heaters and rubbermaid "tanks"

dethjam316

dethjam316

AC Members
Apr 6, 2003
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south of nowhere, north of nothing
i've done substantial google searches (of websites and groups), and i've yet to see anyone suggest heaters will melt or cause damage to rubbermaid containers being used temporarily (for a couple months, anyway) as tanks. the few sources i've found indicate no problems. yet, i remain somewhat skeptical. has anyone had experiences with this?
 
I've used one for heating change water without a problem, but I make sure the heater doesn't come in direct contact with the container. Either suspend the heater in the middle of the tub, or make sure it is mounted securely on the side with a mounting bracket that holds it away from the side. The suspending method is usually easier--you just run a stick across the tank and wrap the cord around it a few times.
 
You can put rubbermaid containers in the microwave. I think the temp inside a microwave or the temp of really hot food is far higher then the temp of the heater submerged into water.
 
Reiner, you are right to say that microwaves are hotter than heaters, but it is a different kind of heat. If you hold a match or lighter to a rubbermaid container, it will melt or burn. The heat made by an aquarium heater is that more of a lighter or flame. think so anyway. Is anyone here a microwave physicist?
 
It depends on the heater. I've layed my 25 watt submersable heater right on the bottom on my rubbermaid containers (actually they are 25 g Cornerstone containers). My containers are made of Polypropylene, which are made to withstand heat. 25 watt heaters don't get very hot anyway, but a 200 watt heater might do some damage though.

But All containers are made of a different poly, so you should check to see what your container is made of. Most containers have a recycle label on them.
Check your container and check this site, it might be helpfull.

http://www.visionengineer.com/env/plastic_recycling_symbols.shtml


If your into material science, here's a few more links that will give you some technical data -
http://www.matweb.com/search/SearchSubcat.asp
http://www.rcpworksmarter.com/rcp/products/pdf/chem.pdf
 
You might want to check out a sterilite container, they are clear (el cheapo's) but the clear ones have flat sides unlike rubber maid's and that should keep it off of the side of the plastic... Also at the very top of the heater it doesn't get hot (first 1/4 to 1/2 inch) get some flat PVC (or something with a higher heat tollerance than than rubbermaid platics) drill a hole thru it to slide the heater down into... that would also help keep it off the side...

FWIW I kept about 20 inches of fish in a 3 gallon sterilite container for 3 weeks durring my move from Florida to Indiana... I drilled thru that lid in a number of places with a dremel for slots and holes...
 
yeah i actually have a sterilite..generic rubbermaid whatever. so what i'm hearing here, basically, is that as long there is some space between the sides, it should be okay? the heater i'll be using is only a 50w, since the temps in my house typically stay in the mid 70s anyway. really, i just want to keep the temp. constant on occasions when i crank the AC at night.
 
Heaters are made to not come in contact with the tank material generally. That being said the heater is just heating the water, which is contact with the container. Even 100F isn't enough to melt plastic. If the heater is going to melt the plastic just think what it is going to do to your fish. Plus they heat acrylic tanks just fine.
 
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