100w heater in 5g tank?

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msquared

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Jan 31, 2008
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I have an Aqueon 100w heater that is not being used in my community tank, and I am setting up a new 5-gallon tank for a betta and shrimp. Can I use the spare 100w heater in a tank this small without any problems? If not, I'll just buy a 25w heater. Thanks for any input.
 

FreshyFresh

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Jan 11, 2013
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I would absolutely not use a 100w heater in a 5gal tank. That sucker could make a 5gal pot of soup.

FWIW, I don't use larger than a 200w heater in my 75 and 55g tanks. My 10g has a 25w.
 

atreis

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Only if you're looking to make tea.... Or perhaps bouillabaisse...

Aside from the danger of malfunctions turning the tank into soup VERY quickly, it's so over sized that even with it working correctly the tank will suffer temperature swings every time it turns on - after it turns off, there's some residual heat that will still be dispersed into the water. There's so little water relative to amount of heat that the tank will warm considerably above the set point. Then it'll fall... Then it'll turn on again... repeat... Not good for the inhabitants.
 

tanker

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Only if you're looking to make tea.... Or perhaps bouillabaisse...

Aside from the danger of malfunctions turning the tank into soup VERY quickly, it's so over sized that even with it working correctly the tank will suffer temperature swings every time it turns on - after it turns off, there's some residual heat that will still be dispersed into the water. There's so little water relative to amount of heat that the tank will warm considerably above the set point. Then it'll fall... Then it'll turn on again... repeat... Not good for the inhabitants.

I agree. It would be boil, stop, boil, stop===dead tank.
 

msquared

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Jan 31, 2008
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St. Charles, Missouri
Okay, there is obvious consensus on this matter. I had a feeling this was the answer I would get. I will get a 25w heater for it instead. I still have a spare 20g tank that can be used as a quarantine tank or maybe a shrimp or feeder breeding tank, and the 100w can go in that if it's ever needed. Thanks for the tech, folks!
 
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