Any recommendations on a cheap/hardy heater for a 10 gallon?

[SauceyReef]

I have been having a lot of heaters break down on me. Anything cheaper, not fancy, but reliable long term?? Specifically for a 10 gallon tank for water changes.

Would appreciate any suggestions.

 

[Kmarshall168]

Eheim Jager are always nice and cheap. I also like the marine land 50w

 

[Kmarshall168]

Also an inkbird temp controller is a nice redundancy for monitoring and backup

 

[Spicy Reef]

For smaller tanks I like heaters that can be controlled from outside the tank. Or as posted above add an inkbird controller get the wifi.

 

[hyprc]

Another vote for the Jager. I control mine with a digital Finnex. Definitely get a controller.

 

[SauceyReef]

Thank you! Does the inkbird temp controller work with any heater? Or just inkbirds

 

[Kmarshall168]

 

[djryan2000]

I have been having a lot of heaters break down on me. Anything cheaper, not fancy, but reliable long term?? Specifically for a 10 gallon tank for water changes.

Would appreciate any suggestions.

I recommend buying an inkbird controller and then just whatever 50W heater is cheapest.

 

[djryan2000]

Thank you! Does the inkbird temp controller work with any heater? Or just inkbirds

Any heater will work

 

[TheBear78]

Personally I'm not sure that a controller is necessary for a water change tank. Any reputable brand mentioned above should be fine considering the frequency of use.

 

[EricR]

For super cheap, Aqueon pre-set to 78 degree heaters from PetCo or online are like $6-$12 usually.
That said, I don't actually think you need to heat your water change water if changing out reasonable amounts,,, but that's a different topic.

 

[OrionN]

Heater is such essential in a small tank. Any dysfunction is likely to wipe out the tank. Cheap heater have great potential to cause damage that is much more expensive than the heater in term of list but f life.
I recommend a temperature controller tether tan an on off heater. Finned temp controller with whatever heating element you want. It is a lot safer than any cheap heater. It is not too expensive either.

 

[EricR]

Heater is such essential in a small tank. Any dysfunction is likely to wipe out the tank. Cheap heater have great potential to cause damage that is much more expensive than the heater in term of list but f life.
I recommend a temperature controller tether tan an on off heater. Finned temp controller with whatever heating element you want. It is a lot safer than any cheap heater. It is not too expensive either.

I read the post as meaning to heat water change water not display tank, but maybe I was mistaken.
SauceyReef, maybe clarify that.

 

[OrionN]

It is I who misread the question. IMO, heating up water for water change is not needed, unless you have a huge water change. I change 25% of the water without the need to heat the water. It won't change the temperature of the tank significantly unless the rater is really cold. If you change 10% of the water, it takes a temperature differential of 10 degree to decrease the tank temperature by 1 degree. Several degree changes is not important change in our tank.

 

[SauceyReef]

I meant heating up the new water I am putting into the DT for the water change. I have a small tank anyway so being a few degrees off and doing a 5 gallon water change could cause a big shock to the system specifically for fish/inverts I would like to avoid. I make sure my salinity and temp is pretty spot on to the DT before doing water changes. I may consider a controller for my tank, but not for the 5 gallon water change bucket that seems to be overkill. I have a digital hanna reader anyways it is fast & easy to use.

Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[OrionN]

When I do water change in the winter, I often heat up the water in microwaves to get the cold water to a reasonable temperature. Just get a 1/2 gal of the water and heat it in Miceowave and use that to increase the new water.