Heater for 55 gallon tank

[stubborn]

I should buy a 250 + Watt rated heater right?

Which of the below do you recommend? Please let me know if there are better alternatives than the ones I listed below. btb I have a thermometer in the tank already, so a temperature indicator is not a must.

Jager Heater -250 Watt

Marineland Visi-Therm Deluxe 250w Heater 250 watt

I thought Visitherm stealth was a productline by Marineland. But now I am seeing it from a different company in Amazon - Instant Ocean-Aquarium Systems 250 Watt Visi-Therm Submersible Heater

 

[PsyKick]

Visi-Therm Stealth heaters are made by marineland The one you linked isn't actually a marineland VT stealth...

 

[sushiray]

I would suggest you buy 2 visitherm deluxes for your 55gal. maybe 2 250w's. this way, if one were to go bonkers you have another already in place. (same goes for filters, have 2, espec. for larger tanks, so you can clean one on alternative turns & keeps your tank that much cleaner).

I have 2-300w in my 72gal. I found them to be so so accurate & the readout you can set it precisely - have had mine since June & each setting came out exactly the same on the thermometer! also with 2, they don't go on as often than if you just had one. but don't get me wrong - a 250w is good enough for your tank, I just like having a pr.

I would say check reviews on here about the stealth - tho a very good heater & has auto-shut off if water levels go below it's threshold - a few have said they had some probs with their newer purchases - defective.

deluxe you can always unplug if you're doing w/c & with deluxes you save a few bucks, same quality.

besides www.bigalsonline.com also check www.kensfish.com - both have great prices & both have very reasonable shipping costs.

good luck.

 

[Rbishop]

I would use two heaters at 150 watt each....

 

[thesixis]

I would use 2 heaters, depending on room temp, 2x150 or 2x 100. it is always better to have 2. Just in case....

 

[SubRosa]

You really need to determine how much above room temp you want to hold the tank to determine how much heater you need.
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/tipsandtables/l/blheatersize.htm

 

[Nessie]

...Please let me know if there are better alternatives than the ones I listed below....

I've used a Hydor inline heater for some years now and it has worked quite well. It fits on the outbound line from your canister and goes behind the tank, outside of the water. Thus you've got one less piece of technology visible in the tank.

You can get them at www.drsfostersmith.com and elseware for around $45.

 

[mott]

This is the one I use in my 55 by itself for the past few years, it's easy to hide with a black background, it turns it self off when it's out of the water it's also shatter proof supposedly.