I have a heater thats rated to 60 gallons in my 55 gallon tank. however when i went home today my tank was at a chilly 65 degrees. Since it is in my bedroom and my grandma refuses to turn the heat on in there if i'm at school i decided to put a blanket over the tank and insulate it just a little bit. Will this help in keeping it warm? for now at least or should i invest in another heater ASAP.
HEATING.
- Thread starter zpetrichko
- Start date
You need a second heater to be safe. I lost a fish like this, the heater just couldn't keep up.
I also got saved another time buy having a second heater. I did a water change, so I always unplug everything, well one of the heaters didn't get plugged in good so it fell out the socket. I came home and my tanks was 72 when its normally 78 - 80, so I assumed the 2 heaters couldn't keep up, I went to throw in the third heater, and thats when I noticed the problem.
Moral of the story is two is always safer then one, not only will this help you keep your tank at the right temp, but if one fails it might keep the fish from dying. Can you imagin how cold the water would be if there where no heater in there? When the water is that cold the heater has to work over time, if its on for 6 or 8 hours straight while your at school it could die sooner.
Also you might show Granny that the price of that water heater running for the whole time she has the heat off, actually cost more then having the heat on in the room. Just my 2 cents.
I also got saved another time buy having a second heater. I did a water change, so I always unplug everything, well one of the heaters didn't get plugged in good so it fell out the socket. I came home and my tanks was 72 when its normally 78 - 80, so I assumed the 2 heaters couldn't keep up, I went to throw in the third heater, and thats when I noticed the problem.
Moral of the story is two is always safer then one, not only will this help you keep your tank at the right temp, but if one fails it might keep the fish from dying. Can you imagin how cold the water would be if there where no heater in there? When the water is that cold the heater has to work over time, if its on for 6 or 8 hours straight while your at school it could die sooner.
Also you might show Granny that the price of that water heater running for the whole time she has the heat off, actually cost more then having the heat on in the room. Just my 2 cents.
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hold on hold on, i'm not a highschooler, i'm away at school i live in the dorms even though i'm only 30 miles away i don't visit more than once a week and she refuses to have the heat on during that time. i think whats happening is without the outside head the heater is over working itself therefore its not even turning on long enough to warm it becuase its over heated.
zpetrichko;3689584; said:
No one said what school level you are in, no need to take offense. I also said that the heater is likely getting over worked in my post. I was only trying to help you, as I have been in the same sport.
No offense was intended only wanted to help.
Forget the heater gallon rating. They are useless unless the room temp stays constant year round.
there is a guide floating around the net somewhere that shows how many watts you need to keep a tank at a certain temp with X amount of degree variance in the day.
That I would get two heater that is the correct wattage based off that chart. and set one 2 degrees below the other so it's only on for backup.
I wish I knew where that chart was.
there is a guide floating around the net somewhere that shows how many watts you need to keep a tank at a certain temp with X amount of degree variance in the day.
That I would get two heater that is the correct wattage based off that chart. and set one 2 degrees below the other so it's only on for backup.
I wish I knew where that chart was.
Second heater would help. How cold is the room the fish are in? Who is feeding the fish while you are away at school? I tried keeping fish while in college though more than 30 minutes away and it was a disaster.
I went and bought another heater today, i'll be home at the end of this week. my gram is actually very good about feeding and taking care of the fish. I have a ten gallon set up with some rosies in there and she loves taking care of them, even calls the tank and fish HER fish.