Can i put my heater under the gravel?

[Hallyx]

The trouble with that is it heats up the rocks that it's touching, which heats up that spot on the heater. Uneven heat dissipation is what can cause a heater to crack.

The heater should have a rubber/plastic bottom-cover. It's OK for that to touch; and the top is OK too.

@cjconcepcion
All that advice is for glass tube type heaters. I just looked up your heater. It has a black plastic case which won't crack. I wouldn't put it under the gravel because you don't want to spot-heat your bowl. But laying it on top is not a problem.

Clean the white stuff off and try again. Tell us if it comes back.

[cjconcepcion]

thanks to all of you for your advice!

Hallyx, there was a whole bunch of it in the gravel this morning, so i completely cleaned out the whole bowl, it looks like some type of fungus, so i havent put the heater back in the bowl yet, because i read that warm water made the fungus thrive, when should i put it back in?

[Hallyx]

I've heard of other keepers having white slime problems with their heaters. First try: clean it off of everything. See what happens.

Put it back in right away so your fish doesn't get cold.

[cjconcepcion]

i didnt put it back, i completely washed everything yesterday, heater, bowl, gravel, with aquarium salt (i followed the cleaning instructions on the back)
this morning, more of the white stuff. i havent put the heater back in, but the stuff is there again! what is it?! and how do i get rid of it?

[Sena Hansler]

If it was from the heater it's called Heater Snot slimy, icky stuff that is harmless.

As for why it came back without the heater..

[cjconcepcion]

Originally Posted by Sena Hansler

If it was from the heater it's called Heater Snot slimy, icky stuff that is harmless.

As for why it came back without the heater..

Ah thank you, do you know why it forms? i like your signature by the way :)

[Sena Hansler]

Thanks

Heater Snot... I don't exactly know why it forms, all I know is it is nasty =D But, the fish don't seem to mind. Some fish like to nom on it... Maybe there was residue left in the tank, or on the gravel? Gravel is a pain to clean - I use really hot water, and a wooden spoon to stir the rocks in a strainer in a bowl)

[cjconcepcion]

okay haha thank you so much for clearing that up!!! :)