5" Red Ruby Spilo

[DmartinRhom]

Thanks for the tip. Out of curiosity, do you believe he is capable of actually biting through these glass heaters or are you more concerned with him breaking them by smashing into them and the glass on glass contact breaking them?

I ask because if it's the latter, which I'm more inclined to believe, I was actually thinking of just adding additional suction cups along the body of each one, reducing the risk of them coming unattached.

Full disclosure: He does attack one of them pretty relentlessly every couple nights but I really didn't think his teeth could break through the thick glass

 

[Skurj]

Get an inline, such as the hydor 300w and you won't have to worry. If you believe in 2 heaters, an aqueon pro which isn't glass (and its black) maybe a good option.

 

[DmartinRhom]

Thanks for the suggestions, skurj

 

[Skurj]

I run a single hydor 300w inline on my 180 up here in Canada eh, the tank is in the basement where the room temperature almost never sees 70 deg at least in the winter, no issues. I do run an AC110, FX6 and a 2262 on the tank which are likely adding some heat as well. No piranha in my 180 to worry about but I should likely consider a 2nd heater just in case of a failure of one or the other.

 

[00kevin]

- and then you're out big bux and left with a sickening feeling in your stomach that will take years to go away.

That's a very accurate emotional description of losing fish from an easy fix


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[Rhomadeas]

That's a very accurate emotional description of losing fish from an easy fix

Yep, that's why I run the Aqueon Pro - it also has mode lights so I know it's alive and when it's heating. The next sickening feeling is from power failures and your tank is a total loss. Get some type of emergency power that can run at least minimal aeration and possibly some heat.

 

[DmartinRhom]

Get an inline, such as the hydor 300w and you won't have to worry. If you believe in 2 heaters, an aqueon pro which isn't glass (and its black) maybe a good option.

A single 300w wouldn't cover a 125 gallon tank though, correct? Do they or any other reputable company make a higher wattage if I wanted to replace both existing heaters for a single in-line?

 

[Rhomadeas]

Depends on variables like the ambient temp of the room etc. The load on the heater is more dependent on the amount of water it has to maintain and at what temp. If you keep your house at 68 in the summer and the tank is set for 78, then it will be working overtime due to the 10 degree differential. It also depends on the amount of heat loss you have; I insulate the non-viewing surfaces with styro to lower my heating bill. Also, big air pumps pushing cool air into the water will increase the rate of heat loss. Acrylic tanks require half the wattage of glass as they insulate better. As you can see, it depends on your situation.

 

[DmartinRhom]

Appreciate your input, Rhomadeas, definitely helpful.

I'm going to stick with my two heaters mounted horizontally up top for now. They've been like that for several weeks now and he hasn't touched them at all.

For those interested, here are a couple new pics of my Rhom - you can see how one of the heaters are mounted in the second picture..

Below those are four pictures of the new resident in my 40B planted tank - a 4" - 4.5" Gold Mac (Serrasalmus Maculatus). First couple are in a darker light so his colors are tinted..

 

[xiao]

I am looking to buy a black diamond piranha 5-6 inches, please email me :xiaosu1995@gmail.com