Heaters are a critical component of a healthy aquarium. They serve a straightforward purpose but are not often the fanciest or feature-filled component in your setup. There are a few different aquarium heater types, including submersible and external models, which are further differentiated by their wattage and how many gallons they can consistently heat.
Additionally, you must always have a reliable thermometer in the tank to ensure your heater is working correctly. A faulty heater may not be very obvious and even small temperature fluctuations can have disastrous consequences. “The temperature range of your tank inhabitants will not all be the same. Some fish and invertebrates are very hardy to temperature changes, while others can get sick quickly,” Dr. Jessica Fox, a certified aquatic veterinarian, told The Spruce Pets. “Maintaining the correct temperature range in your tank is critical to ensuring your fish live long and healthy lives.”
The Orlushy Submersible Aquarium Heater provides any fish keeper with a reliable heater with a solid outer casing and full adjustability. This product line comes in a variety of sizes, accommodating 1 to 6 gallons with the 25-watt heater and up to 75 gallons with the 500-watt heater. Two suction cups keep your heater secured and away from the main area of your tank, and a digital thermometer ensures your heater is working correctly.
What we appreciate about this model is its ease of use and clear functions. Its size variety makes it very friendly for most pet fish tank sizes while keeping a good price point. Overall, the Orlushy Submersible Aquarium Heater is a great choice for your aquarium, no matter what tropical species you have or the size of their tank.
Temperature Range: 68 to 89 degrees | Gallon Range: 1 to 75 gallons | Wattage: 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 300, 500 | Cord Length: 6 feet
If you have a lot of water to heat, then you need the Fluval E300 Advanced Electronic Heater. This 300-watt heater can heat up to 100 gallons of water to 69 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit. Designed specifically for larger tanks, this heater has an easy-to-read digital display with corresponding color codes to ensure your water temperature is within the proper range.
The unit is fully submersible with a protective outer shell to keep fish and invertebrates from getting too close. Yes, it is the most expensive heater on this list, but a lot of technology goes into a heater designed to keep a large volume of water heated consistently.
Temperature Range: 68 to 93 degrees | Gallon Range: 75 to 100 gallons | Wattage: 300 | Cord Length: 6 feet
What We Like
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Adjustable
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Easy to use
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Full range of sizes
Small tanks are the hardest to heat consistently, but the HITOP Adjustable Aquarium Heater has taken this into account with even its smallest model. The 25-watt model is easy to set up and fully adjustable to your fish’s preferred temperature.
If you need something a little bit bigger, there is a full range of sizes for your smaller aquariums. Very easy to install and use, the HITOP Adjustable Aquarium heater is a good choice for smaller aquariums.
Temperature Range: 68 to 93 degrees | Gallon Range: 5 to 10 gallons | Wattage: 25 | Cord Length: 4.9 feet
What We Like
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Reliable
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Multiple size ranges
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Easy to install
The Tetra Submersible Aquarium Heater is a line of heaters that are very inexpensive, but also do not have many features, such as adjustable temperature settings, and only come with one suction cup attachment. However, if you need a heater and have a small budget, this heater will reliably keep your fish at a comfortable temperature.
Temperature Range: 78 degrees | Gallon Range: 2 to 10 gallons | Wattage: 100 | Cord Length: 6 feet
The Aqueon Preset Heater is a straightforward choice if you are not able to consistently monitor the water temperature in your tank. The heater is constructed with durable quartz glass to resist shattering, and its compact design allows for the device to be placed vertically or horizontally with suction cups included.
There is an LED indicator light that displays red when actively heating. The automatic shutoff ensures that the water in your tank won’t overheat. While this product does come in different wattages to accommodate a range of tank sizes, the Preset Heaters from Aqueon are more consistent with lower-capacity tanks.
Temperature Range: 78 | Gallon Range: 5 to 75 gallons | Wattage: 50, 100, 150, 200 | Cord Length: Not listed
Fish keepers with small, nano tanks requiring heat should check out the Freesea 50W Mini Aquarium Heater. Unlike most tube-shaped heaters, this flat disk takes up less of your valuable tank space and can provide quite a bit of heat for a small space. This model comes with an external adjustable temperature range and has an easy-to-read digital display.
Larger models are available if you plan on upgrading your tank from nano to medium.
Temperature Range: 59 to 93 degrees | Gallon Range: 1 to 10 gallons | Wattage: 50 | Cord Length: 3.5 feet
If you have to protect your fish or invertebrates from your heating element, then consider the Tnfeeon Fish Tank Heater Protective Case. What is great about this heater case is that you can customize the length to almost any standard heater brand or model. This is a great addition to heaters that won’t stay put and need some extra stability or have unruly tankmates.
It includes six sections to accommodate 25-to-1000-watt heaters and two strong suction cups for solid attachments.
Temperature Range: Not applicable | Gallon Range: Not applicable | Wattage: Accommodates 25-to-1000-watt heaters | Cord Length: Not applicable
Final Verdict
Overall, the Orlushy Submersible Aquarium Heater could be the only fish tank heater on this list for most hobby aquarium owners. All of the others have their virtues, but for the price point, ease of installation, variation of sizes, and reliability, the Orlushy can’t be beat.
What to Look For in Aquarium Heaters
Size
Three main factors determine correct aquarium heater sizing—water volume, ambient temperature, and the desired tank water temperature. For example, large tanks will most likely require two heaters to adequately maintain the water at the target temperature in a cold room.
Wattage
Generally, you should use between 2.5 and 5 watts per gallon of actual water volume, though more wattage may be necessary depending on how much you want to raise the water temperature to offset a cooler room temperature. Subtract the average temperature of the room from the target temperature for the aquarium water to get the amount of heating required, measured in degrees.
Submersibility
Fully submersible heaters typically provide more consistent and efficient heating than hang-on heaters, especially with larger tanks. Look for sturdy suction cups that allow you to securely mount the heater to the back of the tank away from the main area, usually horizontally near the substrate.
Placement
You should place an aquarium heater by the water outflow from the filter so that the moving water disperses the heated water throughout the aquarium, ensuring even distribution. In large tanks, you might want to place multiple heaters in different locations.
FAQ
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Does an aquarium heater need to be fully submerged?
The amount of your heater that needs to be submerged will depend on the model and manufacturer. Most aquarium heaters are designed to be fully submerged, but this is not always the case. Please read your installation instructions carefully in order to ensure proper function for your heater and always use a thermometer to confirm your heater is operating correctly.
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How many watts should I have per gallon?
Wattage per gallon of water will vary by make and model. All heaters will have a gallon range on their packaging.
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Can an aquarium heater burn my fish?
When functioning properly, your heater should not be capable of burning your fish. Many tropical fish, including bettas, will enjoy resting directly next to the heater to enhance their immunity and metabolism. If your heater is not operating correctly, it can potentially burn your fish, but it is very unlikely.
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How do I know if my heater is working properly?
The best way to ensure your heater is working correctly is to carefully read the instructions upon installation and use a reliable thermometer in your tank. Do not assume your heater is 100 percent foolproof. Only by using a reliable secondary thermometer, like one of these, can you save your fish tank from disaster.
Why Trust The Spruce Pets
With over 10 years of experience as a pet fish veterinarian, author Dr. Jessie Sanders has significant experience when it comes to fish tank components. In addition to working with hundreds of fish tank clients, she also owned a fish retail store, specializing in only the best products for fish, several of which are present on this list.
Certified aquatic veterinarian, Dr. Jessica Fox, also provided insight for this article.
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