Best heater for 5 gallon betta tank!!!

[PattyCakes81]

Hi guys!!!

Long time no see! A lot has happened, moved into new apartment, only have my lone survivor my male Betta Cosmo in my 20 gallon high tank!! My Cosmo is a male DIVA!! So I am putting him by himself in a 5 gallon, my 10 gallon tank broke in the move :'( with some nerite snails.

The thing is I have no clue what heater to get. The extra heater I have is the Fluval M 100W heater. I think that is too much? I'm I right in saying this?

If its too much, please give me some options for adjustable heaters.

Thank you,
Patty

 

[Duckie]

I used a 250W heater in a 10 gal before without a problem. You just have to keep monitoring the temperature for a while and adjust the heater accordingly. I would turn it down and very slowly go up until you reach your target. The only problem with the fluval I can see is that it is open. For a betta I would get one with a plastic cage around it - they do sleep in the weirdest places. Against the heater directly on the glass would hurt.

 

[Duckie]

As for a specific one, don't know any that are similar to the ones I use. The 250 watt heater I had in the 10 gal qt tank is now used in my refugium for my 75 gal SW tank (Deep Blue branded, I think). Wouldn't recommend that for a betta though (even the lower watt versions) as they are just like the Fluval with naked glass showing. My other tanks have 200 watt heaters cheap no-name that do, however, have a nice plastic cage around them. Got one each in both my 29 gal tanks, and two in my 180. They barely fit length wise in a 5 gal. Here is a link if you are interested out of curiosity: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00RYDSIGE/

 

[dougall]

The problem with oversized heaters, and IMO 100w is way too much for a 5g tank. is that as long as they fit, there is still the risk of failure.

If the heater fails and keeps heating constantly, the water will be heated way too much, and you're liable to end up with fish soup. This is why I'm always a big proponent in using 2 smaller heaters rather than a single large one.

100w is more suitable for around a 30g tank, maybe 25w would be better, personally I'd use a cobalt neotherm if it would fit in the tank..
http://www.amazon.com/Cobalt-Aquatics-Neo-Therm-Heaters-Plastic/dp/B008AGHH8Y

or a smaller option would be the hydor theo
http://www.amazon.com/Hydor-25W-Submersible-Aquarium-Heater/dp/B0006JLPG8

Note the links aren't necessarily the best price, just easy to find on amazon.

 

[PattyCakes81]

I used a 250W heater in a 10 gal before without a problem. You just have to keep monitoring the temperature for a while and adjust the heater accordingly. I would turn it down and very slowly go up until you reach your target. The only problem with the fluval I can see is that it is open. For a betta I would get one with a plastic cage around it - they do sleep in the weirdest places. Against the heater directly on the glass would hurt.

As for a specific one, don't know any that are similar to the ones I use. The 250 watt heater I had in the 10 gal qt tank is now used in my refugium for my 75 gal SW tank (Deep Blue branded, I think). Wouldn't recommend that for a betta though (even the lower watt versions) as they are just like the Fluval with naked glass showing. My other tanks have 200 watt heaters cheap no-name that do, however, have a nice plastic cage around them. Got one each in both my 29 gal tanks, and two in my 180. They barely fit length wise in a 5 gal. Here is a link if you are interested out of curiosity: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00RYDSIGE/

The problem with oversized heaters, and IMO 100w is way too much for a 5g tank. is that as long as they fit, there is still the risk of failure.

If the heater fails and keeps heating constantly, the water will be heated way too much, and you're liable to end up with fish soup. This is why I'm always a big proponent in using 2 smaller heaters rather than a single large one.

100w is more suitable for around a 30g tank, maybe 25w would be better, personally I'd use a cobalt neotherm if it would fit in the tank..
http://www.amazon.com/Cobalt-Aquatics-Neo-Therm-Heaters-Plastic/dp/B008AGHH8Y

or a smaller option would be the hydor theo
http://www.amazon.com/Hydor-25W-Submersible-Aquarium-Heater/dp/B0006JLPG8

Note the links aren't necessarily the best price, just easy to find on amazon.

Thank you so much Duckie and Dougall! After checking all suggestions, I decided ton get either the Hydor theo or the Cobalt Aquatics Neo Therm.

Patty