This calculator estimates the size, or power, of heater and chiller required to maintain an aquarium between aBefore using this calculator, please read theThe heater you need depends on aquarium size and ambient temperature. An aquarium heater, typically rod-shaped, keeps your fish whether tender or hardy in optimal comfort. The size of your aquarium and how much you need to raise its water temperature help you determine how much heater you need. Heater Basics Some heaters are marketed for specific aquarium sizes -- 10 gallon, 20 gallon, and so forth. These heaters can provide you with a rough guide, but the sizes are not absolute. For example, a 10-gallon goldfish tank may not require 10-gallon heater, because goldfish are coldwater fish and may only need the temperature raised by a degree or two. More typically, heaters are sold according to wattage. Generally speaking, larger tanks require higher wattage heaters. Water Temperature The starting water temperature of your aquarium is a significant factor in choosing a heater.

For example, if the temperature in your home is 75 degrees Fahrenheit and your fish need a minimum of 78 degrees, you will require a much smaller heater than someone keeping fish outside or in a very cold room. Take the temperature of your aquarium water without a heater to determine how much you need to raise the temperature. Choosing a Heater Most aquarium heaters range from 25 watts to 300 watts. Smaller aquariums require smaller heaters. A 10-gallon tank, for example, will typically need a 25- to 75-watt heater, while a 75-gallon tank will require 250 to 300 watts. Larger tanks may require multiple heaters. If you have a 300-gallon tank, for example, you may require two or more 300-watt heaters. Compare the size of your aquarium with the amount by which you need to raise the temperature. Raising the temperature by 1 to 5 degrees typically requires only very minimal wattage, while raising it by 5 or more degrees requires wattage at the larger end of the recommended size for your tank.

Monitoring Temperature After you install your heater, monitor the temperature carefully. It can take 24 to 48 hours for the heater to fully elevate the temperature. Increase the wattage you are using if the temperature is still too low and decrease wattage if the temperature is too high. During seasonal changes, you may also need to alter the wattage. For example, if you keep your house very cool during the winter months, you may need to use a higher wattage heater. References Setting Up a Tropical Aquarium Week by Week; MORE MUST-CLICKS: Should You Cut the Light Off at Night in Aquariums? Troubleshooting an Overflow Box in an Aquarium How Often Should I Clean Out My Freshwater Aquarium Tank? What Is the Desired Calcium Level for an Aquarium? Marbles Vs. Gravel in an Aquarium How to Remove Scratches & Scuffs From Aquarium GlassDr. Escobal makes a number of assumptions in his model. He assumes that heat-loss by evaporation, radiation, and convection areHe also does not take into account the heat-gain by equipment and does not attempt to size the heater to

accommodate the initial heating of the water (it is only sized to maintain the system's temperature). In addition to these assumptions, he also makes two critical mistakes. The first is the assumption that the inside of an aquarium pane is at the temperature of the water and that the outside of the pane is at ambient temperature. fish tank snail trap reality, the outside of the pane is usually at an intermediate temperature except in the case of very thick panes. fish tank heater dangers assumption results in heater sizes that are much larger than needed.fish tank heater 90 gallon His second mistake is a simple unit conversion error. To convert from calories/second to watts, he multiplies by 0.23889 rather

In effect, this mistake masks his first by dramatically reducing the heater size. These two mistakes work together such that the model appears to work for some medium-sized aquariums.Aquarium Calculator - Calculate Fish Tank Volume *Please note: The aquarium calculator and conversions on this page use javascript. It will only work if javascript is enabled in your internet browser. Below you will find our aquarium calculator that you can use to convert back and forth between some of the most common conversions you'll encounter when running your fish tank as well as a tool to calculate fish tank volume based on dimensions. Currently, we have Fahrenheit to Celsius, Gallons to Liters, Inches to Centimeters (useful for determining fish species sizes), UK Gallons to US Gallons, and also a calculator to determine the total volume of your aquarium. Please note that the total tank volume figure computed is a rough estimate and only takes into account your fish tank dimensions.

It does not take into account ornaments, decorations, the substrate, live rock, etc. These items can have an effect on the total volume of water in your aquarium. This calculation is simply based on an empty tank with the given dimensions. *Numbers round up to two decimals places upon conversion. Freshwater Aquarium SetupLearn how to setup a freshwater aquarium, from start to finish. Saltwater Aquarium SetupContrary to what you may have heard, setting up and running a saltwater aquarium is not difficult. Read this to find out how easy it really is to have a saltwater tank. Reef Tank SetupIf you want to set up the ultimate aquarium, try your hand at setting up a reef tank!Step 3) Use this table to determine how much wattage the aquarium heater needs to have:Fish are cold-blooded animals, which means they cannot regulate their body heat like human beings and other mammals. They need the right external temperature to survive, irrespective of whether they are in the open sea or inside an aquarium.

The temperature in the seas and oceans remains fairly constant through different times, so fish have the natural ability to survive here. However, aquariums are different because they are man-made and not a natural habitat of fish, so owners of aquariums should take more effort to maintain the right water temperatures. One way to regulate temperatures within an aquarium is to use aquarium heaters. These heaters come in many types. Users can choose the heater that works best for them based on several factors, such as the type of the heater and size of the tank. Depending on their needs, users can find aquarium heaters in specialty pet shops and online websites like eBay. There are many kinds of aquarium heaters available, such as immersible heaters, substrate heaters, filter heaters, and submersible heaters. Each of these heaters has its own benefits and drawbacks, so it is up to the user to decide which one is right for him or her. The features of each kind of aquarium heater are explained below to help users make the right choice.

Immersible heaters are those that are used to heat the water by direct contact where the temperature is regulated with a heating control pad. However, this pad should be placed above the water line, which makes it difficult to install the heater properly in an aquarium. This is why it is not a popular choice for many users. However, the good aspect is that it is the cheapest heater available on the market today, so it will work for anyone who is on a super tight budget. It is also a good backup choice because they are cheap and work well for limited periods. Substrate heaters, as the name implies, are placed below the substrate, so there is no visible hardware inside the aquarium. Additionally, they are effective because these substrate heaters heat the water more evenly than other types of heaters. Another advantage of using substrate heaters is that they promote plant growth, thereby making it the ideal choice for users who like to grow live plants inside the aquarium. Despite these advantages, substrate heaters are not widely used because the tank has to be torn down to install the heater.

Filter aquarium heaters are the latest ones to hit the market. These heaters are placed in the filters and water is heated when it passes through the filter. Therefore, there is no equipment placed inside the tank, which makes it more appealing to many users. It is also the right choice for larger aquariums that use large volumes of water. Submersible aquarium heaters are one of the most popular kinds of heaters because they are relatively cheap and easy to set up. These heaters are submerged in the water, so they provide the right amount of heating for the fish. The downside is that it is not easy to repair the heater when there is a problem. Additionally, since most of the heaters are made of glass, they can break easily when larger fish attack the heater. An aquarium heater has many aspects to it, so the exact choice depends on what the user wants for his or her tank. Some of the aspects that users should consider include the type, size, placement, quality, price, and longevity of the heater.

Each of these aspects is explained below for the user. There are four broad kinds of heaters: submersible, immersible, filter, and substrate heaters. Each of these heaters is suitable for certain conditions, so the exact choice of the type of heater depends on the usage. Aquarium heaters come in many sizes and the choice of a particular size depends to a large extent on the temperature of the room, size of the aquarium, and the amount of water present inside the aquarium. To calculate the heater size, users should start by subtracting the current temperature of the room from the required temperature. The next step is to determine the size of the tank. Once both these measurements are available, then it is easy for the user to determine the size of the heater. In general, users should use a 25-watt heater for every five gallons of tank capacity to heat five degrees. For larger tanks, more than one heater may be needed, and in such a case, the heaters should be placed on either end of the tank.

This is to ensure that the water is heated evenly. Another aspect that users should take into account is the placement of the heater inside the tank. Users have to decide whether they want to place the heater in the middle or on the end of the tank, and based on this choice, they can choose an appropriate-sized heater. One of the best places for an aquarium heater is near the water inflow or outflow location, as this will heat the water uniformly. Other than these aspects, users should look for aquarium heaters that come with special features, such as a thermometer or a temperature scale on them when they want temperatures to be strictly maintained within a certain range. This temperature control is vital if the user has fish that are particularly sensitive to temperatures. Cleaning and maintaining aquariums is harder than what most people imagine and the same extends to the heater as well. Therefore, it is always a good idea for users to choose heaters that are easy to clean and maintain.

Another important factor that determines the user's choice is the cost of the aquarium heaters. These heaters come in a range of prices, so users should have a budget before they head out to buy the right heater. If users are looking to buy the cheapest heater, then immersible aquarium heaters are the best choice. There is a staggering variety of aquarium heaters available on the market today, so users can decide the one they want based on many aspects, such as quality, type, size, and price. The table below compares a few models of aquarium heaters to give users a fair idea of what to look for while buying a heater. Maximum tank size (in gallons) Other than these factors, users should also look into the price of the aquarium heater as well. Based on all these factors, they can choose the heater that works best for them. One of the best places to buy aquarium heater is eBay because of the great selection of products. When you know the brand name and model of the heater, you can type the model number in the search box found on every eBay page and this will bring up all the listings related to that brand or model number.

On the other hand, if you don't know the exact model, you can look for aquarium heaters based on the features you want. For example, if you want an immersible and cheap heater, you can type in the words "immersible cheap aquarium heater" and this will show all the cheap immersible heaters listed on eBay. Top-rated Sellers are those who offer great customer service every time, so when you buy from these sellers, you are sure to get the best service and fastest shipping. These sellers receive consistently good feedback from buyers and they have an excellent track record on eBay. Their performance is monitored constantly by the eBay team, which means those who qualify for this rating are the best ones on eBay. These sellers will have the top-rated badge next to their ID, and this is one of the best ways to know if a seller is top-notch. Aquarium heaters maintain the temperature of the aquarium, so they are vital to the health of fish kept in the aquarium. To suit different needs of users, there are many kinds of aquarium heaters, such as immersible, submersible, filter, and substrate.