Recommend tank heater?

[spd7143]

Can anyone recommend a decent heater for my 20 gallon tank. The last few days, I've found that I'm getting temp fluctuations that I'm not at all happy with (2-4 degrees). The temp control knob on the one I have (Radiant) is very finicky and has seemed to require constant monitoring and adjustment. I know that at night, there will be a lower temp to contend with due to the tank lights being off and not producing heat but this is too much. I've already made enough errors on my own with my tank and still haven't killed any fish, I don't need any help in killing them with a finicky heater. TIA

[JSchmidt]

Personally, I doubt a 2-4 degree fluctuation would harm any but the most sensitive fish. How many watts is your current heater?

If you want to add a heater or replace the current one, Ebo Jagers and Tronics are the two that seem to be most often recommended. If the wattage of all the heaters in the tank adds up to 100 watts or so, you should be OK.

Good luck,
Jim

[spd7143]

The wattage on my current one is 50. I guess I'm just used to things being quite accurate and didn't realize these fluctuations were normal. Still, I think the adjustment knob on this one is finicky as the temp was hovering around 70 last night when I posted and this morning it was 78 with about 1/8th of a turn.

[pinballqueen]

When I kept a heater on my tank, I used rena. I liked the type of control and the fact that it was submersible....

I keep room temp on my tanks now, though, so I don't know exactly what the new tech on the block is...

an 8 degree fluctuation is a little harsh, though. seems like the control is a bit sensitive on the one you have.

I just rely on the central heat and air to keep mine regular these days. Cut a lot of the work and worry out of my day :) Since I prefer my house at about 72 in the summer and 65 in the winter, it isn't that different from what a fish would experience in the wild.

[gnahc79]

I had a Radiant in my 20gal and had the same problems as you. I got a ebojager 100W and don't have to mess with the controls that much. Just make sure you dial it down 3-4 degrees lower than what you want and then dial it up (i.e. start at 75, then go to 79).

[anonapersona]

Is this temp swing due to the lights?

You may have the heaters set to 70, but when the lights come on they can easily bring the tank temp up to 78, depending on how high the water level is, how well sealed the tank top is, how high the bulb wattage is, and if they are incancescent (screw-in) bulbs they give off even more heat than flourescents do for similar wattage or similar lumens.

If the lights are heating up the water, you'll want to bring the heater setting up closer to the daytime tiemp to minimize the temp swings. maybe set it at 75, with the light-induced daytime temp near 78.

Or, lower the time the lights are on, lower the water level, ventilate the tank more, reduce the light wattage, switch to screw-in flourescents -- any of these will lower that daytime temp spike due to the lights.

[spd7143]

Geesh! More to this aquarium set-up than I thought! I know the water level is pretty high in the tank, I'm running one flourescent bulb, and the tank has good ventilation. I'll take note of the suggestions posted here, thanks. I think I'll buy a new heater tomorrow anyhow just to be one the safe side since this one is annoying me with it's sloppy control.

[RHJ]

I use Ebo Jager heaters and they have worked flawlessly for me. The temp settings on the knob even matches the reading on my thermometer. I have not experienced any temp fluctuations yet, nor have I needed to adjust the settings.

[125gJoe]

I also prefer Ebo-Jagers...

[aquariumfishguy]

As do I! :D

[scottracy]

Upgraded and purchased 2 Ebo-Jagers a couple of weeks ago and they are great. Water temp matches dial setting with no fluctuations!

Scott

[spd7143]

Ok, the offending heater has now been relegated to the emergency only role and is packed away. In it's place is a brand new submersible heater. I eneded up getting a 50 watt Second Nature, acura 1000. It has positive clicks to the adjustment knob and has a temp range printed on the heater. All you do is dial in the temp you want and it stays there. I put this one in last evening and have not had any temp fluctuations since.

[dethjam316]

i've never had tronics, though they are always highly recommended. but i can tell you that my ebos and my visitherms are 99.99999% accurate. i'd recommend any of those 3 brands far above all the others.

[dethjam316]

Originally posted by pinballqueen
I just rely on the central heat and air to keep mine regular these days. Cut a lot of the work and worry out of my day :) Since I prefer my house at about 72 in the summer and 65 in the winter, it isn't that different from what a fish would experience in the wild. i like the idea of regulating with central heat and air, i kind of do this in the summer, keeping my AC in the high 70s, and my heaters never come on. but in tropical SA or SE asia, where most of our fish come from, isn't it quite a bit warmer than your numbers, with less dramatic swings from summer to winter? i wouldn't think those areas would change must at all, since water temps. are slow to swing in large bodies of water, especially with very mild seasonal changes...of course, i don't know what fish you keep pbq, but those temps are what i'd want for temperate tanks, not tropical. i keep most of my tanks at 77 or 79.

[drillsar]

You said you have a 50w Heater? I would use 100W Tronic. I have a 200W Tronic for my 55GAL and a 100W Ebo Jager on my 20gal. Both are good but tronic is better I think.

MY Suggestion either Ebo Jager or Tronic 100w Heater..

[JSchmidt]

Keep a close eye on those Second Nature heaters... when I first started out, I had several of those purchased locally. None lasted more than 6 months or a year....

Jim

[pinballqueen]

Originally posted by dethjam316
i like the idea of regulating with central heat and air, i kind of do this in the summer, keeping my AC in the high 70s, and my heaters never come on. but in tropical SA or SE asia, where most of our fish come from, isn't it quite a bit warmer than your numbers, with less dramatic swings from summer to winter? i wouldn't think those areas would change must at all, since water temps. are slow to swing in large bodies of water, especially with very mild seasonal changes...of course, i don't know what fish you keep pbq, but those temps are what i'd want for temperate tanks, not tropical. i keep most of my tanks at 77 or 79.

By the time you factor in the tank lights, filtered sun, and the small amount of heat generated by the equipment sittin under/behind my tank, my tank keeps an average temp of 76 in the summer, and 70 in the winter :)

Right now I keep convicts... but I used to keep NA natives (gar and such...). The cons seem to like it. I can't get em to stop breeding, so I must be doing something right :) Of course, if I were keeping a sensitive fish, such as small tropicals or a mormyrid or something that requires a higher temperature (most mormyrids prefer 80-82... wow, bathwater compared to what I have now), I would hook the heater back up with no hesitation.

I'm hopin that will be the case before long, if my LFS can get my african featherfin eel in that I ordered 9 months ago :P

[dethjam316]

ahh, that makes more sense. i was just curious, figured there was a good reason. i didn't want newbs to see that, and be like PBQ says i can keep my clown loach in 65 degrees:). yes, fish breeding is usually a sign you're doing something right! thanks for explaining!

[UnresistibleBlu]

Had two Won Brothers for the last 2 years without any problems

[jt325i]

I've got a Won Brothers 50w on my Eclipse System 6. I'm happy with it. Keep my tank right around 76F

[shewlett]

I am a big fan of Tronic 50 watt heaters. I have six of them in use and they all work great. For a 20 gallon tank I would use two of them, one at either end. Having two heaters builds in a measure of fail safe (assuming the electricity doesn't go out). They are extremely consistent in temperature readings. If the water is not well circulated or there are lots of obstructions such as plants and ornaments then there will be fluctuations in different areas of the tank depending on where your probe is situated. Having two heaters at opposite ends of the tank helps combat this.