Freshwater Aquarium Temperature Control: Proper Heater
Placement
by Sandra
Gaffney
Well, I'm sure that some of you new
aquarists out there already know about the necessary accessories to be put in
an aquarium, or to be specific, in tropical aquariums. The heater is one of the
necessary items that are vital to any tropical aquarium, because it regulates
the freshwater aquarium temperature, making it a more or less exact replica of
a tropical fish's natural habitat, enabling it to do the activities it normally
would on natural conditions. However, proper methods of placing this important item
also have a considerable significance, if you want to achieve the full effect
of this important aquarium accessory.
Factors Affecting Heater Efficiency
There are several factors according to which the efficiency of an aquarium heater can be rated. Some consider the overall wattage of the unit; others consider the actual temperature setting, and still others suggest the use of multiple heaters in a single fish tank. However, the proper placement of the heater in the aquarium is one criterion that, in my opinion, should not be missed, regardless of the size, the volume, and the general population of aquatic life in the aquarium.
Proper Placement Means Finding the Overall Water Flow
If you want a generic place to place the heater for maximum freshwater aquarium temperature control, find a good spot where the water flows abundantly. This place could either be an inlet or outlet from other mechanical sources - such as a filter -, from spots where water would usually flow (like the area around a power head or any other commercial aquarium water pump), or from any other source where water would usually flow, as long as good circulation can be achieved. This way, heated water from these areas could easily flow around the tank, heating it, as well as easing the circulation method.
Heat Circulation in a Liquid
If you need a more in depth explanation for this technique, it's relatively simple. Liquids, by themselves, are just like any other kind of matter in the universe. They contain mass in equated amounts throughout the solution. Heating one area of the liquid doesn't necessarily raise the temperature of the whole liquid, because you're just raising the temperature of that specific area where the heater is.
The reason why the whole liquid gets heated over time is because the warmer part of the liquid rises, allowing the cooler liquid to flow downwards, and then the cooler water gets heated, making it rise again and allowing the next "batch" of cooler liquid to go down and get heated. This process is repeated until a uniform temperature is achieved.
Factors Affecting Heater Efficiency
There are several factors according to which the efficiency of an aquarium heater can be rated. Some consider the overall wattage of the unit; others consider the actual temperature setting, and still others suggest the use of multiple heaters in a single fish tank. However, the proper placement of the heater in the aquarium is one criterion that, in my opinion, should not be missed, regardless of the size, the volume, and the general population of aquatic life in the aquarium.
Proper Placement Means Finding the Overall Water Flow
If you want a generic place to place the heater for maximum freshwater aquarium temperature control, find a good spot where the water flows abundantly. This place could either be an inlet or outlet from other mechanical sources - such as a filter -, from spots where water would usually flow (like the area around a power head or any other commercial aquarium water pump), or from any other source where water would usually flow, as long as good circulation can be achieved. This way, heated water from these areas could easily flow around the tank, heating it, as well as easing the circulation method.
Heat Circulation in a Liquid
If you need a more in depth explanation for this technique, it's relatively simple. Liquids, by themselves, are just like any other kind of matter in the universe. They contain mass in equated amounts throughout the solution. Heating one area of the liquid doesn't necessarily raise the temperature of the whole liquid, because you're just raising the temperature of that specific area where the heater is.
The reason why the whole liquid gets heated over time is because the warmer part of the liquid rises, allowing the cooler liquid to flow downwards, and then the cooler water gets heated, making it rise again and allowing the next "batch" of cooler liquid to go down and get heated. This process is repeated until a uniform temperature is achieved.
The water in an aquarium works the same way, but because of the relatively large volume of water present in these kind of liquid containers, waiting for the water to circulate by itself by just letting the heater do all the work just isn't practical, plus you risk stressing the fish when the water is not heated enough at a certain period of time. This is why proper placement of the heater is as equally important as the other criteria, and besides, if it's something for the betterment of your fish, wouldn't you try following a helpful advice anyway?
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