Aquarium Heater Safety

Electricity and water do not mix. Safety precautions should be taken when using electrical water heaters in your aquarium. If you suspect a heater may be damaged, do not use it.

  1. Damage

    • If the outer glass casing on a heater has any noticeable cracks or there is water condensation on the inside of the casing stop using it. Water entering the casing could cause electrical shocks to you or the fish.

    Burns

    • Fish that hide on and behind the heater could get severely burned. Provide proper hiding spaces with decorations so the fish do not feel like they need to hide behind the heater.

    Drip Loop

    • Be sure to allow enough slack in the heater cord so that it hangs lower than the electrical outlet. This creates a drip loop so any water that runs down the cord drops on the floor rather than running into the outlet.

    Tempering

    • Never take a warm heater out of the water; it will crack the glass casing. Always let the heater sit in the water unplugged for 30 minutes before taking it out and before turning it on.

    Fish Damage

    • Rowdy fish can break glass heaters by bumping them or knocking decorations into them. For larger, more active fish, it might be better to invest in a titanium heater instead of glass model.