Heating option?

[jhook]

Has anyone ever tried using a heating mat, possibly under a tank or adhered to the back as a heater? There are ones on amazon designed for seedling sprouting. They have a thermometer and temperature adjuster as well. They are also used in alcohol brewing to raise the temp higher for extended periods of time.

I'm looking for options for my 6' long in wall 240g Oscar tank that only needs to be heated up about 5 - 10 degrees F above ambient room temperature (the house is kept at 72 - 75 year round). It's just now getting setup with filtration (1 FX-6 and 1 FX-4). I'm also thinking of ordering a 500W in-line heater, but if I can avoid cutting the hoses for installation I would like to do that.

It is something like in the link below:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074N2TTHP/ref=psdc_14252891_t1_B01IDQDCNY

I don't know if it's feasible or not. Does anyone have an opinion or experience, positive or negative?

 

[Drstrangelove]

I don't think materials and energy work in a way that would make that a better choice than an internal heater. Imo, it's likely to be far worse, energy wise.

I guess the obvious question is why buy a $50 item that might not work, when a $25 item will work?

 

[jhook]

Just a matter of not wanting them to bust a heater open inside of the tank as well as keeping it as clean looking as possible. I really don't like the look of a heater jamming down into the tank. Just looking at other options.

 

[Gourami Swami]

I think it would be pretty inefficient and possibly a fire hazard. Let's just say your tank springs a leak, are those external heat pads waterproof?
I would go for the in-line if the biggest concern is O's breaking the heater.
If your house really never drops below 72, you could probably just forego a heater al ltogether.

 

[TwoHedWlf]

Has anyone ever tried using a heating mat, possibly under a tank or adhered to the back as a heater?

Under tank heating used to be popular maybe 10-20 years ago. It's fairly easy to DIY something if you're into that, but I don't know if there are any premade setups around anymore.

It's obviously a little less efficient than an in tank heater, but you'll have padding, and MDF of the stand and stuff under the tank insulating it, so you're not losing a dramatic amount of heat out the bottom.

I'd go for an inline heater though for what you're wanting.

 

[duanes]

I have used the in-line heaters successfully, the one caveat, is they tend to burn out if water drains out of the heating element area, example during a power outage, so with mine, I installed a check valve underneath the unit so water could not run backwards drying them out.

 

[TwoHedWlf]

I have used the in-line heaters successfully, the one caveat, is they tend to burn out if water drains out of the heating element area, example during a power outage, so with mine, I installed a check valve underneath the unit so water could not run backwards drying them out.

Did you have it on the return line from a sump? If it's on the line from (or to, doesn't matter) a canister as long as it's below the tank water level there's no way it would run dry.

 

[Jexnell]

With the house at 72 to 75 year round I don't think I would bother. I keep Toni at 75 and she does great.

 

[duanes]

Mine was on the line from pump, in sump to the tank.
When power goes out, back siphonage is possible if the pump is lower than the surface of the tank water.

And I agree with jexnell, a house with constant temps in the low to mid 70s is really not a problem, in many areas of S America where oscars come from, water can easily drop into the high to mid 60s. I sometimes wonder if the common hole in the head scars seen on many oscars, may be partially due to the constant high temps, aquarists feel is needed these days. Many normally non pathogenic bacteria can become problematic, and favor the higher temps in the 80s. When I first started keeping oscars in the late 1950s, recommended temps were 64- 78'F in much of the aquarium literature of the time, based on natural water temps.

 

[jhook]

Thanks everyone. I’m going to try it with no heater for a bit, but am going to order an in-line one to install on the return of the -4. The house stays warm enough that it shouldn’t be an issue, and the tank is already in place, so no putting it underneath unless I cut through the bottom of the stand.