We here at Petware House receive many questions through email, in-store visits and phone calls regarding fish tank water heaters and we are pleased to be of assistance whenever possible. As a result, we have compiled the following information for your convenience outlining what you should know about fish tank water heaters with a short summary regarding each type of water heater.

Essentially, an aquarium water heater is a piece of aquarium hardware used in controlling and adjusting water temperature and preventing water from getting below a particular pre-set temperature.

The vast majority of aquariums have heaters, but there are many questions surrounding this equipment. On the market today, we have several types of heaters available all of which fall into a couple of categories – an internal heater and an external heater, the difference of course, is an internal heating element or an external heating element. External fish tank heaters come in two varieties: in-filter heaters and in-line heaters, though you may hear of sump-pump heaters from time-to-time. External heaters a distributed in three varieties: submersible, hanging and substrate. A common component to the found in all fish tank heaters is a thermostat to regulate the switch heater to the on or off position as required to maintain the appropriate temperature.

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The most common and least expensive heaters on the market today are of the hanging variety. Virtually all aquarium kits contain a hanging heater to new owners maintain correct water temperature for freshwater tropical fish.

As the name implies, the hanging heater hangs off the top edge of the fish thank, typically at the back of the unit with a glass tube which contains the heating element. In some cases, a hanging heater will require you to cut an opening in the aquarium hood to accommodate the head of the heater but most aquarium hoods come with a section designed to be cut to accommodate handing the heater or filter.

Of equal importance is to ensure your safety and the of pets so use extra caution so that the heater doesn’t get knocked out of place which could potentially crack or break the glass sheath on the heater exposing you to an electric shock or even the risk of fire.

It is important to note that hanging heaters are inappropriate - even dangerous - for marine or brackish water aquariums, as the salt can get into the tube and cause corrosion or electrical shorts.

Fully immersed in the aquarium, and generally more efficient than hanging water heaters submersible aquarium heaters can be placed fairly low in the water, can also be positioned vertically, horizontally or even on an angle. These units tend to perform at their best when positioned horizontally or vertically. It’s highly suggested however that if your unit has an internal thermostat, it is usually more efficient if you position it horizontally in the tank and faily low in the water. This serves to obtain an accurate reading on the tank temperature and correctly activate and deactivate the heater.

Typically attached to the back of the aquarium by a clip or suction cup, it is important to keep your heater above the gravel, as there may be a difference in heat conductivity between the water and gravel and could result in cracking of the heater glass. Also ensure you provide a fair amount of space between the heater and the gravel or the side of the tank to ensure that your fish won’t get caught and burned by the heater

Of the least common variety of fish tank heaters we have the aquarium substrate heater, for internal use. Typically buried in the aquarium gravel or substrate the coil or grid is neatly laid out to distribute an even amount of heat throughout your fish thank. The coil or grid itself is the element for the heater and when turned on the grid or coil heats the gravel in the tank. The heat is then evenly radiated from the gram to warm up the water supply. Once heated to a pre determined interval, the thermostat will switch the heater off.

This particular type of hardware is quite beneficial particularly for planted tanks where gravel may act as an insulator and keep the plants roots too cool. As a result the substrate heaters are ideal for keeping plant roots healthy and comfortable resulting in stunning plant life.

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A self-contained unit which resides along external fish tank plumbing and typically attached to a filter or external aquarium equipment. This would best describe the in-line aquarium heater.

This hardware typically requires a water pump to transport water through them but can also be piggy backed with a trickle filter, a canister filter or even a UV sterilizer and all the hearer requires is water flow. Water is pumped through the tube or pipe, the heater and heated for return to the tank

Petware House receives new stock almost every week, and if you are searching for that particular fish or coral, we do special orders all the time.

A number of aquarium filters, typically canister filters and at times, power filters or other varieties, come with built-in heater elements. As water makes its way through, it will become filtered and heated then returned to the aquarium. Since these filters are inside of - and usually integral to - the filter, they are referred to as in-filter heaters.

In your search for the perfect aquarium heater, you may come across the term in-sump aquarium or sump heaters. Have no concerns, Petware House is here for you.

In virtually all cases, an in-sump tank heater is simply a submersible tank heater that is set up in the sump of a trickle filter instead of that in the fish tank itself. This setup provides a safety for the fish by minimizing the risk of the aquarium heater becoming damaged by a belligerent fish such as an Oscar, making it less likely that something an object may get knocked against or fall onto the aquarium heater and breaking the unit, making it less likely that the fish tank heater would get damages while the aquarium was being cleaned, and by making it rather difficult for a fish to get caught under or behind the aquarium heater and getting burned.

In your search for the perfect aquarium heater, you may come across the term in-sump aquarium or sump heaters. Have no concerns, Petware House is here for you.

Keep in mind that all of your hardware – epically heaters are properly setup so that it is unlikely that a fish will get caught between the heater and other items, such as a decoration or the side of your fish tank. Ensure you have ample of space for your fish to hide so they don’t make your heater the primary spot. Remember that fish can get severely burned if your hardware isn’t installed properly.

In addition ensure that there is water between the aquarium heater and other surfaces, especially around the element inside the heater and other surfaces. If the glass sheath of the tank heater touches the aquarium glass, gravel or a d decoration, this could cause what is known as a temperature gradient in the glass which may cause the glass to shatter.

When you setup your fish tank or get a new heater for your aquarium, remember to always let the new aquarium heater sit in the water with the heater property setup for at least thirty or fourty minutes before plugging it in. This will allow for temperature equilibrium and prevent that glass from breaking due to temperature differences when the heater element comes on. Similarly, ensure the heater is unplugged for thirty to forty minutes before removing it from the fish tank. This will help prevent the unit from breaking or burning other items it may be set on.

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