I recommend getting a new heater. The one that came with mine only lasted 10-11 months. I'd just use that one as a backup, or you might end up driving around for hours trying to find a heater on a sunday evening like I did. The heater has a + and - instead of numbers. You just have to set it in the middle and slowly adjust from there. The stick on thermometer is junk. I'd get another one and throw that one away and it looks like the stand isn't level... sorry to be so negative, but just giving my opinion from experience with the same kit. I ended up replacing all the accessories but the filter. I bought another filter to run with it though, and I am going to replace the filter with an aquaclear soon.