Maintaining the Temperature of Your Fish Tanks and Aquariums

Tropical fishes live in climates that are warmerSubmersible heaters are fully submerged inside
than the typical temperature that most fishes liveyour tanks and they have a slim design which
in. In order to rear them at home, your fish tankshelps to conceal their presence in your tank. They
and aquariums have to be heated to raise theirare slightly more expensive than hang-on heaters
temperature artificially.but are much less obtrusive in appearance.
Heating your fish tanks and aquariums is not aFilter heaters are the ultimate heaters for
difficult task, but maintaining them at a constanthobbyists who do not want to have any
temperature is even more important than heatingmechanical parts inside their fish tanks. These
your tank. Your fishes aren't too particular aboutfilters are installed where the external filter is
living at a specific temperature. In fact, mostlocated and heats up the water that flows
tropical fishes are able to live in a range ofthrough the filter. However, if your filter pipe is
temperatures. However, a fluctuating tankfairly long and located at a distance from your
temperature will cause a lot of stress to yourtank, the temperature control of your tank will be
fishes.less reliable because of the heat loss from the
There are several options you can choose forwater before reaching the filter heater.
heating and maintaining the temperature of yourFilter heaters are much more expensive than
tropical fish tanks. But each of them has theircommon heaters, but they are worth the
pros and cons depending on what is morepremium if you are seeking to create a fully
important to you.natural fish tank.
The three main types of heaters that areBesides the type of fish tank, the size and rating
commonly used in fish tanks. They are hang-onof your heaters are important. Naturally, the
heaters, submersible heaters and filter heaters.bigger your tank, the larger the heater you will
Hang-on heaters, as their name suggests, hangneed. As a rule of thumb, you should go for a
onto your tanks from the top. They are partially25-watt heater for 5 gallons of water and for
submerged in the aquarium, with the heaterevery increase by 10 gallons of water; you should
control above the water line and the heatingincrease the size of your heater by 25 watts.
element under it. These heaters have the longestA good heater will last you for a long time
history of use and are very reliable. However,without you having to worry about temperature
their hanging over the top of the aquarium is anregulation in your fish tanks. All you have to do is
unwelcome feature to most owners who areto buy one that suits your budget and your
concerned with the aesthetic design of their fishneeds.
tanks.