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I picked up 2 stealth heaters for my 10 gallon and 20 gallon tanks. I put one in vertically and the other in horizontally, I would like to know how other's place theirs in and why, which is better, or the benefits of each way to hang them. I know that the heater can play an important part in the movement of water as it causes the warmer water to rise and the cooler water rushes in, I'm just not sure on which way is better. The one in the 10 is horizontal and the one in the 25 is vertical.

Thanks in advance!

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

If possible it is advisable to have the heater in a water flow as to distribute the heat evenly through out the tank.

Either near a inlet or an outlet also close to a airstone can be very good

In my 5ft tank I have one each end close to the inlet at one end and the outlet at the other end as well as airstones to circulate the heated water. Both these heaters are vertical.

If it was to completly under the water I think horizontal and above the airstone would be ideal to give a good heat distribution.



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In my larger tanks they are placed vertically usually next to the output but sometimes next to the intake. In my smaller tanks or my 20g long which don't have as much height I sometimes put them horizontally. Mostly just because they fit better but I also think they heat the water a little better.

I place mine horiztonally for better distribution. I also have them low in the tank since heat rises.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

At a 45 degree or lower angle is best for submersible heaters.

i used to be vertical, somebody suggested horizontal, so i moved them horizontal just below my canister spray bars, and the tank heats alot better now in that position

Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

Yep, I agree with monkeyboy. I have the titanium tube from via-aqua and I place it horizontaly about 2 inches above the substrate. The temp of the water stays consistant.

I have a ten and a 29 gallon tank, both have the heaters vertical, near the fill tube for the filters for better distribution. never had a problem and the temps stay constant.

I always place the heaters vertically, close to the filter input.

Is it better to put them horizontally?.


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Thanks for all the replies!
I have noticed in the past week that the heater in the 10 seems to be keeping the tank nice and warm, it has been a stable 81 F since installation. That one is horizontal, beside the filter intake, there isn't much room in that tank for it to be anywhere else. The one in the 25 may be going horizontal or on a 45 degree angle, the temp dropped to about 76F in that tank on the day I put the heater in, I have the dial at almost 82F and the temp has stayed at 76F, so what's gone wrong? I will move it more to the center and closer to the filter return, then we'll see what happens.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

I had my submersible Stealth heater placed horizontally in my 55g and noticed that the bottom of the tank was alot cooler than the top when I put my hands in the tank. So now the heaters in my 55g and 10g are vertical. The one in my 29g is at a 45 degree angle. All are by the output of my HOB filters.

*Kristin*

I place my submersible at at 45 degree angle under the filter output. I find the water at even temperature throughout the tank.
Cheers Bubblelover

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Can you believe in 3 years that I have had 2 Ebo Jag 75W's, and 2 All Glass Aquar. kit heaters die of condensation death?

For the Ebo's I it looked to me that some algae was growing on the heater and it got into the seal but I could be wrong.

So yesterday, Sunday at 4:30 in the afternoon and I have my finger in the water and its like cold and I check the temp and its like 15C instead of 22C but the tiger barbs and cories are fine. So I rip down to the store and get a new heater and put it in. I went to a big store with lots of selection. All the glass heaters say submersible on the box but on the heater itself there is a line saying don't go past here. Grrr.

This time I put it in vertical and kept line at the water level. Naturally I expect to do a water change and crack the heater glass now because I will forget to lower the heater or unplug it. Grrr.

The stealth heaters have a minimum water level line but no line that says max water level. Plus they are shatter proof and the glass is covered in some sort of coating, very sleek and stealthy. Both tanks are holding steady at 82F, I'm not playing around with lowering it, all the fish and plants are doing well at that temp and it seems to be better for disease resistance.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

I think lower temp is better because bacteria and algae grow slower. I keep my tank at 72'F!

Well, its been 21 hours since the new heater went in, and no sign if ick yet.

Lowering temp is definitely riskier than raising it. I mean think of how you feel in the bathtub. Warmer is good, colder makes you shiver.

The max water line on some heaters, ebo jagers are included in that, are to meet canadian safety standards. The heaters can be submersed and are considered fully waterproof but don't pass inspection to be a fully submersible device in canada.

I really don't think algae grows any slower in 72F than it does in 78F. Algae will fill horse water tanks at 60F just as fast as at 80F. While it may slow bacteria down it's not useful unless your introducing lots of new fish that could have a bacterial illness. Even then if it does slow bacteria down it will slow down the desireable bacteria that keeps your tank cycled which you will need multiplying quickly to make up for the new fish and resulting bioload.

Also my apartment does not stay 72f so my tanks would always be shifting in temp. Aside from some really warm water fish that can't take cooler water most fish seem to withstand drops in temperature better than increases. For many fish you have to drop the temp several degrees quickly to get them to spawn and I've never had fish suffer from a heater quitting or the tank getting cooler but both my major cases of ich were from a tank increases in temp very quickly.

Thanks for the post Sham. You sound like you've seen a few fish. Your point about keeping the temp higher than the room is smart. Here in Winnipeg that is not much of an issue.

My tigers seem to have survived fine... actually very active and nice black stipes. Funny you mention adding fish and bacteria. I was checking the temp of my tank to see if it matched my Q-tank which had new tiger barbs in it for 3 weeks. I'm seriously worried about the new fish making the old ones sick. 4 months ago I tried to add 4 tiger barbs, quarentiened them for 3 weeks and after a few days they were all that was left. And ammonia or nitrite was not the reason.

Sham,

Thanks for the explaination about the water line on the ebo jager heaters. I was so confused when I received mine and thought it wasn't submersible after all.

In the 40 my submersible is on a 45. The other tank has a hang on filter. I want to get more compact heaters that are also submersible and get them lower in the tank, horizontal and under the hob. My temps stay consistent but I haven't checked temp in different areas of the tank.

The Amazon Nut...

Sure enough, 2 days after putting my new Ebo in, I did a water change, taking the level down by 5 inches exposing the heater. I guess I've done too many water changes to alter my habit now. I'm sinking it down and putting it horizontal again.

I'm not risking another broken heater shock. Like the time I was playing with a 10G temp tank in the basement. I didn't notice the insanely long heater collide with the bottom and completely shatter exposing the element. Of course it kept working! Then I started a water change and someone phoned, so the bucket overflowed and ran into the basement drain. So I'm standing there grounded by the plumbing, with wet socks and stick my hands in the water. LOL I felt a pulsing shock through my arms for a second till I let go. I bet if one hand would have been connected to the floor I would have had a heart attack.