So I just bought a heater for my 20 gal aquarium, but the the instructions suck. Its one those heaters that are tube shaped and have suctions to stick to the tank. Do I leave it on all the time, because I held it in my hand to make sure it work and it got really hot, and I dont want to boil my fish. Do I unplug and replug it, or does it keep the temp appropriate for me?
2007-07-26 08:32:35 · 7 answers · asked by Beardyboy37 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
see with the heater it's not suppose to be out of water and thats why it was such an intense hot that you felt. I thought the same thing when i was burned by my heater while cleaning my tank. But since water in the tank is always moving the fish won't be burned by the heater. Now for the boiling oyur fish you will need to monitor the temp with a thermometer the sticks either on the inside or outside of the glass. Even if your heater tell you what temp you set if for this is not what the temp in the tank is alwyas going to be. So turn it on to the gerenal temp if you have a heater that tells what temp your setting it for, or just turn it on and watch the thermometer and fine tune it to the right temp. Hope i helped you and not confused you. email me with Q's at yetitoo@yahoo.com if you would like
good luck
2007-07-26 09:06:18 · answer #1 · answered by Still learning 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I assume your heater has a dial on it to adjust temperature and it was purchased for a 20 gallon aquarium, if so place the heater in the tank and turn the dial til the light flickers. When the light flickers that means the heater is set for the current temperature of your tank, what ever that may be. If you want or need it hotter slowly turn the dial to bring the temperature to a desired setting. Do not do it all at once, bringing your temperature up could take a couple days or more. You should not need to remove your heater once in the tank other than to clean it. If you do remove it though, make sure you unplug it. Because of the size of the heater and the amount of water in the tank, you will not boil your fish unless you turn it all the way up, that would be bad news.
2007-07-26 15:43:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
THere will be an adjustment knob on the heater. Place the heater in the tank while unplugged for a while so it can adjust to that temperature, then plug it up. Then check the temperature of your tank. If it's low, turn the adjustment knob so that the light on the heater is just on. If the temperature is about right, turn the knob so that the light just flickers off.
Assuming the temperature was a little low, check it again once the heater light goes off. If it's warm enough,m your done. If not, then adjust the knob so that it's just on again abnd keep repeating the process until you hit the temperature you want.
MM
2007-07-26 15:42:00 · answer #3 · answered by magicman116 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It is meant to heat the whole tank not your hand. Yes, leave it plugged in all the time except when you change the water or dont have it in the tank. It will overheat if left on too long outside the water. There should be an adjustment dial at the top to get the temperature just right.
2007-07-26 15:42:12 · answer #4 · answered by chris42050 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the best temp for warm water fist is 24 or 25 degrees c.
the heater should be left on all the time and it will turn off when the water gets to the right temp and on again as it cools down.
just put it to the right temp and leave it. it wil be fine
2007-07-26 15:51:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
get the thermometer. the temp should be at 76-78 dgs. and it sounds like you get a really cheap heater. i get one of those and i had fryed fish. the best one to get is anyone that has the temperature written on the top so it monitors it. ya those heaters suck.
2007-07-26 15:39:57 · answer #6 · answered by Dory the Fish 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you went with a cheapo no-name heater with no thermostat, I highly advise you to return it and get a better one. This is not an area to skimp on - cheap heaters all too often get stuck on and fry the fish, and it ain't pretty.
2007-07-26 17:06:58 · answer #7 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋