Suggestions for a Good SMALL heater?

[cheizy]

Does anybody know any good small(reliable) heaters for a 2.5gal betta tank? recommendations? thanks =]

are these any good?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=18445&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=All&N=2004+1032&Ntt=heater&Np=1

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12087&Nty=1&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=All&N=2004&Ntt=heater&Np=1

[OldMan1947]

You can get a visi-therm stealth or a regular visi-therm in a 25 watt that is fairly small. Do a price match at Petsmart with their on line store and you will walk out for under $20.

[theotheragentm]

25 watts seems high. There are those that you linked to that should be better.

[legendaryfrog]

the 25 watt visi-therm would be the best choice in my opinion. Despite its high wattage, small tanks lose heat much quicker.

Also, those 2 heaters mentioned earlier may have a lower wattage, but arent as reliable as visi-therms, especially the latter one. I've seen many bettas die because of that heater failing.

[Mgamer20o0]

i some what agree with frog. only point i do have to make is the first link is for a Marineland 10w heater. the visi therm are from Marineland so i would think it should be as good as a visi therm. a 25w heater would allow you for future upgrades such as a nice 5 gal tank lol....

[BadDogsPa]

Tetra make s a 10-30 that does not need adjusted just drop it in and its at 76-78* Got one at Wal-Mart for a 30 gallon with Golden Barbs And Black Tetras

[Mgamer20o0]

i would never get a heater that doesnt adjust thats just asking for problems.

[soobie]

My Hydor Theo 25w has been great. It has an adjustment dial, and I've successfully used it in 1-gal, 2.5 gal, and 7-gal cory fry tanks. Never overheated, and kept the temp stable.

[Mgamer20o0]

bigger heaters shouldnt make the water over heat. its just it will go off and on more and might cause a shorter life span.

[theotheragentm]

Correct. Larger heaters should just heat faster. This would mean more on and off. While the water cools faster in smaller bodies of water, the heater is set to a temperature, so it will turn on and slow down the cooling and shortly thereafter raising the temperature back up. Larger heaters will run the risk of being too hot right around the heater. That is a worse thing in smaller bodies of water.

[mythreestars]

My Hydor Theo 25w has been great. It has an adjustment dial, and I've successfully used it in 1-gal, 2.5 gal, and 7-gal cory fry tanks. Never overheated, and kept the temp stable.

I like this brand, too. I have the Hydor Theo 50 in a 4 gallon. It's fully submersible and shatterproof. The temp. is always stable, something I was pleasantly surprised by. I had expected temp fluctuations with a small tank. I would have gone with the 25 if I'd had the option -- 50 seemed a bit much -- but the 50 came with tank and a bracket to hold it off the acrylic. So far, so good. I couldn't be happier with the results.

http://www.aquatichouse.com/Pumps_files/hydor%20heater.asp

[lili70]

I like the Marineland 10 W preset temp at 78.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/3382/product.web
Never caused a problem comparing with several others that almost cooked my fishes. I have 2 of Marineland in the betta's tanks for 4 months and still working.
They work for tanks smaller than 3g.
L
PS: it was very expensive.

[Alfa75racer]

I have been using an under gravel heater on my 2.5 betta tank, keeps it at 80º steady, and It is hidden under the sand so it is not visible. Though not a fan of Petco I did buy this there.
http://www.petco.com/product/102429/Hydor-Mini-Aquarium-Heater.aspx

here is a pic of his little world.
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg242/Alfa75racer/100_0535.jpg

[cheizy]

so get a 10W or 25W?

[OldMan1947]

Either size should work but you have more models to choose from in a 25. As someone said, (Mgamer20o0?) you want one that you can adjust to suit your aquarium residents, not a single temperature pre-set.

[theotheragentm]

I recommend the smaller heater still for the smaller aquarium.

[NewObsession]

Either size should work but you have more models to choose from in a 25. As someone said, (Mgamer20o0?) you want one that you can adjust to suit your aquarium residents, not a single temperature pre-set.
Usually true, but since it was for a betta tank, I don't think it is as much of a concern.
I have both of them in my betta tanks. I like the marineland one because it is preset and have not had any problems with either of them in my tanks.

The other is nice too because it can be put under the gravel, my only concern if it is the one I am thinking is that it doesn't actually turn off, it is set to raise the water temperature by a set amount and if you read the directions it says to "monitor temps and if needed unplug heater" which I am really not cool with.
We also have one of the Hydor 25 watt heaters. no problems but it is bulkier than the marineland especially in a 2.5 gallon

[OldMan1947]

Most adjustable heaters you set the temperature. I don't think I've ever seen one where you set the heating power manually. I'm sure they could be designed that way but I've never seen one.
I take it back, when I first started and they didn't make heaters, we used incandescent bulbs and used time and wattage to move tank temperatures to where we wanted them. It was not very convenient and a 3 or 4 degree daily swing was not unusual. The things that are made to be heaters always seem to have temperature and not power settings. Something that goes under the gravel is a thing I've never used so there may be an effect there that would be more variable because of the transport time to the water and the sensing point vs the thing you are trying to control. I have no experience with such a heater.

[tennesseemom]

I was also thinking of one of those undergravel or flat heaters. My tank isn't glass so I'm afraid of any effects of a larger heater?

[ansbfish]

ghjhreed,

I have an Ebo Jager that is old, something like a LZ200 (200 watt model)... You set the heat by moving a dial rated from 0 to 9... It took a bit to get it set, I just put it in 80*F tank and twisted till the heating light went on, then back till it just went off. Been holding my tank at 79.3*F luckily. Got a Hydor ETH on the way to replace it, the Ebo Jager doesn't seem like a good enough heater for the room the tank is in, its always on.

[OldMan1947]

ansbfish,

I almost forgot that type. I've even had them with no numbers, just a dial you turn and watch the pilot light. I thought all of those you were setting a temperature but they just didn't have temperature graduations on them. They used a thermostat with a very fine screw mechanism to adjust the setting and you set them by being very observant of the pilot light in a known temperature tank.