-Watt Quartz Glass Submersible Heater with Built-In Thermostat. Knowing what type of heater to buy for your aquarium is only part of the picture. Heaters come in a number of sizes. Not sure what size heater to get for your aquarium? There is a way to calculate the proper size heater, based on the temperature of the room and the volume of water in the tank. This heater size guide will help you easily select a heater that is the right match for your aquarium. Hydor 15W Mini Heater. Many fish that require heated water for optimal health (such as the Betta) are kept in small tanks or bowls. Unfortunately mini tanks and fish bowls can be quite a challenge to heat properly.