One 50 Watt Heater or Two 25 Watt Heaters?

[maryalice81403]

For a 12 gal tank - Would I be better off using two 25 watt heaters so that if one breaks I am still okay, or would it be better to just get a 50 watt heater. I am planning on going with a VisiTherm submersibles since that seems to be the one most of you are using.


By the way, I am so glad I found this board....you guys are great! :bowing:
Thanks,
MaryAlice

 

[Rallysman]

I would use 2, because if 1 sticks on there is less of a chance of it boiling your fish before you catch it.

 

[Ms.Bubbles]

It's also nice to have 25 watt heaters on both sides of the tank because it ensures that the whole tank is getting heated evenly.

 

[lucky777ca]

2, if possible:
a) precaution for one breaking/shutting down
b) evenly heated
c) provides a slowing down method for malfunctions, as one 25W would have a difficult time heating the tank fast enough if there is a malfunction in the thermostat

 

[CaptnDan]

Another vote for 2 of the 25's here, for all the reasons stated above, but mainly if one goes out, there will still be some heating going on - less risk of getting too cold.

 

[YoFishboy]

For a small 12 gallon tank and with the increased reliability of heaters, particularly the visitherms, I think 2 heaters would be overkill. In 38 years of fishkeeping, dozens and dozens of different tank set ups, I have only had 2 heaters stick...and this includes the presubmersible heater days. And they were both ebo's, ironically. I think one 50 watt would be fine....but it's your call! Good luck!

 

[webcricket]

I'd only go with 1 good quality 50 watt (which should cost you as much as 2 sub-par 25 watt heaters). People typically get 2 heaters when they have very large tanks - one for each side.

If you can afford it though, and want 2 heaters taking up space in a small tank, go for it. :huh:

 

[aquaman325]

If I were you, I would get one 50 watt.

 

[NinjaPirate]

If you really want to and can afford it, two 25W's would work. But one 50W would probably work just as well. Heaters nowadays are getting better and better about being failsafe - that is if they break, they break to "off". Really it just comes down to how much you want to pay. With the smaller tanks you don't really have problems with even heating if you have the heater near the filter intake. I only start dual heaters when I get bigger than 29G.

 

[plah831]

I totally agree with everything NinjaPirate said. I also like to put the heater either by the filter outflow, or with an airstone under it to facilitate distribution of heat throughout the tank