A: You don’t want the aquarium to be melted by the hot thermostat, so choose models where the coil is encased in glass. Besides, it’s better to choose models that are supposed to be simply submerged in water and don’t have suction cups or other elements attaching them right to the tank walls. Generally, it’s safe to use aquarium heaters in plastic tanks – it still has a safe temperature.

A: The process is quite simple:

• Set up the optimal temperature on the thermostat.
• Place the device in the water and attach it, if necessary.
• Plug the device in and let it heat up the water.

If it doesn’t have an automatic shut off, you’ll have to watch the temperature of the water and switch the thing off at the right moment.

A: It depends on the model. In most of them, it’s done with buttons – follow the applied instruction.

A: Some of the heaters can be attached to the inner side of aquarium walls with suction cups. Others simply hang on a cord and can be left submerged.

A:If your aquarium heater broke, you should throw it away immediately. Don’t try to repair it and use one again, even if seems easy to you. Just to be on the safe side, buy a spare heater: if your old heater breaks, you will be able to replace it quickly. Another precaution measure includes buying a cover for a heater. It will prevent its contact directly with fish and the water in the case of breakage. Finally, it makes sense to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the heater maintenance and clean it regularly in order to increase its lifespan.

A: Every aquarium heater type requires a certain method of installation. If you opt for a submersible one, it should be placed low into the water yet not touching the gravel. As gravel won’t conduct heat well, once you turn on the heater and it heats the gravel, the tank glass will crack or shatter. Submersible heaters are fully submersible and no part must be left out of the water. If your model has a thermostat, you’d better install the heater horizontally. This way the thermostat will spot the water temperature more accurately to turn the heater on and off when necessary.