In order for your aquarium fish to feel comfortable, they need to provide suitable conditions. These include hydrochemical regime, water hardness, aeration, filtration, lighting level. And, of course, a very important indicator is the temperature of aquarium water . It influences the biological and chemical processes taking place in the organisms of the monasteries of your aquarium. Many of them are very sensitive to how warm or cold is their habitat. Thus, most tropical fish prefer a temperature of at least + 25 ° C, and unpretentious goldfish live well at + 18 ° C.
To maintain the constant temperature of water, a special device is used - a heater for the aquarium. It is a long glass flask containing a high-resistance nichrome wire. It is wound on a high-temperature base and covered with sand. It is very easy to use the heater: you set the desired temperature on a special regulator and attach the heater to the tank using suction cups. Thanks to the built-in thermostat, the appliance will turn on when the water temperature drops below the set point and turn off when the set temperature is reached.
How to choose a water heater for an aquarium?
These devices are very different from each other. First of all, the heater for the aquarium is characterized by a certain power. Depending on this indicator, you can stay on models with a power from 2.5 W to 5 W or more. For a small aquarium for 3-5 liters, a heater with a minimum power is usually chosen. However, its choice depends not only on the capacity of the aquarium, but also on the difference in air temperature in the room and the desired temperature in the tank.
Often aquarists instead of one powerful install two low-power heater. This is a guarantee of safety, because if one of the devices breaks, it will not be particularly dangerous for the inhabitants of your aquarium.
Also the heaters for the aquarium are subdivided into underwater (sealed) and above-water (liquid-permeable). The first are completely submerged in the water column, and the latter - only partially. Underwater heaters are more convenient in operation, as they are constantly in the water. The above-water heaters can not be left to work outdoors without water (for example, when changing water).