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	Heater on the Bottom
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	I want to add a heater to my indoor "pond" just to keep the temp from falling too much in a day, not necessiarly to heat it. So it wouldnt' be on all that much...but the problem is there are no flat sides to the "pond" Since I don't have much depth to the substrate I was thinking that I could place it on the bottom.....any thoughts on this? ^_^ *Proud member of the Committee for Sig Line Restoration*
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
Mike R Fish Addict Posts: 593 Kudos: 830 Votes: 322 Registered: 27-Jul-2004	As long as most of it is exposed to the water and not buried it should be fine. Is there something you could stick it to (assuming your using one with suction cups) like a piece of glazed ceramic tile so it sits on top of the substrate? What kind of filter is in it? If it's one of those plastic box filters you might be able to stick it to the side of it. Sidenote: How big is it and where do you set up an indoor pond? Have fun, Mike Last edited by Mike R at 11-Oct-2004 11:07
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	I say "pond" because it's nothing more than a rubbermaid stock tank...substrate has never been more than a single layer on the bottom so I was hoping that suction cups would be enough to hold it above the substrate while still holding it in place...maybe siliconing the suctioncups to a piece of tile will work........filter is an AC 200, and a powerhead so there's plenty of watermovement. As for where you put one....well it's difficult if you have a very small house to begin with >.< but I just took down the stereo, moved the tv, and stuck one in the corner. It's only 50 gallons but with the footprint/surface area larger than a 75 gallon. ^_^ *Proud member of the Committee for Sig Line Restoration[/font] Last edited by Babelfish at 11-Oct-2004 11:23*
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
Mike R Fish Addict Posts: 593 Kudos: 830 Votes: 322 Registered: 27-Jul-2004	I may have to try that. Even with 14 tanks I sometimes run out of room. Like when a couple batches of fry hit a growth spurt. Good luck, Mike
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
garyroland ---Prime Fish--- Posts: 7878 Kudos: 4010 Votes: 103 Registered: 31-Dec-2001	Submersible heaters can be placed anywhere in the "pond" and do well on the bottom buried in the substrate... I've done it on a few occasions. --garyroland. --Vero Beach, Florida.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
keithgh Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 6371 Kudos: 6918 Votes: 1542 Registered: 26-Apr-2003	Babelfish Submersible heaters Can be placed basically any where under water. If you placed it close to the filter intake it would be more effective. See if you can locate some thing that will raise the heater off the bottom sufficent to allow a flow of water all around. I hope this makes sence if not I will chat to you. 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? VOTE NOW VOTE NOW
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	T'anks all I seem to remember reading somewhere that heaters aren't supposed to come in contact with rocks decor gravel ect. Not sure if it was instructions on a box or somewhere online... Old age and memory don't really mix . ^_^ *Proud member of the Committee for Sig Line Restoration*
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
FRANK Moderator Posts: 5108 Kudos: 5263 Votes: 1690 Registered: 28-Dec-2002	Hi, What are you keeping in the "pond?" Goldfish or koi, forget the heater. If they are tropical fish, you may not need a heater either. I assume you have "some" heat in your room and as long as the temp is not shifting between the 50s over night and 80s during the day, it should be fine. It actually takes a bit of energy to heat 50 gallons, and in the reverse it takes time for that same 50 gallons to loose its heat too. Frank -->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	One rescued goldfish, and two rosy barbs. The barbs of course like a slightly higher heat, although they can take the 60's.....House normally stays around 60F in winter simply because I'm never home...when the heats on it goes to 70 (evenutally...takes quite a few hours actually ), I just didnt' want the temp dropping too much....the heater would be more of an security blanket () rather than to acutally maintain a temp. It's an old submersible that simply has a knob but no temp settings. ^_^ *Proud member of the Committee for Sig Line Restoration*
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
FRANK Moderator Posts: 5108 Kudos: 5263 Votes: 1690 Registered: 28-Dec-2002	Hi Babel, I'd be very concerned about having any form of heating element inside the tank. Especially if the thing was against the plastic. I've seen heating elements get red hot, especially when one uses a heater that is a smaller wattage than it should be. If it is too small, then it has to stay on longer to heat a given amount of water. Even if you set it on a good layer of gravel, the gold fish are going to disturb it, and between them and the barbs, could "walk" it over against the plastic. It could soften or melt the plastic. You may want to run the water through a 10 gallon tank that you use as a sump/filter/heater, and back into the trough. Frank -->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
garyroland ---Prime Fish--- Posts: 7878 Kudos: 4010 Votes: 103 Registered: 31-Dec-2001	It all depends on the wattage of the heater... And, the depth of the gravel. Heaters should be kept away from the Rubbermaid area as Frank advises. --garyroland.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	Hmmm well this is a stock tank....they're designed to be outside year round, in winter I understand that they have heaters that keep the water from freezing....now I know that frank mentioned (in chat) that they are different than an aquarium heater. Gravel is a single layer of pea (landscaping) gravel, not aquararium gravel....heater if I remember correctly is 150watts. ^_^ *Proud member of the Committee for Sig Line Restoration*
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
Callatya Moderator The girl's got crabs! Posts: 9662 Kudos: 5261 Registered: 16-Sep-2001	so you get the replacement suction cup doobies that stand well proud of the side/base, and rig it up so the heater sits up above the gravel and cannot fall over (possibly silicone the suction cups to a sheet of glass/acrylic and then bury the sheet?) For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38


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