Equipment Review and Discussion :: Question about Heaters.

[Pizza]

Just a small question regarding "Fully Submersible" heaters, since I bought a 250w Stealth Heater today, and I've only used the half submersible type until this day.

I'm wondering, is it fully submersible, as in you can drop the whole thing into the water, so like the temperature dial is also in the water, even parts of the power cord, or is it just to the top, just before the dial which sets the temeprature setting (where it says minimum water level)?

What is this minimum water level anyways, does it mean that it has to be submersed to this point at least?

Just curious, seems a little shaky if I can slip the power cord into the water, or make the temperature dial wet.

[Kallistos]

You can dunk the whole thing into the water, powercord and all. The minimum water level is so the entire thing is undewater, so like 3 inches I'm guessing.

[cam722]

as RESowner said, you can fully submerse the heaters... dial.. cord and all ... that's what fully submersible means I've used them for years and that's how I do mine. As for the minimum water level... I believe that only the dial part is to be out of the water. The rest is the heating element so that must be in the water.

[Pizza]

Will the turtles bite at the power cord, possible snapping it, or could they turn the dial accidently?

[xsavingsaturdayx]

My turtles have NEVER even tried to bite the cord and i doubt that they could turn the dial accidently,thats a good heater you got theyre.

[Kallistos]

I don't think turtles will be able to bite through the power cord. I'm pretty sure RES's are mentally capable of turning the dial, this has never happened to anyone else so I assume it won't happen. There's always a first for everything, but if we plan our turtle's enclosures like that it'd be impossible..

[Pizza]

I see, well that makes me feel better, thanks.

On a side note, do you think that turtles will bite at plastic tubing on an air pump?

[Kallistos]

They may try and even if they do succeed nothing harmul will happen. Air tubing is cheap and it'll just start leaking air which is fine..

[Pizza]

Okay, I feel a lot better now, thanks.

[Muirner]

hey pizza, do your turtles like air stones? Some do and some dont and i cant decide what to do for mine.

[Pizza]

I haven't put one in yet, I will in a few days, and I'll see how it goes from there.

[Muirner]

keep us updated. I'm temporarly adding one to my wishlist for christmas but idk how my turtles will react.

Also there are great deals on the new Tetra pumps on ebay. The one that is for 60-100 gal tanks, is only 15$ compared to 35+ in the store.

[cam722]

my turtles would bang against it.. try to move it off the side of the tank but never tried to bite it or turn the dial.. I mean mine were talented but not talented enough to do that

[scripta_elegans]

My turtles love the bubble wand. I have part bent in a sort of backward c shape, and they take turns sitting on it. It's like a turtle jacuzzi! Thy also seem to enjoy pulling it off the suction cups and moving it into new places.

[SpotsMama]

There's a lot of electrical equipment involved in a turtle tank setup. Steve always strongly recommends using a GFI or GFCI to protect from a fatal electric shock in case a turtle does bite through a cord or a light falls in the water etc. You can get these devices at home improvement stores like Home Depot. They're not cheap (mine was about $25) but I sleep better at night knowing it's there.