A Guide To Saltwater Aquarium Heating
A saltwater aquarium heater is one of the important pieces of aquarium equipment needed to be a successful aquarist. Along with other water parameters, the temperature of the aquarium water is a key parameter that you should keep stable.
When aquarium water temperatures fluctuate more than one or two degrees within 24 hours, it causes extreme stress on fish, corals, and other tank inhabitants. Increased stress can impede growth, cause common fish and coral diseases, and in the worst case, death. The recommended temperature range for saltwater aquariums is 75-78 °F.
The good news is there are lots of saltwater aquarium heaters to choose from, in fact, there are so many options that it can often be challenging which type of saltwater aquarium heater will be best for your aquarium setup.
Types Of Saltwater Aquarium Heaters
Selecting which type of saltwater aquarium heater for your aquarium is not as difficult as it may seem, as long as you know the differences between the four basic types.
The four basic types are:
If you have already had a look at heaters online or in your local fish store (LFS), then you likely noticed that some come with built-in temperature controls, some are made of plastic, while others a slightly more ‘fancy’ and are made of glass or titanium. So, which saltwater aquarium heating is best?
Glass Aquarium Heaters
Every standard saltwater aquarium typically has a glass aquarium heater. They are popular as most of them are fully submersible, offering flexibility on where you can place the aquarium heater. They are also one of the cheapest options after plastic and are reliable.
We know what you are thinking… If glass aquarium heaters are so popular, then why bother looking into other aquarium heater options?
Well, that’s simple - they are glass.
Glass as we all know is a fragile material that can easily break. Now, picture this. You are moving around the aquascape and a rock falls on it, or you remove it while it is still warm, the likeliness of it shattering is very high.
If your glass aquarium heater shatters, not only is this a hazard for your tank inhabitants, but it can also cause electrocution inside the aquarium resulting in fish death and danger to yourself.
Titanium Aquarium Heaters
Titanium aquarium heaters are almost identical to glass heaters, but they won’t shatter. If you leave the titanium heater out of water for a short period, they are known to burn out, but, you won’t need to worry about broken glass inside your aquarium or an electrocution hazard, especially when you go away on vacation.
However, if the titanium aquarium heater runs for a long time out of the aquarium water, or you are running it past its life expectancy, it can break.
While titanium aquarium heaters cost slightly more than glass aquarium heaters, they are worth the extra dollar in our opinion, mainly for the safety factor.
Aquarium Heaters With Built-In Temperature Control
Aquarium heaters that have built-in temperature controls are as good as they sound! Most modern saltwater aquarium heaters have the option to come with a built-in thermometer controller or thermostat, allowing you to set the temperature for your aquarium.
They are great, but as we know, technology can malfunction, and it is therefore not wise to solely rely on the temperature sensor built into the aquarium heater. Also, as the thermostat is close to the heating element, it is not overly accurate. So, we always recommend getting a separate temperature controller or thermostat for your aquarium.
Saying that, we always recommend a tank heater with built-in thermo safety controls, like the Eheim JAGER TruTemp Aquarium Heater.
Where To Place Aquarium Heaters?
The best placement for aquarium heaters is near the maximum water flow so that water flows directly past the heater. This allows the water flow to evenly disperse the heated water around the aquarium.
How To Install An Aquarium Heater?
Now you know where to place the heater, it is time to install it inside your aquarium.
When installing an aquarium heater, check which type you have. Ideally, you want it to be fully submerged at all times. To check this, turn off any pumps and check that the heater remains underwater. As mentioned above, when an aquarium heater is exposed, it can become a fire hazard.
To secure your aquarium heater, use a heater holder in a convenient location where you can see the LCD display and where you can access the settings.
Before plugging in your aquarium heater for the first time, submerge the heating element in the aquarium water and allow it to acclimate for 30 minutes before plugging it in and switching it on. Acclimation allows the heating element to equalize with the surrounding water temperature - this is particularly important if you have a glass aquarium heater.
Recommended Saltwater Heaters
At Reefco Aquariums, we recommend the following three heaters for saltwater aquariums:
How To Avoid An Aquarium Heater Issue?
Even under perfect or near-perfect conditions, common mistakes can happen…
Any electrical component that is hooked up to your aquarium will eventually wear out or break, so you should have a plan in place in case you find yourself with an aquarium heater issue, plus it avoids some serious headaches.
Tips To Avoid Aquarium Heater Issues
- To prevent a heater breakage, install a heater guard
- If your heater is inexpensive, replace it annually to avoid issues
- If your aquarium heater is of higher quality, we recommend replacing any broken components every 1-3 years - this is usually the controller as this is what usually fails first
- Always check the temperature calibration and accuracy if you are using a temperature probe or an aquarium heater with a built-in thermometer
- Always keep a close eye on the water temperature and install an alarm or set a notification on your phone
- Have an emergency heater in the cupboard at all times, or use two aquarium heaters (just remember to watch the water temperature)
Summary
By now you should be feeling more confident about how to install your saltwater aquarium heater, the type of aquarium heater you need, and what to do to prevent issues from happening.
If you have any questions regarding aquarium heating or which aquarium heater will best suit your needs, do not hesitate to contact the Reefco Team, we are always happy to help with any aspect of your aquarium setup!
