Heating options for small tanks

[Rachel]

A stable, warm water temperature is important to keep your betta happy and healthy. Keeping a thermometer in your betta’s tank to monitor the temperature on a daily basis is a good idea. The ideal temperature for a betta is 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit (25.5-26.6 degrees Celsius).

Unfortunately having a large heated tank for your betta isn’t always an option. Here are some ideas on how to heat smaller tanks starting at 1-gallon and up.

A few things to keep in mind:
1. When heating a small tank, water movement is important. If you can hook up an air stone on a low setting to get some water circulation it will help to evenly distribute the heat.

2. It’s important to monitor your water temperature daily to make sure it is stable and the heater is working properly. Even if your heater has a temperature dial, adjust according to what your thermometer reads in the water instead.

3. During water changes, make sure that the new water is the same temperature as what was previously in the tank so your betta is not shocked by the change.

Small tank heating options:

A permanent option –

1. A 25-watt aquarium heater
Many of our members have safely and effectively used 25-watt (or less) heaters in small tanks. Usually “compact” heaters work best because they are shorter in length and easier to position. A fully submersible heater will also work to your advantage if you have small or angled walls to attach the heater to.

Both of these heaters are popular choices by our members. They are reliable, submersible, and easy to adjust. (Of course there are many other heater options, so do not feel as though you have to get one of these.)

Hagen Thermal Compact Mini Heater (25-watt): 6” in length, $10+
Hydor Theo Heater (25-watt): shatterproof, 7” in length, $12+

This is an example of a 1-gallon glass tank with the 25-watt Hagen Thermal Compact Mini Heater.



Temporary options –

1. Using a larger tank as the heat source
If you have a larger heated tank and it’s a very temporary thing – you could stick the smaller tank or holding container into the heated tank to keep a warmer temperature. Of course this would probably work best with a plastic container of some sort that would float at the top. Make sure whatever you use has a cover to keep the heat in and prevent the betta from jumping out. This method would be useful if you need to treat your betta in a smaller hospital tank but have no other way of keeping it warm.

2. The heat from a light
A light of some sort directed onto the water from above the tank. The problem with this is that it does not heat the water equally and the temperature is hard to control. If this is your only option, it can be better than nothing. Be careful when you decide to turn the light off, as you don’t want the temperature of the tank to vary more than a degree or two on a regular basis. Also bettas need a regular light cycle, so keeping the light on all the time isn't really an option.

3. If the heater fails or the power goes out
Heat packs that you crack/mix to activate for use in cold weather can be placed on the outside of the tank against the walls to provide warmth. Another option is filling your bathtub up with a bit of warm water and placing the tank in the tub.

[supersixone]

there's also these www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12087&N=2004+113767+1032

i've not used them myself but i know others who have successfully used them in their smaller tanks. (i use the hagen thermal compact minis)

[Rachel]

supersixone said:

there's also these www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12087&N=2004+113767+1032

i've not used them myself but i know others who have successfully used them in their smaller tanks. (i use the hagen thermal compact minis)

This is another option that could be used, but like the 7.5-watt Jr. Heaters there is one slight problem with them that should be noted. These type of heaters are “always on” if they're plugged in and have no internal thermostat to adjust to varying temperatures.

Most aquarium heaters have a thermostat that will turn it off and on to keep the water at the desired temperature. If you originally set the heater to 78 degrees and the temperature drops it will turn on to heat in short intervals until 78 degrees is reached. If the tank is at 78 degrees already, the heater will remain off. Basically the heater will regulate itself to keep the temperature you specify. On the other hand, Jr. Heaters or flat heaters heat to one non-adjustable temperature. How much it will affect your tank temperature is based upon the ambient room temperature. This means that if the room temperature raises or drops so does the temperature of the tank. Ideally you want to keep your betta’s tank temperature as stable as possible, so if the room temperature will be changing this option may not be the best one.

Also, since there is no way to alter the temperature, it may heat the tank too much and there is no way to adjust it. The flat heater given as an example above says it will raise the temperature up to 5 degrees F in a 2-gallon tank, but it would likely heat a 1-gallon tank higher...and always keep heating at this temperature as long as it's plugged in.

You’ll want to monitor your tank very closely with a heater of this type to make sure it stays at the appropriate temperature.

[Spitfire]

supersixone said:

there's also these www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12087&N=2004+113767+1032

i've not used them myself but i know others who have successfully used them in their smaller tanks. (i use the hagen thermal compact minis)

I've seen this one in the store and it looks very convenient. According to the manufacturer, you can even use it as an undergravel heater, which is great for hiding the clutter in a small tank! The only downside I can see is that there is no thermostat or temperature adjustment control for it.

Am I correct that the Hagen Thermal Compact is adjustable with a thermostat to turn on/off as the temperature changes?

[twoluvcats]

Am I correct that the Hagen Thermal Compact is adjustable with a thermostat to turn on/off as the temperature changes?

correct

[starlight]

Hagen Thermal Compacts rule! I use them in my 5G spawn tanks where you don't want any variation in temperature.
They are good value and Hagen usually makes good products.

I've used the Jr.s in 2G tanks and they are similar to the flat heaters recently brought out. These should be considered emergency heaters only. They slowly raise the temp a few degrees but have no thermostat to regulate them. You can use them in a 2G but you better check the thermometer every hour. You can save a couple of dollars with these heaters but just don't plan on leaving the house!