| How to select an aquarium heater |
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Selecting a heater for your aquarium is as important for your fish as selecting the correct furnace for the home you live in. The following are some guidelines to help get you started for using a heater in an aquarium.
1) Determine the average temperature of the room your tank is in.
2) Determine the temperature you need to keep the water at. This will be based on the kind of fish you keep.
3) Subtract the average room temperature from the temperature you need to maintain the aquarium water at. Select the required wattage from the chart on the next page.
4) If the wattage is border line, choose the next higher size.
5) Run the heater in your aquarium for at least 24 hrs before adding fish, so you are sure it is working properly.
6) Be sure to buy a thermometer when you select your heater.
| Gallons/Liters | 5ºC/9ºF | 10ºC/18ºF | 15ºC/27ºF |
| 5 gal/25 L | 25 watt | 50 watt | 75 watt |
| 10 gal/50 L | 50 watt | 75 watt | 75 watt |
| 20 gal/75 L | 50 watt | 75 watt | 150 watt |
| 25 gal/100 L | 75 watt | 100 watt | 200 watt |
| 40 gal/150 L | 100 watt | 150 watt | 300 watt |
| 50 gal/200 L | 150 watt | 200 watt | two 200 watt |
| 65 gal/250 L | 200 watt | 250 watt | two 250 watt |
| 75 gal/300 L | 250 watt | 300 watt | two 300 wat |
Subtract the average temperature of the room the aquarium is located in from the temperature you wish to maintain the aquarium water at. Find the size of your aquarium in the left hand column and move to the column that shows the number of degrees the aquarium needs to be heated. If the heating requirement is between levels, move up to the next larger size.
In larger tanks, or where the room temperature is significantly below the desired water temperature, two heaters may be required. Heaters should be installed at opposite ends of the aquarium to heat it more evenly.
Heater Selection Example
Average Room Temp = 68 degrees F
Desired Water Temp = 77 degrees F
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Heating required = 9 degrees F
Tank Size = 20 gallon
Refer to chart to find that a 20 gallon tank with 9 degrees of heating required
will need a 50 watt heater.
Heater size needed = 50 watts