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What would be a good heater for a 2.5 gallon? All I have seen is a small one that only raises the temp a couple of degrees over room Temp. During the winter it gets really cold here. Will it still work?

This is the one I have seenMini Heater

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I think that thiose mats are the only ones around for a small tank or bowl.

I also found 25W heaters, that might be good for a normal shaped tank.

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I wouldn't use the miniheater because it doesn't look like it can read the temp and keep the tank accurate. It also doesn't raise it by much so if you keep your house cool your still going to have trouble reaching tropical temps.

I generally use visitherm stealth heaters. Their 25w heater is 8 1/4" long. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12060&N=2004+113767 It's rated well over your tank but I've got a dozen stealth heaters here and not one has ever gotten stuck on or raised the temp higher than I wanted. I consider them pretty safe and reliable and put 50w ones in 5g tanks without worry. If it fits that's what I'd use. If it doesn't a visitherm deluxe is 7 1/2". If you angle it one of those should fit.

The only heater I can find that fits(5 3/4" and I might use is a plain titanium heater. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=13966&N=2004+113767 Never used that brand though but I've used others and found them to be dead accurate. However the external knob is easily bumped to a different temp so put it out of the way.

With a tank that small your options are limited. They do make some really small submersible ones. Depends on the fish you are keeping in that tank if the room temp changes is gradual it might be a little low for what ever fish you put in there but naturally fish our used to temp changes naturally. I am assuming your probally putting a betta in this tank they are a rather hardy fish. My mom had one in a potted vase for a few years with no heater at all just room temp

The tank is normal type glass construction, 12x6x8. So a 25 watt wont be too much? As for what is going in, Shrimp. I found two so called Freshwater Prawns at a LFS. I am switching them out of the 3/4 gallon they are in. Or maybe just stocking it with Ghost Shrimp.


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It looks like a very small pad heater but built for internal usage. Certainly it would depend on the settings also I think a fine airstone would be required to circulate the heat otherwise you will have a hot spot only.

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Keith

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Water circulation is'nt a problem as I have a Nano HOB filter. I just didn't know if they made Specfic Heaters for Nano tanks or what kind would be best to use. thats why I asked the Experts.

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Jim aka LL here a link to the nano heaters.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12087&N=2004+113767

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams

ummm Dj thats the same link I posted at the start of this thread.

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This is the one I have seen Mini Heater

I started with ones of those a while back and they dont work that well. I mean they work well and will keep a constant temp but there is not built in regulator so you will have no control of the output. So to make it work you will have be watch it for a couple of days with no fish to see how much it raises your temp.

Its claims not real world

"Helps increase water temperature by a few degrees – up to 5°F in 2 gallons and up to 4°F in 5 gallons"

but that does not include the reduced volume of water when you include ornaments plants gravel fish. In the end i just scraped the whole idea and when with a larger tank. The constant temp changes could not be good for your little guys*

"No whammy, No whammy, No whammy, STOP!!"

1984-Michael Larsen On Press Your Luck

Sounds like they are not very reliable for your purpose. I have seen heat pads garden plants and for reptiles. These heat up the substrate only and with out much substrate circulation I dont think even they would work for your tank.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

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[link=Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos]http://photobucket.com/albums/b209/keithgh/Betta%20desktop%20tank/[/link

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
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There are under-tank cord heaters that are pretty good, but for a single 2.5Gal they are a bit of overkill.

I run a 25w heater (that Italian brand, Sicca?) in a 6L tank with a fair bit of decor through winter and it sits comfortably at 82-84* set to the lowest. I run the same heater in a 4 gallon and it gives me a good range of temperatures. I suspect your range would be a bit more limited at 2.5 gal, but a 25w would be the way I'd go.

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