Hypothetical, theoretical heating question

[AbranV]

I was at PETCO today looking at their tanks and got an idea that I need some help on. So I thought I'd run it by the experts on here.

I have a 29 gallon tank almost set up and ready to go. It has a false bottom with a water feature. Overall it will hold 2-3 gallons give or take a little.

IF I were to use a submersible heater of appropriate size and wattage in my tank. Could it be a sufficient heat source for let's say a tinc or similar dart?

Thoughts, comments, pros, cons?

As always, my priority is the animal's health and safety, so if this idea is risky or stupid, don't be shy letting me know!

Thanks everyone?




P.S. did you know PETCO sells darts?

[DigitalPunk]

Yes that will absolutely work to heat your tanks. I used under water heaters on all my tanks till recently. The heat from the water will radiate throughout the tank. Heating the water also has the added benefit of causing the water to evaporate and increase the humidity of the tank as well

[AbranV]

Awesome! Thank you!

I had a feeling it would be fine, but I like to check and double check when it comes to living beings

[DigitalPunk]

No problem at all. I did the same thing when I made my first dart tank. It works wonderfully. I found that I needed the water to be a few degrees higher than the temp I wanted the tank itself to be.

[deranged chipmunk]

The only thing I would recommend when using an aquatic heater (I use them often as well) is make sure you have a thermometer somewhere to read your water temp. There have been issues of heaters shorting and heating the water too high. Although, in 30+ years of keeping aquariums, I have never witnessed this first hand. If you go this route, get the best ADJUSTABLE heater you can afford. Stay away from those preset ones, they are junk.

Anyway, that's my $.02


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[DigitalPunk]

Agree with bill 100% and nicely done pointing that bit out. I only use heaters with thermostats built into them so I could regulate the water temp (and thus the tank temp) as needed.

[Vivariums In The Mist]

I'll add my 2 cents as well (lol), I have never personally had a defective heater either back when I kept aquariums, any many heater failures can be consumer error. That being said, when I worked for a major pet product manufacturer, there were returned defective heaters all the time. Shorting out and "boiling the water" were not unheard of. Definitely use a quality heater and keep your eyes on the temps.

The only thing I would recommend when using an aquatic heater (I use them often as well) is make sure you have a thermometer somewhere to read your water temp. There have been issues of heaters shorting and heating the water too high. Although, in 30+ years of keeping aquariums, I have never witnessed this first hand. If you go this route, get the best ADJUSTABLE heater you can afford. Stay away from those preset ones, they are junk.

Anyway, that's my $.02


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela