Habitat - Indoor :: Heater Question

[zuse]

I just got a heater today... Whisper Brand. However, it sort of has a guesstimate temperature setting knob... no temperature shown. So... should I take this back and get a different/better brand. I know that sometimes the labelled temperatures aren't completely accurate... but still you kind of have something to go by (all I know is that near the middle is supposed to be 78 degrees and you moniter it over a few days to get it adjusted right.

This model also is adjusted by a lever and not a twisting thing so I'm afraid the turtle might be able to kick it or move it somehow and turn the temperature to high. I've heard of people using pvc to stop this... but it would be just as easy for me to return this and get another as head somewhere that has pvc.

[Kallistos]

Check this heater out,

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... &N=0&Nty=1

It comes encased in plastic and has a tempertature knob that shows the temperature.

I think I'll be getting that

[zuse]

That looks nice. Do you think that 5 watts a gallon is the best measurement? Is 10 watts or more a gallon to much? Will it make the set-up more dangerous?

[Kallistos]

Well, they have the reccomended wattage for the certain amount of gallons. I'd just follow that. I'm personally getting two 250 watts because I can blast them full heat to heat my tank up after a water change. Of course when they're at full heat the turtles will be in a seperate tank. I doesn't matter how danger 10 watts or 5 watts per gallon is. If a 100 watt heater is broken while your turltes are inside, they'll die, if a 250 watt heater is broken, they'll die, faster, and cooked more thouroughly.

[steve]

In general, the wattage should be roughly between 3-5 watts per gallon of water. Keep in mind - the more watts, the longer the heater so that might take up more space than you want in a small tank.

I have a Whisper filter and it's pretty low-end. I'm not familiar with their heaters, but be extra careful since the thermostats on cheaper heaters are not always accurate.

[missibsu]

My first heater was a whisper and it frustrated me to no end. I now use it in my breeding tank because I am not as worried about fluxuating temps.

I bought the stealth heater for my 75 gallon tank and I love it. I have never had any problems with it, and the temps are always correct. I would recommend putting it at the opposite end of your tank than the UVB light. Mine got covered in algae, and it was a nightmare to clean.