Heaters & Filters

[bizzy928]

Hello again!

I just setup my 10 gallon freshwater and it is cycling.

I really want to keep cost down and I found out that heaters are mostly over $30. For a 10 gallon tank, what wattage heater do you suggest?

At bigalsonline.com I see:
THERMA-FLOW HEATER 50 WATT $10.99
THERMA-FLOW HEATER 150 WATT $14.99
THERMA-FLOW HEATER 200 WATT $16.99

How come these heaters are so cheap compared to the rest?

Also, I have two Aqua Clear mini's running right now.
One has steps 1, 2 and 3 and the other has steps 1 and 2.

At my lfs I saw that Hagen has come out with a step 2/3. Steps 2 and 3 combined. Is the 2/3 as good as 2 and 3 separately? What are the drawbacks and benefits? Because the steps 2/3 is 1/2 the price of steps 2 and 3 separately.

Should I leave my AC Minis on MAX all of the time? I was thinking it might be too hard on the motor, but it seems like the motor is always running at a constant speed, and the only that that determines how much GPH is how far your manually adjust the openeing of the AC mini.

Sorry for the fragmentation and thank you!

[OrionGirl]

While a 50 watt heater will work for a 10, especially in a room that has a consistant temp, I can't recommend using a cheap heater. Cheap heaters notoriously fail, most often failing to turn off, and boiling your fish. Bad plan.

The AC Mini should be fine, and I recommend using just the sponges. All the other 'stuff' isn't needed on a regular basis, and will cause problems while you cycle the tank (are you cycling fishlessly with ammonia, using estalbished media, plants, or what?) The sponges will provide moderate machanical filtration, and excellent biological filtration once establsihed. Leaving the filter on max will not cause any problems.

[bizzy928]

I never thought of the posibility of a cheap heater failing to turn off. I guess i'll have to go name brand.

I am fishless cycling with just the two ac mini's, gravel and water.

Next time I goto my lfs, i'll get them to test my water.

[NJ Devils Fan]

About the heaters, never get cheap ones thinking that they will be fine. Get either a Tronic of Ebo-Jager 50 watt heater as these two brands are two of the best.

[Skittyfish]

I have always used visi-therm heaters and have never had one fail. I also have a 'cheap' hang on for my 10 (from Wal-Mart) that I have had for over two years with no problems.