Good cheap heater

[Sillyfishies]

I'm thinking of picking up a 10 or 20 gal tank because petco has their $ per gallon sale. I have a spare 10w heater. Do I need a bigger one? What size tank would 10w work on? What heater would you reccomend for a 10g or 20L tank.

 

[TheCommunityCichlid]

I'd recommend at least 25w I'd go for 50 though. So far ok happy with the top fin ones from petsmart and they are cheap.

 

[Sillyfishies]

I'd recommend at least 25w I'd go for 50 though. So far ok happy with the top fin ones from petsmart and they are cheap.

Would a 10w work for a 5g? I already have a 250 GPH filter, so I'm probably going to grab a 20L. I don't want to have too much flow

 

[Taiken5968]

Walmart also has some cheap filters and heaters.

 

[Sillyfishies]

After looking up my filter, it's only 125 GPH! Wow was I wrong. Would a 125 GPH filter work on a 20L? Or would 10g be max?

 

[Taiken5968]

After looking up my filter, it's only 125 GPH! Wow was I wrong. Would a 125 GPH filter work on a 20L? Or would 10g be max?

I am sure that would. A lot of people say 8 to 10 times the tank size. Just be careful and don't put one in if the flow is way too strong. I bought a used 10 gallon one time, and it the filter that came with it was ranted for a 50 gallon. I think the flow was so strong that it killed my fish.

 

[Khuligirl93]

Cheap is not always best. I've had problems with aqueon and topfin heaters. I've been through about 5 heaters and I only have 2 tanks that use them. They always somehow get stuck set on the highest temp and turning the knob does nothing to turn them off. Currently I have that issue with a topfin one that won't go below 82 even though I have it set at 67. I have been very satisfied with my new fluval heater though.
Not sure if I just have bad luck with heaters- but that's my experience!
(Also when I first got my topfin heater I didn't rinse it before putting it in the tank and it killed a whole batch of 50+ Molly fry- was very strange)

 

[brennae]

Cheap is not always best. I've had problems with aqueon and topfin heaters. I've been through about 5 heaters and I only have 2 tanks that use them. They always somehow get stuck set on the highest temp and turning the knob does nothing to turn them off. Currently I have that issue with a topfin one that won't go below 82 even though I have it set at 67. I have been very satisfied with my new fluval heater though.
Not sure if I just have bad luck with heaters- but that's my experience!
(Also when I first got my topfin heater I didn't rinse it before putting it in the tank and it killed a whole batch of 50+ Molly fry- was very strange)

I've had bad luck with those brands too! The new Cobalt heaters are pretty cool, not sure how well they work though. I have an aquatop heater and its not bad.

 

[Cactuspixie]

I've used all kinds if heaters in the past- some el cheapos and others that were quite pricey. Now I only stick with eheim. They aren't fancy, and I don't like the dial, but they are reliable. My 300w heaters go for $90 here, but I got some in sale online for $55 incl. shipping.

 

[Fishperson]

I use the aqueon submersible aquarium heaters, and they work fine for me. Also, I think the rule is 3-5 watts per gallon, so for a ten, the lowest you should go is 25, and for a 20, the lowest is a 50, but more is better.