Returning to fish after a dozen years

[Wary]

I am brand new to the site, and I have been away from keeping an aquarium for about 12 years. I have always kept fresh-water tanks, and I have just purchased the set-up for a new 29 gallon community.

It's a little intimidating to realize all of the things I've forgotten about the more basic elements, like water testing.

This seems like a wonderful, friendly site.

One thing I do not yet have is a heater. Any recommendations? Do people have any opinions on the Theo UL? It seems like a nice one.

Thank so much.

[Blueiz]

Welcome to AA!

[DragonFish71]

Welcome to AA.


Personally I prefer the old Ebo-Jaeger heaters. The ugly green ones not the newer ones. I've also had good luck with the Tetra brand heaters you can get at Walmart.

[melosu58]

Welcome aboard.

[WhiteDevil]

Welcome, I use marineland visi-therm stealths. got em in every tank, oldest one is 4 years old. They are cheap and come with a limited lifetime warranty.

Petsolutions.com had em dirt cheap like around 50% or more cheaper then retail stores.

[Wary]

Thank you all, for your warm welcomes, and heater advice. After looking through the forum a bit more, it does seem that these Stealth numbers have rather an avid following.

I do believe I'll be taking that route, given that it's help in such generally high regard.

[WhiteDevil]

Try and buy em online, save you some money. I like the fact that they are black, easy to hide, easy set and forget, at the online prices you usually get 2 for the price of 1 retail, never hurts to have a back-up especially since the stealths dont have a power indicator light or idiot light on them.

[jim692]

Welcome, and welcome back!

[blue71]

I personally love my Ebo-Jager in my 29g I have a 150watt and my temp never changes, Mine is about 5 years old and still going strong.Jager Heater (UL Approved)

[Wary]

Does anyone have any feelings on the Hydrokable?

[cwt]

Welcome to AA.

I'm in the same camp as WhiteDevil, the black Marineland heaters work well and hide pretty well, depending on decor.

[Wary]

I ended up going with a 100w Top Fin, which is, thus far, doing a beautiful job. It took me a lot longer than I'd anticipated to get the tank set up, so I'm now just shy of 2 weeks into cycling, and with the heater set on high my tank is maintaining a respectable 85 degrees in the midst of one of the coldest winters we've had for a while (mind you, this is California, so it doesn't tend to dip much below 57 degrees in the house). Once I'm closer to adding fish I intend to purchase a second 100w & keep them both dialed much lower.

Over-all the cycle is progressing nicely. The Ph is a bit on the alkaline side (7.8 as of two days ago), but I'm getting it all evened out.

Thanks to everyone for your help.

[ampa one]

welcome to AA.