Acrylic Tank Heater Question (Eclipse 6 system)

[Dresden]

Hi everyone, I would like to put a heater into my Eclipse 6 system. It is made from acrylic. The friendly fish store employee said I can't put a normal heater because it may melt the acrylic aquarium and recommended one of these.

Hydor Mini Aquarium Heater 15w

It just seems very cheesy, not adjustable it's a pad etc.

What gives? Is there a reason I can't get a normal 25W heater like say Hydor Theo Submersible Heater-25 Watt or Stealth Pro Heater - 25 Watt that allow's me to have some control.

The Hydor Mini is like the only heater that I see that mentions "Ideal for use in glass and acrylic tanks" on the package. Somewhat confused...

BTW if the 25Watt is ok Hydor Theo or Stealth Pro???

[truthequalslies]

well i have a tetra 25 watt heater in my 2 gallon acrilic hex an i've had no problems with it melting i got it @ walmart for $13 and it has a 2 year warranty look for the one that says 2-15 gallons on it,,,btw petsore workers never know anything about what their talking about especialy when it comes to fish =/

[Hadouken441]

They Sell a Top Fin heater thats 25 watt at Petsmart. Its 16 bucks and it turns off if it overheats. You can set the heat from low to high on it too.

[dramaqueen]

I have a 25 watt Marineland stealth visitherm in a 2.5 gallon critter keeper and I've never had a problem.

[Dresden]

So in an acrylic tank if I get a 25Watt submersible, is placement of the heater important?

From what I see on wiki Acrylic melting point is 160 °C (320 °F) (this assumes I am looking at the right item).

Just how hot do the heaters get? or am I completly off base here... :)

[Hadouken441]

haha i think your getting a little paranoid. youll be fine i promise. and just place the heater straight up and down. most of the heaters are like an inch spaced away from the wall anyway so its almsot floating

[1fish2fish]

I don't know who told you that but they obviously don't know what they're talking about. A normal heater will work just fine. For a 6 gallon I would either go with a 25 or 50watt submersible.

[dramaqueen]

I keep mine set at 80 degrees. I don't think 80 is going to melt acrylic.

[JaspersANGEL]

I got 2 different heaters for my tanks wich are both acrylic 2.5 g, I absolutely love the hydor thoe 25 watt, the other one keeps unsticking and falling in the tank.

Of course you can't really set it at 80 degrees in such a small tank, it gets too hot, but around 75 does the trick.
The heater comes with suction cups that keeps it away from the acrylic so it won't melt, just remember to place it in away from the wall's of ur tank and in a spot where it's not touching anything.
U'll be ok with a hydor theo 25 watt

[vaygirl]

I have a heater set at 83 in my Eclipse 6. No problems.

I swear, these fish store people are a mess. Any heater that would melt plastic would fry a fish. They don't get hot like that. You can put your finger on it and not be burned. I'm using a heater from Petsmart. I think it's a Hydor theo. 25 watt.