Space Heaters Vs. Aquarium Heaters For an Aquarium in the Winter

Keeping an aquarium going through the cold winter months presents a number of challenges, especially if the room where the tank is located is not well-heated. The right solution to the problem of heating the room depends on the type of fish you plan to keep. Some species of fish need very little warmth in the water, so a space heater in the room should be just fine. Other fish require additional warmth, and for them it is best to use an in-tank aquarium heater instead.

  1. Goldfish

    • If you keep goldfish or other cold-water species, you do not need a heater inside the tank if you have a space heater in the room. As long as the temperature in the room does not fall below around 50 degree to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, your cold-water fish should be just fine. In fact, heating the water in a goldfish tank can cause problems because these fish are used to living in cold climates.

    Needed Warmth

    • Tropical fish need to have warm water in their tanks, and if the water gets too cold in the winter they can succumb to a number of viral illnesses, as well as bacterial and fungal infections. The space heater will not be able to provide the warmth you need in the tropical fish tank, nor will it be able to prevent large fluctuations in water temperature from day to night. If you plan to keep tropical fish, you need to have a heater inside the tank.

    Fine Adjustments

    • If you plan to keep tropical fish over the winter, a space heater will not provide the level of fine control you need to keep the water at the proper temperature. While a space heater can keep the room at a comfortable temperature, there could still be large fluctuations in the temperature of the water inside the tank. A submersible aquarium heater gives you a higher level of control and allows you to actually set the temperature you want to use for the aquarium. Because some special of tropical fish can tolerate only a small range of temperatures, this is a very important consideration.

    Thermometer

    • Whether you keep cold-water fish and can make do with a space heater or have tropical fish with an in-tank heater, once piece of equipment you need is a good thermometer. A thermometer submersed inside the tank is critical because it allows you to monitor the temperature of the water with just a glance. You can find these aquarium thermometers at any pet store for only a few dollars, and the early warning they provide is well worth the small expense.