Black plastic caps on heaters

[sareena79]

ok so both of the heaters I have bought in the last month have arrived with these little black plastic caps on the ends of them, do they serve an actual purpose other than protection or can I take them off?

[aokashi]

i think its protection from abrasion from hard surfaces

[sareena79]

well mine doesnt touch the bottom or the sides, all its touching is my pothos plant so I think ima leave it off cuz it looks really tacky (my tank is a little 2g so hard to hide it) unless someone says its unsafe or something. I will just have to be very carefull when I take it out so I dont bump it and break it I guess

[aokashi]

I leave my heaters vertical in my 2.5 :) behind a plant XD
it's not very noticeable at all :)

[sareena79]

yeah I've got some plants around it but that black cap stuck out like a sore thumb lol so atleast with just the bare glass it kinda blends a little more. so far the heater is working great like that too, so I'll just have to be careful when I move it to clean but other than that I think its ok. I was just worried that maybe it served another purpose but Im guessing now it doesnt and Like usual I was just being paranoid heheheh

[Tikibirds]

I dont think you need them. I kinda lost a few down the drain over the years, along with one poor snail and a few mini moss balls The bottom gets a little hot, I though they were here to protect the fish from touching it - maybe not.

[sareena79]

yeah I wondered that as well, but then I thought well heck if it gets that hot down there wouldnt the plastic melt??? I guess if they were meant to be on there they wouldnt come off so easy (oh and RIP little snail hahhah)

[aokashi]

i kept mine on to have it rest on the gravel. too the suction cups off though :)

[sareena79]

mine is suctioned onto the rim on his tank, water line is just below the black rubber. it says its fully submersible but Im a chicken lol. the end is about 4in from the bottom of the tank

[aokashi]

makesure you make the minimum water line!