Unheated vs heated

[nickc_1982]

Just wondered if I could get any input or opinions on this.

I currently have an unheated 20G long tank with Platies, White clouds, hillstream loaches a panda garra and cherry shrimp.

I have a thermometer which I regularly monitor and currently the temperature is ranging between 20c to 21c (68-70F).

I am in the UK and it can get fairly cold here at times over the winter so I have been considering adding a heater which I would set fairly low to prevent tank getting too low. 
 

Another part of me wonders if the tank will be fine as is. We usually keep the house fairly warm and haven’t even had the heating on yet. I think if anything it’s the Platies that would handle lower temperatures the worst.

Heater wise I like the look of the aquael ultra range. I always read horror stories of heaters failing on and boiling fish but I suppose people only tend to report when they have a bad experience. I would consider using a heater controller if necessary. 
 

The aquarium coop heater looks good  but not viable for me in UK. 
 

Any opinions or suggestions much appreciated 

 

 

[Andy's Fish Den]

All of the fish that you have listed as living in your tank will do fine in water temps of what most people keep their homes at. When you say that you normally keep the house fairly warm, then I would just go without the heater. If you are worried about it, and for peace of mind, you could get a low wattage heater, something around 50-75 watt and have it set at at the higher end of what the water normally runs, just so that if your house temp dips a degree or two in the evening or during a longer cold snap, it will keep the tank at the proper temp.

[nickc_1982]

On 10/6/2023 at 11:42 AM, Andy's Fish Den said:

All of the fish that you have listed as living in your tank will do fine in water temps of what most people keep their homes at. When you say that you normally keep the house fairly warm, then I would just go without the heater. If you are worried about it, and for peace of mind, you could get a low wattage heater, something around 50-75 watt and have it set at at the higher end of what the water normally runs, just so that if your house temp dips a degree or two in the evening or during a longer cold snap, it will keep the tank at the proper temp.

That could be an idea just in case it gets cold overnight if we have a cold spell.

if a 50 watt for example got stuck on I’m assuming it might struggle to get the tank too hot in a hurry? 
 

Also if I set it to 20c I would imagine it wouldn’t be on much most of the time. 

[Andy's Fish Den]

On 10/6/2023 at 6:48 AM, nickc_1982 said:

That could be an idea just in case it gets cold overnight if we have a cold spell.

if a 50 watt for example got stuck on I’m assuming it might struggle to get the tank too hot in a hurry? 
 

Also if I set it to 20c I would imagine it wouldn’t be on much most of the time. 

Thats what I would do. 

[PlaneFishGuy]

I keep similar fish in a tank at room temperature (70-72F) with no issues. I keep the heater around in the event of a power outage where we lose central air/heat and I need to run the tank on backup power. 

As long as your not dealing with some crazy swings that happen regularly and fast I think your fine using a heater as an emergency backup. Most fish in the wild experience a range of temperatures with sunrise/sunset, rainfall, etc.   

[kammaroon]

On 10/6/2023 at 9:46 AM, nickc_1982 said:

Heater wise I like the look of the aquael ultra range. I always read horror stories of heaters failing on and boiling fish but I suppose people only tend to report when they have a bad experience. I would consider using a heater controller if necessary. 

I’ve been using the Aquael Ultra heaters in 4 tanks during the cold months (mid-Oct to end Apr) for the past three winters without any problems. If you are concerned, you could get an Inkbird thermometer controller for 34 pounds from Amazon. 

[nickc_1982]

On 10/6/2023 at 4:00 PM, kammaroon said:

I’ve been using the Aquael Ultra heaters in 4 tanks during the cold months (mid-Oct to end Apr) for the past three winters without any problems. If you are concerned, you could get an Inkbird thermometer controller for 34 pounds from Amazon. 

Good to hear and gives me some confidence in the ultra heaters. I’m thinking go for a small one set at it lowest. 

[Lillypad]

You could also consider a Fluval 75watt heater, set on low. I’ve used Fluval heaters for a long time without problems. I’d like to add extra precaution, just in case the temperature dipped low throughout the night or something.

[lefty o]

your fish should be fine at the temps you keep your home.

[nickc_1982]

On 10/6/2023 at 6:51 PM, lefty o said:

your fish should be fine at the temps you keep your home.

I’m sure they probably will. Thanks 

[nickc_1982]

Just an update to this, I ended up with an Aquael Ultra 50W which I have linked to a DD heating controller 

D-D Dual Heating & Cooling Controller | D-D The Aquarium Solution

I don't think these are available in the US but from what I read they are highly regarded. I like the backlit display which means I can easily check the tank temp and it also doubles as a "moonlight" for the tank overnight I think.

I have set it so that the heater is running at 21c (second lowest setting) and the controller will cut power if the tank temperature exceeds 23c.

I am very impressed with the heater which seems to be running very close to the temperature the controllers probe is reading. The probe is not positioned close to the heater.

My cheap digital thermometer that I already had seems to be reading 1c higher which isn't too surprising as these are notoriously inaccurate. 

I feel much happier now knowing that the tank temperature can't dip dangerously low overnight or if we have a cold spell. The added security of the controller also gives me peace of mind if the heater were ever to stick on although I have heard people allude to the fact that a digitally controlled heater like the Ultra is more likely to fail in an off setting.

A few people in local stores I spoke to just recommended getting a low cost basic glass heater with no controller rather than spending extra on a fancy heater and even more on a controller but I personally feel better with the "safety net" and was happy to spend a bit more to have that.

[nabokovfan87]

On 10/6/2023 at 1:46 AM, nickc_1982 said:

I currently have an unheated 20G long tank with Platies, White clouds, hillstream loaches a panda garra and cherry shrimp.

I have a thermometer which I regularly monitor and currently the temperature is ranging between 20c to 21c (68-70F).

I am in the UK and it can get fairly cold here at times over the winter so I have been considering adding a heater which I would set fairly low to prevent tank getting too low. 

I do the same thing. I just added heaters this week. I keep a minimum of 71-73 and when things get warmer in the new year I'll pull heaters out. The main thing is that if the nights are cold, then you can generally check and maintain heat through the day. Once it's cold during the day and night, it's usually time to add a heater and keep the floor where you think is safe.

Glad to see everything is working out well for you! Nice work.

[nickc_1982]

On 10/20/2023 at 7:11 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

I do the same thing. I just added heaters this week. I keep a minimum of 71-73 and when things get warmer in the new year I'll pull heaters out. The main thing is that if the nights are cold, then you can generally check and maintain heat through the day. Once it's cold during the day and night, it's usually time to add a heater and keep the floor where you think is safe.

Glad to see everything is working out well for you! Nice work.

Thanks, I definitely feel bette not worrying about the temp dropping a bit too much.

I will also probably take the heater out once temperatures start climbing next year.