LIFESPAN OF AQUARIUM HEATERS?
How Long Do Aquarium Heaters Last? Heaters are one of the most important pieces of equipment. For us as fish hobbyists and keeping our fish at the right temperature is somewhat essential!
With that being said How long do aquarium heaters last?
The Answers
How Long Do Aquarium Heaters Last? Three to five years on average we should always check daily via our thermometers, Always be ready, and have a backup heater!
This of course is only a snapshot. So let’s dive in a bit deeper and have a more in-depth look at when should I replace my aquarium heater.
Daily Inspection
The first thing I look at upon my daily inspection. If you will is how long the heater stays on and what times the heater comes on and off.
This gives us an idea of how long the heaters take to bring the water back up to the correct temp.
It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes a degree at most as a guide. To put it another way, it will take around 24 hours or so.
24 Hours To Heat
To fully heat a tank with lukewarm water to 75f degrees. Another main thing to look out for does the heater turn off at all.
Or is it having to constantly heat the water and are you having to turn the heater up? A few degrees above the required temp to indeed keep it at that temp.
These are telltale signs your heater is on its way out and is struggling to keep up.
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY AQUARIUM HEATER IS WORKING?
You will know if your heaters working because the temperature remains constant. From where you have set and the thermometer that’s reading if both are the same then the waters are being heated.
Also, a good sign of a good working heater. Is when it heats and the light comes on. It only needs to stay on for a few minutes here and there and the lights are not always on.
Indicating that it’s just constantly heating, If it’s always on there may be a problem and the heater is struggling. You should see the light go on and off indicating it reached the desired temp.
HOW LONG DOES A FISH TANK HEATER STAY ON?
The heater will always be on but will only heat when the waters within the tank have dropped below the desired temp.
That you have set for the aquarium. When this happens you should see a red light. Well usually red but it’s possible that the bulb can have a different color.
Anyway, you should see a light come on this tells you it’s heating.
Once the light goes off it’s reached the correct temp and turns off. If working really well this should only take a few minutes.
WHAT IF THE HEATERS BULB IS BROKEN?
If you find the light doesn’t come on. On the heater. First check the temp of the water and also you can simply check how warm the heater is to touch.
If the waters warm all the way through the tank and the temp is showing as correct. Then the heaters working although it may well be time to replace them as soon as possible just to be safe!.
WHY DO HEATERS FAIL?
How Long Do Aquarium Heaters Last? This all depends on what goes on inside of them.
Believe it or not, there’s not much that can go wrong with heaters. In general, there are not many moving parts! But if the bimetallic strip.
This acts as a switch of sorts. If the strip no longer bends it can no longer turn on or off. In other words, it’s either always on or always off.
If it’s off then the water will no longer be heated and even more of a problem, if it’s constantly on it, will overheat the water.
Forgetting To Turn Off
The other main concern would be using submersible heaters and forgetting to turn them off when not underwater. Say while doing a water change this causes major problems with the glass usually cracking pretty quickly.
Most if not all aquarium heaters use bimetallic strips and a thermostat. To control the flow of electricity to a simple heating coil.
Two Metals Expand
The strip, as the name suggests, is made from two different metals. That expand and contract at different rates. when the temperature changes, which causes the strip to bend away from an electrical switch inside.
When the water gets warm, the strip bends outwards and cuts off the supply of electricity, preventing the tank from getting too hot.
The Strip Contracts
When the water cools, the strip contracts and closes the circuit, switching the coil on and heating the water again. Bimetallic strips can be capable of detecting temperature changes.
Of about +/- 0.25C, but unfortunately, they tend to go wrong sooner or later. And when they do go wrong, they may overheat the tank and can kill fish if you don’t spot the problem quickly enough.
TWO HEATERS IN THE TANK?
As we’ve discovered Heaters are indeed important. For obvious reasons and there’s always a chance one will let you down.
One good way to limit the chances of this causing you a problem well why not have two heaters in your tank. Sounds easy now I’ve said it but not many people take advantage.
Find The Right Wattage
Ideally, you will need to find the wattage needed for your tank ie a 120-liter tank requires 100 watts. So we divide them into two 50-watt heaters and place them at opposite ends of the tank.
This will give an even distribution of heat across your tank. And if one should go wrong you will still have heat from the other.
In the event, that the problematic heater is constantly on. It won’t have the power to severely overheat the water and you will have time to notice and rectify the problem.
The same for if one of the heaters stops working altogether. You will still have enough heat for your fish. For a time and you will probably see them congregate on one side of the tank.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, How Long Do Aquarium Heaters Last? heater reliability is important. Always keep an eye on your tanks checking the heater or heaters daily. Is always a good shout. They generally last a few years.
How Long Do Aquarium Heaters Last?
Anywhere from three to five but I would suggest replacing heaters every winter. Or at least every bi-winter for the best reliability and peace of mind.
They are fairly cheap and the fish’s health comes first right? Another good tip is to protect both the fish and the heater itself via a heater cover.
This will stop any damage from fish bumping into the heater itself. And also stop any burns the fish may get from getting too close.
As always hope it’s been a good read and helped in some small way and of course happy TANKING!
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