Best aquarium heater 2018 – [Buyer’s Guide]

Last Updated June 1, 2023

Best aquarium heater of 2018

Check them out and decide which one suits you the best to splurge upon. Many brands have introduced aquarium heater on the market. These brands have resulted in a variety for the user. These require that the consumers be well aware of what they are buying so as to make the best choice.

I have a variety of material used in the construction of aquarium heater including metal, plastic, and glass. Before you spend your money on aquarium heater, start by familiarizing yourself with the various types.

Test Results and Ratings

Rank	№1	№2	№3
Product
Total	4.8	4.5	4.3
Ease of use	5 points	4 points	4 points
Materials	5 points	5 points	4 points
Construction	5 points	5 points	4 points
Price	4 points	4 points	5 points
Awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

№1 – Zacro AH241 Submersible Aquarium Heater with Visible Temperature and with Chip C2865

Why did this aquarium heater win the first place?

I really enjoy the design. It is compact, comfortable and reliable. And it looks amazing! The product is very strong. Its material is stable and doesn’t crack. I don’t know anything about other models from this brand, but I am fully satisfied with this product. I was completely satisfied with the price. Its counterparts in this price range are way worse.

Ease of use 5

Materials 5

Construction 5

Price 4

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№2 – Zacro BH371 Submersible Aquarium Heater with Visible Temperature with Chip C3425

Why did this aquarium heater come in second place?

The design quality is top notch and the color is nice. I recommend you to consider buying this model, it definitely worth its money. The material is pretty strong and easy to wash if needed. I really liked it. It is amazing in every aspect. It did even exceed my expectations for a bit, considering the affordable price.

Ease of use 4

Materials 5

Construction 5

Price 4

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№3 – Aqueon Pro Heater Aquarium Heater

Why did this aquarium heater take third place?

It is inconvenient to use due to the size. I am going to get something different next time. I liked the design. We’ve been using it for 2 months and it still looks like brand new. A very convenient model. It is affordable and made of high-quality materials. It doesn’t squeaks nor bents. Looks great in my apartment.

Ease of use 4

Materials 4

Construction 4

Price 5

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aquarium heater Buyer’s Guide

Aqueon Pro Heater

There are many accessories to aid the fish and the aquatic environment healthy and clean. It introduces reliable, accurate, easy and durable for the aquarium heaters on the market. It has various sizes and fit for any aquarium. All have long time guarantee.

It is also a good kind of submersible heater measured 4x14xinches. It has five different watts. 250W version may raise the temperature 1degrees F and more than room temperature of 90-gallon tank. Pro heater is simple to install.

But you have to follow the instructions to set it from the setup guide. The setting of temperature is in Fahrenheit, and so you need to see horizontally. It also has an indicator light.

Fluval E Electronic Heater

Maintaining accurate temperature inside aquarium is a great factor to keep the fish healthy. The Fluval E heater displays or monitors aquarium water temperature, confirm well-being of the aquarium inhabitants.

Today you will get technically advanced submersible aquarium heater to maintain temperature; the Fluval E series features VueTec technology. The LCD monitor will show you the accurate temperature of the aquarium.

At the time of normal operation, the temperature display changes color when the aquarium water temperature varies from the preset temperature. External temperature or heat sources cause the rise of aquarium temperature rise or fall; the colored screen may flash potential risk.

Features of Fluval E Electronic Heater

Gives accurate temperature setting for having dual temperature sensors. You can set the temperature in 0.Degree increments.

ViaAqua Gass Submersible Heater

The heater is fully submersible and has four wattages. The heater is made with high quality, has a built in thermostat, break resistant glass which automatically maintains water temperature.

The reading of temperature is red for more visibility as the suction cups make the setting easier. They can maintain capacities between 1to 80 gallons.

Aqueon 50W Pro Heater

Aqueon Pro Heater comes with an auto shut off when water comes to an end and automatic restart if placed back in the water. The tool features with an aluminum core to distribute heat evenly, and the submersible heater is designed from shatterproof plastic (no glass).

Keep fully submerged, horizontally or vertically, in your aquarium along with added suction cups.

Big control knob makes temperature modifications simple in easy degree F increments. UL listed. The length, of the cord, is six feet for marine aquariums and freshwater.

Immersible heater

The name of the heater is hanging heater. It usually hangs over the tank with the help of glass tube which houses the heating element can be immersed in water. The immersible heater is a common thing and best for the people who like to keep fish.

It needs a head to accommodate this. Be sure; the immersible heater is secured as it may electrocute the fish and cause a fire. The heater is best for brackish fish or marine tanks. If water gets inside the tube, it may lead to corrosion.

Submersible heaters

The size of the heater

This is crucial as well because this will decide the positioning of the heater in the tank. If you research hard enough, you will find heater size guides online to help you rule out this factor with much more ease.

Depending on the size of your tank, the initial temperature of your water and the number of fishes in the tank, the size of the aquarium heater will play a very significant role in the well-being of your fishes.

Easy and efficient use

The Tetra HT Submersible has three variations ranging from the 50-watts device to the 150-watts.

The design of this aquarium heater is small enough to effectively hide it behind rocks or any ornament in your aquarium. It’s fully submersible and can be installed horizontally or vertically.

One of the finest features of the FInnex Electronic Controller is that it’s made with titanium tubes. These tubings make it virtually indestructible which avoids shattering and corrosion in either salt or freshwater tanks.

This product maintains stable and safe temperatures for your fish. However, it also does so with fast-heating features that come from the innovative tubes again. It’s compact in size which makes it easy to hide in your aquarium as well.

The Marineland Precision Heater is the last on our list, but it also packs the highest wattage. You can get this heater starting at 50-watts until 400-watts, which makes it ideal for large aquariums.

Although it heats up your tank to the perfect temperature, you can still adjust it through the dial. The Marineland Precision Heater is also designed to have an advanced heating element.

Easy to maintain

Another aspect of appropriate buying is about how easy to maintain the heater. Either cleaning or maintaining becomes harder than you can think and the heater has the same reality about the difficulty in maintaining and cleaning. That’s why we recommend you to buy heater giving you a lot of ease in cleaning and maintaining. Besides, you have to think about some additional features you will get from choosing the heater product. You need to buy aquarium heater bringing special features like a temperature scale or a thermometer equipped with the heater. The digital aquarium heater will help you provide certain temperatures which are strictly maintained in the certain range. Exactly, the control of temperature is very important for any fauna in the tank which is temperature-sensitive.

Heater size

Since aquarium is available to find in certain sizes, choosing the proper size based on your need is very crucial. For example, you have to choose one of the tanks depends on the temperature, size, and water volume in the fish tank. In figuring the size, it is better for you to start it from the right temperature subtraction based on the temperature which is required. Afterward, determine the tank size and you will find it easier after doing the previous measurements. Generally, a heater with 50-watt aquarium heater for each of gallons should be used for delivering five degrees of heat. Surely, you will need more heaters if you have larger tanks and place heater on one of the tank end. It is conducted for ensuring whether the water inside the tank is evenly heated. up to 6gallons.

Our recommendation

If you want a powerful heater for an aquarium with the cheapest price, submersible heaters will be your best one to choose. That’s all about the guide in buying the best aquarium heater for your fish tank. We hope you will get the right one which is suitable to your need.

Neo-Therm heater. Here’s a fantastic heater that meets all of my criteria and then some.

Firstly, it’s shatter-proof, so no worries of cracked glass or similar disasters, and it has thermal protection circuitry.

The readout is easy to view from outside the tank, which I really appreciate, and it can’t be much easier to set than the “One Touch” design. Even though the thermostat seems very accurate on the Neo-Therm, I’d still use a separate thermometer to gauge water temperature.

Aqueon Pro Heaters

Aqueon Pro aquarium heaters feature a big, easy to adjust knob on top with a clear temperature setting indicator. I’ve had some pretty good experiences with Aqueon products. I’ve found them to be accurate and durable and have used them in freshwater tanks as well as brackish setups.

They are made of shatterproof material, and they’re fully submersible, which are two big points in my book.

The Aqueon Pro also has a red/green indicator light, letting you know if your aquarium is at the right temperature. This is one of my favorite features of this heater, as many heaters simply have a red light that lets you know whether the thing is working or not.

How we picked and tested

For someone who has never owned an aquarium before or doesn’t have too much experience in the hobby, our experts recommended starting with a 20-gallon tank or larger because it’s harder to mismanage and better able to rebound from chemical spikes. Although this may seem counterintuitive, small fish tanks are much harder to keep than large fish tanks. A small ammonia spike can be tolerably diluted in a 30-gallon tank but lethal in a 10-gallon one. The smaller the tank, the smaller the margin for error. If 20 gallons sounds big to you, we promise: It’s not as big or daunting as it sounds.

Pull Quote

Our experts recommended starting with a 20-gallon tank or larger because it’s harder to mismanage and better able to rebound from chemical spikes.

Tanks generally come in two materials: glass and acrylic. After researching both, we think glass is the better tank material for any aquarium under 7gallons. Glass tanks cost a third or a quarter as much as acrylic tanks, plus they scratch far less easily and won’t yellow or fog with age. Acrylic tanks are shatterproof, which makes them a better pick for huge, public aquariums. They’re also lighter, but that doesn’t matter much since you’ll be filling the tank with hundreds of gallons of water anyway. “I always recommend glass over acrylic, unless you go over 300 gallons. Then people get more curious, they see big beautiful fish and want to tap on the glass,” Pacific Aquarium’s Chi Cho said.

No aquarium can clean itself, so you’ll need a strong filter to remove the rotting food, sunken fish poo, and other decaying organic material that naturally accumulates in a thriving fish tank. You’ll encounter three types of filtration—biological, mechanical, and chemical—and all three are important, so we looked for filters that offered the option to do all three, all while processing the entire volume of a tank twice in an hour. While many different types of filters exist, we looked only at power filters, which hang on the back wall of the aquarium and use an electrical pump to move water through the filter media. This type is the most common filter for freshwater tanks, and also the kind our experts recommended. In addition, we calculated the maintenance costs of all the leading aquarium filters (how much the replacement cartridges and sponges cost, and how often you need to replace them), as the best filters should be affordable to maintain.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Note that the Marina kit lacks a heater. A tank kit that’s missing such a vital piece of equipment may not seem like much of a kit in the first place. But no kit in our test group includes everything you’ll need to start an aquarium, such as a year’s supply of food and water conditioner, a gravel vacuum, or even fish. Since you’ll be buying those supplemental pieces of equipment anyway, we think it’s not a big deal to add a heater (such as our pick, the 100-watt Eheim Jäger) to the mix, as it will also be a much higher-quality, adjustable heater than the one found in other kits, and it’ll make keeping your fish healthy easier. Also, the preset heaters found in most kits can sometimes be calibrated wrong, and without the ability to adjust the temperature manually, that could be fatal to your pets. There are certain things you just can’t upgrade in a starter tank, such as the light (which is generally attached to the lid) or the tank itself. So we think buying a tank with the highest possible quality of those irreplaceable parts is the best choice, and that choice is the Marina kit.

A good starter kit with a heater

This kit has all the essentials, as well as a heater. The overall quality of its equipment is inferior to that of our main pick, but compatible equipment is easy to find at any fish store.

The Aqueon kit looks almost identical to the kit I tested from Tetra, in appearance, light, and add-ons—I had to label them so as to not mix them up during testing—but it distinguishes itself with a slightly better filter (though one that’s still notably inferior to the Marina filter). Both the Tetra and Aqueon filters use a cartridge containing activated carbon and dual-sided mesh, but the Aqueon model also includes a slot for an extra filter pad meant to remove ammonia. We also preferred Aqueon’s instruction packets, which cogently explain how the filter works and how to assemble it. Tetra’s manual is much more sparse and refers to the cartridge only as a Bio-Bag, which feels condescending to people who want real information. But the Aqueon filter is not too powerful, so you should be careful not to overstock the tank with too many fish (the general rule is inch of fish per gallon of water—so you can have no more than 2-inch-long fish in a 20-gallon tank).

A note on preset heaters

After researching nearly a dozen aquarium lights and testing five, we think the Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED is the best light for most aquariums. At just inches wide and less than half an inch tall, it’s the slimmest, sleekest light of the bunch, but it still illuminates the corner of a tank more evenly than lights twice its size. The Current USA model also features seven customizable blue and white light settings and dimmable control to suit your preference. If you have a 20-gallon tank, we recommend the 24-to-36-inch model, which features 6white LEDs (6,500 K) and 3blue LEDs (445 nm).

To test the lights, we placed each model over a filled 20-gallon aquarium in a pitch-black laundry room and took photos of the light they cast using identical settings on a digital camera. These pictures displayed striking differences between lights that looked pretty similar during the day—which shouldn’t matter much to you or your fish, but could make a big difference in the health of your plants.

The Current USA model provided even, uninterrupted light to all corners of the tank. The chunkier Marineland and shorter Aqueon light fixtures both produced a harsh spotlight in the center while leaving the corners dark. The short docking legs of the Current USA light make it lower profile than other models, allowing the upper rim of the tank to obscure the direct light of the LED strip. The result: a tank with the pleasant appearance of a softly glowing box. The tall legs of the cheaper Nicrew and pricier Finnex lights we tested both stood an inch or two above the rim, which left the bright circles of the strip visible from a head-on view.

While your fish won’t care about customizable settings that mimic light from lightning storms and cloudy days, we think they’re super cool. The Current USA light includes a remote control with seven preset lighting modes that mimic dusk, a sunny day, and the blue light of the moon, each of which you can further customize by dimming.

The Current USA model was not the brightest light of the bunch, so if you want a planted tank, you may be better off with the Finnex light (it won’t affect the fish one way or the other). But the Current USA light’s slender size and customizable glow make it the perfect light for most tanks, and it’s still bright enough to support plants that require low to moderate light.

The Nicrew model gives off more light than our main pick at half the price, but it lacks dimming options.

Tank kit

The Marineland Bio-Wheel LED Aquarium Kit 20 came with the second-best filter of the bunch, but its light was dim and the kit cost one and a half times as much as all the other kits at the time of our testing.

We were intrigued by the affordable Elive Aqua Duo 20 kit’s optional aquaponics filter, which allows you to grow a terrestrial plant on top of the filter to help reduce fish waste. But the setup looked a little strange, and as the tank was explicitly designed for this aquaponics setup, it makes little sense without it.

The Tetra 20 Gallon LED Aquarium Kit looked almost identical to the Aqueon kit, except with an inferior filter and five free plastic plants. We value the filter more.

Stand-alone tank

The Marineland LED Strip Light was affordable, but the body of the light was far too wide and dim to compete with the superior and cheaper Nicrew.

The Penn-Plax Aquarium Heater, though three-quarters the size of the Eheim Jäger, stood out much more due to the bright blue color of its internal thermometer.

While we appreciated the Finnex Compact Electronic Titanium Heater’s external temperature selector, we struggled to find a place to put the controller where it would be easily accessible but not an eyesore.

The Aqueon Submersible Aquarium Heater had temperature markings only every four degrees, the same issue we found with its more indestructible twin.

Pacific Aquarium’s Chi Cho recommended the versatile DeepBlue Professional BioMaxx Power Filter ADB8870(for up to 30 gallons) as a runner-up to the AquaClear. This filter contains two deep buckets that can each hold one piece of foam and one cartridge, or any kind of custom filtration media. But unlike with the AquaClear model, the preset cartridges don’t include ceramic stones.

The Marineland Penguin Power Filter 150 stood out for its innovative Bio-Wheel, a rotating cylinder meant to maximize habitable surface area for bacteria. But the filter contains just one cartridge, which means your tank will cycle again when you replace it.

The popular Aqueon QuietFlow LED Pro Aquarium Power Filter and Tetra Whisper Power Filter are the same filters in those companies’ respective kits; both lack sophisticated, stable filtration because they rely on one cartridge.

The Fluval C-Series Power Filter’s five-stage filtration system looks just as effective as that of the AquaClear, if not more so. But those five parts (instead of the AquaClear’s three) all need to be cleaned and replaced on different timelines and are available mostly in aquarium specialty stores, so it’s more difficult to maintain this model well and procure replacement parts.

Water conditioner

API’s Tap Water Conditioner, Aqueon’s Water Conditioner, and Tetra’s AquaSafe Plus all have positive reviews and seem to work well, but they each treat only gallons per teaspoon as opposed to Seachem Prime’s 50 gallons.

Fluval’s Water Conditioner has positive reviews but treats a meager gallons per teaspoon; per ounce, it’s the second most expensive conditioner we tested.

Water test kit

Testing strips, such as API’s 5-in-Test Strips and Tetra’s EasyStrips 6-in-Test Strips, are a recently popular alternative to solution kits. After you dip these small tabs of paper into your water, they change color to reflect the test results. But currently a box of 2strips will run you around half the cost of the API Master Test Kit—testing just once for pH, nitrite, nitrate, and water hardness costs around 50¢. On the other hand, testing once for pH, high-range pH, nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia with the API Master Test Kit costs just 16¢. Strips are also an all-or-nothing kind of test, as each strip contains colors for those five parameters. We like how the Master Test Kit allows you to test for just one compound at a time. In addition, since high ammonia levels are one of the most common downfalls of a tank, we think a good kit must contain an ammonia test.

Soil substrate

You need two bags of Seachem’s Flourite Black to fill a 20-gallon tank, whereas just one of CaribSea’s Eco-Complete will do the trick. And one bag of the Seachem substrate costs as much as a CaribSea bag. Some owner reviews also say this Seachem substrate is better for aquariums that focus more on plants than on fish.

We looked into some other popular siphon models with different features, but none stood out as being quite as useful as the Terapump.

The snaking, 25-foot-long Python No Spill Clean and Fill Aquarium Maintenance System comes equipped with a nozzle that can attach directly to your faucet, allowing you to pump water directly from your sink into your tank. But we don’t recommend pouring untreated water directly into your tank; the toxic chlorine could shock your fish, even if you add conditioner right after.

The battery-operated Eheim Quick Vac Pro’s ability to suck out sludge without removing water sounds great for spot maintenance, but you’ll still need to remove dirty water one way or another.

Many aquarists swear by Hikari’s Micro Pellets fish food, and we liked that it didn’t come as a flake. But this food contains just 4percent protein, which pales in comparison to the 4percent protein of our pellet pick from New Life Spectrum.

Pacific Aquarium’s Chi Cho also recommended Ocean Nutrition Community Formula Flakes, a food that has 48.percent protein but is hard to find online.

Algae sponge

We also looked at traditional scrapers, such as the Penn-Plax WZ20 Wizard Aquarium Scraper and Scrubber Combo Kit. But the stainless steel scraper looks unnecessarily harsh for normal algal growth, and some owners report that the head falls apart after some scrubbing.

The API Algae Pad for Glass Aquariums was particularly cheap, but we preferred scrubbers with handles so you don’t have to worry about sticking your whole arm into dirty aquarium water.

Setting up an aquarium is a popular hobby that provides hours of beautiful entertainment and offers soothing benefits. This is also a great way to teach your kids about different ecosystems whilst relieving the stress of everyday life. However, selecting the right fish tank isn’t easy since there are several factors you need to consider.

Unlike, cats and dogs, fish are great low maintenance pets but they also require a certain amount of planning and commitment. Also, keep in mind that different fish have different needs, hence a trip to the book store or reading up on online resources is a great way to get started.

Start-Up Costs

Setting up a fish tank has a high start-up cost. This is because of the equipment involved to provide the fish with the right environment. Investing in a tank, lights, filters, food supplies and other essentials can drastically cause your cost to rise if you are not careful. Certain fish may also be expensive, especially if you are opting for a rare or special species.

Additionally, a larger tank will also be costlier. Freshwater and marine setups both have their unique set of advantages and disadvantages.

For example, saltwater fish are more colorful and beautiful but they require a higher level of care and attention. This is why a freshwater setup is recommended for novice pet owners who are new to the hobby.

Choosing The Right Size

Browse online species guide to determine how much space each fish will require.

Glass. Vs. Acrylic

Fish enthusiasts can choose from two types of aquariums in the market, i.e. acrylic and glass. Each type of tank has its advantages and disadvantages. Glass tanks are budget friendly and are more readily available.

Additionally, glass is considered a more durable option since it is resistant to heat and does not scratch easily. However, the only downside is that these tanks are considerably heavier and feature a silicone seal that needs to be replaced from time to time. This can be a minor inconvenience.

On the other hand, acrylic tanks are available in a variety of designs since the material can easily be molded into any shape.

Also, they are cheaper than glass options and can be easily repaired in case the material gets scratched. Another notable advantage is that acrylic is clearer than glass, allowing you to take a closer look at your aquatic friends.

Tank Maintenance

The time and effort required for regular tank maintenance can be significantly reduced if the tank is set up properly. In most cases, a functioning filter will help remove most toxins and waste materials from the tank.

You will only have to replace the filter media a couple of times a year, regardless of the size of the aquarium. To improve the water quality, you must perform 10% to 20% water changes on a regular basis. This process may take up a large amount of your time, depending on the size of the aquarium.

Larger water volumes help dilute toxins that can be a severe problem in smaller tanks. This prevents changes in water chemistry and reduces the risks of pH spikes.

Photographic Background

It may sound clichéd but sometimes all you need is change of scenery. Don’t be afraid to show off your creativity when selecting scenic pictures and backgrounds.

You can select stunning shots online or from your local pet store. Simply cut the picture to the appropriate length according to the size of the tank and you are good to go.

You may stick the picture on the back or outside. The photo is supposed to face inwards so people viewing the front of the tank can see fish and other objects as part of a bigger underwater scene. Fish enthusiasts can also opt for a detachable photographic background that can be easily replaced with any scene once you get tired of the old one.

Ideal Heater Temperature

While different species of fish prefer different temperatures, the general consensus is that 75-80F is the perfect range for a freshwater aquarium. Still, you should always research which temperature is ideal for your particular species of fish; and ideally stock up on species that prefer a similar temperature.

Features and Accessories

A poorly constructed fish tank heater can fry (or freeze) your fish if left unchecked. Most heaters nowadays monitor the water temperature, and switch the heating on/off when necessary. Some aquarium heaters come with built-in thermometers, and allow you to always stay on top of things by monitoring the temperature yourself.

The Insider Pick

Keeping pet fish is something of a science. To build a great aquarium for your fishy friends, you need a good fish tank. Whether you want to start out small or go big and bold, the SeaClear Acrylic Aquarium Combo Set is the perfect beginner tank and our top pick for the best fish tank overall.

There is something about a beautifully maintained aquarium that eases the mind and soothes the soul. Lush aquatic plants, natural décor elements, and colorful fish come together to create something amazing that anyone can appreciate and any aquarium hobbyist can be proud of. Keeping a fish tank at home does come with its challenges, but the beauty of a healthy and thriving aquarium is a reward in and of itself.

Whether you are a seasoned aquarium enthusiast or a newcomer, your success in the aquarium hobby hinges on the choices you make when starting out. First and foremost, you need to choose the proper fish tank to sustain the kind of aquatic environment you want to cultivate. From there, you’ll need to outfit the tank with the necessary equipment and decorate it according to your liking before adding your fish and other tank inhabitants.

Although the SeaClear Acrylic Aquarium Combo Set is our top pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the Marineland Contour Glass Aquarium Kit, the Fluval Spec V 5-Gallon Aquarium Kit, the Tetra 20-Gallon Aquarium Kit, the Marina LED Aquarium Kit, and the SCA Starfire 50-Gallon Glass Aquarium Kit.

Substrate heaters

Fish tanks that have a strong gravel bed like the plant fish tanks, can use substrate aquarium heaters to maintain constant temperature. These heaters use wires as heating elements that can be buried in the gravel bed. This will transfer heat from the bottom to the water.

In-line heaters

Now if you are a huge fan of keeping fish and has a large aquarium you need the in-line heaters. Not, only they are efficient at maintaining water temperature in larger aquariums, but also safest as they prevent any contact between the fish and the heater. These aquarium heaters have a sump or filter that is used to provide a safe water heating environment.

In-sump heaters

A variation of the in-line fish tank heater, the in-slump heaters are larger but easier to maintain. If you don’t want to maintain the sump or filter often and also have enough room in your aquarium to accommodate a giant fish tank heater, it is the ideal type.

Maintenance

Fish keepers choose these aquatic creatures because they require minimum attention. There is no point in buying a fish tank heater that will require high maintenance. Know this fact that aquarium heaters have an underlying maintenance that ensures they are working efficiently without compromising on the safety of comfort of your fish. Fortunately, the fish tank heater market is very competitive and there are heaters available that are easy to maintain and clean. There is no way you want to spend hours struggling to keep it clean and working. Now there are some additional features to look for in a fish tank heater that makes it easy to maintain. Does it have an LCD display that helps to keep the track of temperature at all times? How about aquarium heaters with thermometer? Do you want the heater controller to be above the tank? All these choices highly personal and you have to decide on your own how easy it will be for you to maintain the fish tank heater based on its advanced features.

Anything Fluval…

They’re easy to prime, quiet, reliable, come with all the media and are dead easy to get going and service. I’d recommend these time and time again and sleep well knowing that I had done.

The G series literally broke the mould in aquarium filtration and in many ways is the world’s best external filter. The LED screen monitors water conductivity as well as overviews continuous performance, but what does it for me is the ease of maintaining the mechanical and chemical filtration chambers. I find this an absolute joy and the biggest innovation in filter technology since the Prime was mastered.

I’d describe the FXas the 4xof external filters, being all terrain, having the most grunt, most torque and being able to handle more muck than any other external filter. Yet when you get that sizeable intake strainer out of the box and those 2.5cm/1” pipe fittings you realise you are dealing more with a monster truck than a 4x— and the big messy fish owners of this world simply love them.

Before the FX5, big fish owners used pond filtration in various DIY formations. Now they all just use FX5s… Enough said.

Almost anything Eheim…

Instead give me an Ecco Pro or a standard Professional 3, or, better still, a Professional thermofilter option, and I will surely feel in filtering heaven.

The Ecco is super efficient, easy to open, clean and load with media and good value for money. The Professional is everything you want from an Eheim — being large, sturdy, reliable, well built and having huge media capacity — and if I was to choose just one to see out my fishkeeping days it would probably be one of these.

TetraTec from Tetra

Known more for its fish food than equipment these days, Tetra does make a very good external filter which ticks all the boxes.

It’s easy to prime, powerful, quiet, reliable, comes with the media and all the pipe fittings, and I’d happily use one and recommend it to any tropical or coldwater fishkeeper.

The largest model, the EX2400, is a bit noisy as it’s frankly huge, so if into the larger filter market go for the FXinstead.

CristalProfi from JBL

JBL makes some excellent external filters with thoughtful designs, excellent media options and interesting add-on bits like a surface skimmer.

Again they tick all my boxes, including having media, being easy to use, set up and prime, and being quiet and reliable.

The company has even reduced already low energy consumption of existing models and introduced even more efficient ’01’ models.

Aquis Pro from AquaOne

I like the Aquis Pro as it combines everything I want. I don’t like the non-Pro Aquis anywhere near as much, as you have to prime it with a jug, and I don’t like the Aquis Pro 2450UV-C as I find externals with built-in UVs a faff.

However, stick to the Aquis Pro 550-1250 models and you’ll be a contented fishkeeper.

Instructions

Step 1: Attach suction cups to heater. Attaching both suction cups will ensure proper positioning in your aquarium and will allow adequate water circulation around the heater for even heat distribution. Suction cups should only be placed over label portion of the heater. Note: Do not place suction cups over the heating element portion of the heater.

Step 2: Set heater temperature. In order to set the temperature, turn the adjustment knob to the required temperature value stated on the graduated scale, located on the top of the heater.

Step 3: Install heater in water filled aquarium. The heater works best when installed in the vertical position. The installation of the heater in this position requires that the aquarium must maintain a level above the minimum water level line on the heater. The heater can be installed in the horizontal position. The installation of the heater in this position requires that it be fully submerged at all times.

Step 4: Plug into electrical outlet. Allow for heater to be submerged in water for a minimum of 30 minutes prior to powering the appliance. Once plugged in, the heater will automatically start working. Should your water need heat, the indicator lamp will illuminate showing that the heater is functioning and in heating mode.

Step 5: Allow the heater to run for 2hours at the original setting prior to adjusting. Check the aquarium water with a reliable thermometer. Should the heater need adjusted, simply turn the adjustment knob to the appropriate setting.

Other Great Options To Consider

When it comes to great aquarium thermometers we would of course recommend the above option, but if you don’t see it the same way we always have other options which might suit your needs and likes a little more, so here they are.

Lifegard Aquatics Digital Temp Alert

One of the really neat parts about this particular thermometer is that it has the ability to measure both room temperature and the temperature of the water inside of an aquarium. It uses a normal measuring tool to gauge air temperature while also featuring a submersible probe to measure water temperature. The display features a simply to mount suction cup that you can just stick onto the side of any aquarium. This is in our opinion one of the best digital aquarium thermometers out of our picks.

This is great because you can actually use it to monitor the temperature in terrariums too. The Lifegard Aquatics Digital Thermometer features a high and low temperature alert for the probe and a high and low temperature alert for the room as well. It’s a very accurate and easy to use thermometer with an easy to read digital display. This one is ideal for both saltwater and freshwater applications.

Features

One of the things that we really like about this particular aquarium thermometer is that it is powered by one single LR4button cell battery which lasts a very long time, plus it can be easily replaced as well for continued use.

Another thing that is very beneficial about the Zacro Aquarium Thermometer is that it has a massive temperature range. This thing can measure temperatures anywhere between -50 degrees Celsius and +70 degrees Celsius, making it one of the most versatile thermometers out there.

There is also the fact that this model of aquarium thermometer is extremely accurate and it can measure temperature to within +/- 0.degrees, this being very accurate.

Moreover this thermometer has a large easy to read LCD display so you don’t need a magnifying glass when trying to read the temperature. Even though the screen is fairly large, the whole thermometer is actually pretty small, making it very portable and easy to store in small spaces.

This thing is also convenient because it comes with a suction cup so you can stick the thermometer on the outside of your fish tank, while keeping the temperature probe submerged on the inside of the tank for continuous temperature readings. If you want a durable and accurate aquarium thermometer, this thing definitely makes for a prime choice even as a marine tank thermometer.

Pet Magasin Digital Thermometer

This is a very unique but useful digital fish tank thermometer choice to go with. The Pet Magasin Digital Thermometer is actually also a hygrometer, which means that it can read humidity levels in the air. This is one of the reasons why we really like this model, because it can be used for terrariums and turtle habitats to measure the level of moisture in the air.

To attach it, simply remove the protective cover and stick it on anywhere. It uses a special type of glue to stick on, one that does not leave stains or residue, and can be even be re-stuck in a different location. The Pet Magasin Thermometer comes with a convenient LCD display that is large and easy to read, plus it can switch between C and F to suit your preferences. It may not be fully submersible in water, but it does have a tough outer shell and can handle getting misted or sprinkled with water for a prolonged period of time.

KollerCraft TOM Temp Alert Digital Thermometer

This is a fairly advanced aquarium temperature reading device that is fairly durable, very accurate, and will definitely help you keep the temperature in your aquarium at the level which you want it at. It is a special thermometer meant to alert you of changing water temperatures so you can keep your fish alive.

Fluval Submersible Digital Thermometer

The Fluval Submersible Digital Thermometer is really easy to use thanks to the fact that you can just stick it on the inside of your aquarium with the included suction cup mount and let it do its job.

This Digital Thermometer comes with a very large and easy to read LCD display. This makes seeing the temperature reading easy even with the distortions caused by water and glass aquariums. It is sealed in a very tough and durable plastic shell to protect all of the internal components.

This is a fully submersible thermometer, so the manufacturer’s definitely made sure that it won’t leak and damage the electronics on the inside. The Fluval Submersible Thermometer is ideal for both saltwater and freshwater aquariums. It won’t corrode, rust, or deteriorate in saltwater. This model may not have any special features, but it does a great job at reading the water temperature in any aquarium.

Fish Keeping

An aquarium heater is a small device that keeps the temperature of the water in aquarium maintained for the survival of tropical fishes. If the fishes remain hale and healthy inside the aquarium their longevity increases as well.

Criticisms

Built with PTC technology, it is self-acclaimed to be the best shock resistant heater and has a shatter proof glass to that effect. There is also no damage in case of running dry.

Other features: Comes with suction cups; Graduated scale; shock resistant.

Water Changes

A key part of aquarium maintenance is the water change, which should be performed about every two weeks. In most cases, 10-15% of the tank volume is sufficient. A good method is to replace the water extracted while vacuuming the gravel, which will eliminate uneaten foods and other residues that settle on the substrate.

Well water is usually harder than tap water, but is chlorine/chloramine free.

Filtered water should also be checked on a regular basis and should be considered part of your aquarium maintenance routine. The filter membranes could be damaged or may require replacement prior to the expiration date.

 

 

 

 

 

Final Word

First of all thanks for reading my article to the end! I hope you find my reviews listed here useful and that it allows you to make a proper comparison of what is best to fit your needs and budget. Don’t be afraid to try more than one product if your first pick doesn’t do the trick.

Most important, have fun and choose your aquarium heater wisely! Good luck!

So, TOP3 of aquarium heater

• №1 — Zacro AH241 Submersible Aquarium Heater with Visible Temperature and with Chip C2865
• №2 — Zacro BH371 Submersible Aquarium Heater with Visible Temperature with Chip C3425
• №3 — Aqueon Pro Heater Aquarium Heater