Heater placement? Beneath substrate?

[KidFish]

Can you place the heater under the substrate?, the only problem i foresee is the tank not getting enough heat, but i would think the water would cool the heater substrate... I'm not sure.
Any explanations?

 

[libertybelle]

I would worry about just creating a warm spot there....

I always put my heater under the filter intake so the warmth gets distributed around the whole tank.

 

[Scottyhorse]

Yes, there has to be water flow for the heat to be distributed.

 

[ScotJudd]

I think that your heater will be ineffective and as there will be little flow of water from heater to thermostat I think you are likely to burn out your heater. I would say its a big NO.

 

[Sk3lly]

Why on earth would you want to put a heater under the substrate?!?!? I think its a no too. Surely it would burn the heater element out

 

[Brookster123]

Why on earth would you want to put a heater under the substrate?!?!? I think its a no too. Surely it would burn the heater element out

seems like it would be inviting more harm than good..

 

[fishyfriends3]

If you don't want your heater on show, there are other options.

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[Mifsud]

I wouldn't place a heater below the substrate unless I was installing a specific system that was designed to be operated this way. Even then, I wouldn't recommend an "undergravel cable heater"

The substrate acts as an insulator, so awhile the substrate around the heater will be warm the water will be at a different, lower, temperature.

 

[KidFish]

Thanks everyone for the replies! Kept me from doing anything stupid