How to cichlid-proof a heater

[LogiBear]

I have done what you describe.I bought black pvc,drilled many holes in it.bottom inch of heater is exposed.top 2 inches also.i have it in the corner of my 90 gal.but the outtake from my filter is close.i have never had temperature problem in the tank

About how many holes? Ive done maybe 80 or so.

 

[virgil2090]

My heater is like 14 inches,so I just put as many as I could.80 is too many put some back...ha

 

[Kittiee Katt]

Do you have a sump or canister filter? Is it possible to put the heater "outside" of the main tank? That would be my solution.

 

[Thekid]

Buy a heater cover. They're $5 on Amazon and do wonderful.

 

[Reiner]

Before you buy a fish buy a new heater. You said even at the lowest setting of 68 it keeps the tank at 90. Your temp sensor is probably broken and just keeps heating.

 

[pelleeklund]

I'd buy one buddy, if the pvc isn't secured somehow your fish could move it and crack the heater that way.

 

[LogiBear]

Before you buy a fish buy a new heater. You said even at the lowest setting of 68 it keeps the tank at 90. Your temp sensor is probably broken and just keeps heating.

Only without enough air circulation. My bedroom is really closed off, its tucked in to the end of a hallway and doesnt get airflow. Last summer i didnt have a fan (smaller heater though so it was maybe 80-83° instead of 90°) and the tank actually warmed the whole room to the point that i would literally wake up sweating (im used to 60-70° in my room) and that sucked. But yeah, it gets literally no airflow so the warm air just builds up over time and heats the whole room as well as the tank. With a ceiling fan on when im home as well as another fan on full time i keep it down at about 78. Could be a bit warm for some but a helluva lot better than 90°.

 

[LogiBear]

I'd buy one buddy, if the pvc isn't secured somehow your fish could move it and crack the heater that way.

What ive done is taken a peice that is long enough that i can wedge it toghtly between the lid of the tank and a flat rock ot the bottom. Its also in a corner. I made sure that the top and bottom had at least half of the pipe to let water out as well as all of the holes.

Im thinking of doing more, and basically making it at least double the holes i have now.

 

[LogiBear]

Before you buy a fish buy a new heater. You said even at the lowest setting of 68 it keeps the tank at 90. Your temp sensor is probably broken and just keeps heating.

Also, i do feel the hater every day and it is off sometimes and on sometimes, and those times correlate with what the thermometer say the temp is currently. i think that it heats up really fast so it doesnt have time to react properly? Idk it seems to work most of the time and i only have the problem when im on vacation and the fan is off (family does it, ughh).

The heater is also from 5 months ago so it better not be broken.