The 8 Best Aquarium Heaters of 2022
Aquarium Heater – Buying Guide, Opinions and Analysis
If you like fish and want to have an aquarium at home or in the office, you should think about offering them the best water temperature, also depending on the species of fish you have. For this reason, aquarium heaters are very useful and we have made a selection of the best products in this category in which the JBL ProTemp e500 model stands out. An external heater suitable for aquariums up to 600 watts and that includes temperature control, among other functions. The Sera 8720 also prevails for being powerful and compact, since its 100W is enough to heat up to 100 liters of water.
The 8 Best Aquarium Heaters – Opinions 2022
To have an aquarium it is necessary to recreate the natural conditions of the environment of the fish, and for this the temperature of the water must be constant. The necessary element for this case consists of a resistance, a thermostat and the coating to be able to submerge it. That is why we invite you to learn about the products that stand out as the best aquarium heaters of 2022 with their description of pros and cons to help you in your purchase.
external heater for aquarium
1. JBL ProTemp e500 External Aquarium Heater
The JBL ProTemp heater is a highly versatile product, both for the heating capacity it offers, which is suitable for aquariums up to 600 litres, and for its effective temperature management.
To do this, it incorporates a power of 500 watts, to heat, as well as a good-sized LCD screen and a keypad, with which to choose that optimal operating temperature with ease. A grade-by-grade selection, which is more precise than that of other models with higher working margins.
The heater is also versatile in the installation, for which it incorporates different hose outlets and an approach that, although it is somewhat more complex than in previous models, does not overly complicate the process either.
By the way, its intelligent heating system reduces energy consumption, so that the electricity bill does not rise excessively unnecessarily.
We leave you the main aspects of operation of this complete heater.
Pros
Power: The product has an internal resistance of no less than 500 watts made of quartz.
Capacity of use: The device works on aquariums ranging from 160 to 600 liters of capacity.
Accuracy: The temperature measurement is accurate to ±0.5 degrees.
Switching: You can choose the level of heating degree by degree, for greater accuracy.
Connections: The device offers interchangeable hose connections for 12/16, 16/22 and 19/25 outlets.
Cons
Installation: We are talking about an external aquarium heater, so the assembly and installation process is more complex than that of internal models.
2. SunSun External Heater 500W
It is an external aquarium heater suitable for use in tanks up to 500 litres. Regarding its operation, it is possible to configure it in a simple way by simply pressing a button on the front of the device, which favors practicality.
It also incorporates an LCD screen that shows the temperature in degrees Celsius for easy understanding. Similarly, the numbers are large, so it is possible to see the information from a distance. For better performance, it has 500 W of power, which allows you to heat the water in a short time.
On the other hand, it offers a compact design of only 31 cm in length, to place it on the side without taking up much space. As if that were not enough, it has an LED indicator below the screen that lights up when the equipment is running.
If you are looking for a model that will help you heat the aquarium water quickly and practically, then you should know in detail the pros and cons of this model.
Pros
Power: It offers a power of 500 W, which allows the selected temperature to be reached in a short period of time.
LCD: It has an LCD screen, which shows the temperature with large numbers, which makes it easy to see.
Dimensions: It measures 31 cm long, 9 cm wide and 8 cm deep, so it is a compact model.
Cons
Position: It is necessary to place it in a vertical position, since in a horizontal position it could give an inaccurate result.
100 liter aquarium heater
3. Sera 8720 Normally Heater 100 W for 100 L
If you are thinking of getting a compact fish tank to have small species in it, you should also purchase a 100-liter aquarium heater like this Sera model, which has a small size and a power of 100 W, enough for an aquarium with that capacity.
You should know that its design is totally submersible, so it has a high resistance to heat, in addition to its construction with quartz glass and a plastic protector so as not to hurt the fish.
For its part, the light indicator of this aquarium water heater allows you to know when the thermostat is active or not, which simplifies its use, as it is also distinguished by its easy calibration and precision according to users, since it always maintains the temperature that has been set previously.
In terms of fastening, this model includes a pair of suction cups with which it can be securely attached to the surface of the aquarium. In this sense, the Sera 8720 heater has a very positive rating among users, like other products from the same manufacturer, recognized by many users as the best brand of aquarium heaters.
Pros
Capacity: This model has a power of 100W, enough for a 100-liter fish tank. However, it can be purchased with different capacities ranging from 25 W to 300 W.
Protection: The device has a thermal protection so that the fish that come close to it do not suffer burns.
Precision: User reviews of this heater highlight its precision in reaching the desired temperature in the aquarium, without variations and efficient operation.
Cons
Suction cups: In some aquariums the suction cups do not adhere correctly to the surface, preventing a good placement of the device. But, users have solved it by replacing these elements or adapting another fastening system.
4. Marina 11233 Thermo Heater 100 W
Of the cheap products in our selection, we have this model, also notable for being a 100-liter aquarium heater thanks to its 100W power and submersible design that support its correct operation.
Therefore, if you are wondering which is the best aquarium heater, this device may be the answer, since it is made of high-impact glass to withstand normal conditions in fresh or saltwater fish tanks with a plastic protector for safety. fish.
Furthermore, the waterproof seal supports its strength and durability, while the suction cup mount allows for easy and secure mounting. In addition, it has an on and off indicator, as well as a display with the temperature range of the device that goes from 20°C to 28°C.
You should know that this model is available in other sizes and capacities, whose powers are adapted to the size of the aquarium you want to heat. Now, we present you the list of pros and cons that we distinguish in this product.
Pros
Construction: The heater is made with high-impact glass and a waterproof seal to prevent moisture damage, as well as incorporating fish protection.
Temperature range: This device allows you to adjust the temperature in a range from 20°C to 28°C, being appropriate for tropical fish that need an average temperature of 24°C.
Power: The heater is 100 W, this allows it to be enough to heat a 100-liter aquarium, however it is available in other powers to meet the needs of users with larger or, on the contrary, smaller fish tanks.
Cons
Reading: The temperature is displayed in degrees Fahrenheit, so you must know the conversion to degrees Celsius to know what the temperature of the aquarium is.
small aquarium heater
5. Bps Submersible Heater for Fish Tank 50W
The BPS AT-200W model is a suitable solution when looking for a small aquarium heater. This product is suitable for aquariums from 25 to 50 liters of capacity, supporting a heating range that goes from 16 to 32 degrees of temperature.
An approach that is based on a resistance of 50 watts of power, which offers stable performance and maintains the correct water temperature at all times. The temperature adjustment is carried out by means of an analog selector, with which to choose the necessary level and see it at the moment.
For the rest, the heater includes a pair of quality suction cups, with which to fix the device to the aquarium glass and prevent it from moving during use, thus avoiding the inconveniences of lower quality products.
We leave you some more information regarding this heater and everything it offers you when it comes to heating the water in your aquarium.
Pros
Selector: The analog selector facilitates the process of choosing the water heating temperature, depending on the needs of your fish.
Efficiency: The high efficiency design of this product maintains good thermal performance and prevents overheating problems.
Suction cups: These suction cups are used to fix the heater on the walls of the aquarium, so that it does not move during use.
Cons
Cooling: It is important that when you take the heater out to clean it, do not touch it before 15 or 20 minutes, since it burns.
Water level: You must also be careful with the water level, so that it is never below the lower level established for safety.
6. Nicrew Heater 25 W Adjustable for Aquarium
It is a small aquarium heater that can be submerged in water. In addition, it is suitable for heating ornamental aquariums with a capacity of up to 15 litres. In this sense, it has a power of 25 W, however, you can also get it in 50 and 100 W presentations.
For greater practicality, this model includes a remote control that allows you to know the remaining heating time and select the temperature level without removing the device from the aquarium. Likewise, it only has 3 buttons, so it can be used by people without experience in this type of equipment.
As for the heating device, it has an LCD screen that shows you the current temperature with a margin of error of only ± 1 °C. For this reason, it is a reliable product that can be used professionally or at home.
If you want a heater that is small and easy to install, then it is recommended that you take into account some of the most important positive and negative characteristics of this model.
Pros
Temperature: You can adjust the temperature between 18 and 33 ° C through the remote control included in the package.
Savings: It turns off when the desired temperature is reached, which favors energy savings.
Safety: Offers overheat protection for added safety.
Cons
Efficiency: It may take longer than expected to heat the water, which puts it at a disadvantage compared to other heaters on the list.
20 liter aquarium heater
7. JBL Aquarium Control Heater
More and more people cannot have large fish tanks at home or in the office, so they end up buying small ponds to keep tiny fish, but they also need the environmental conditions to be the most similar to their natural habitat.
For this reason, a 20-liter aquarium heater may be the device you need to ensure that the water in the fish tank has the right temperature for your fish and other aquatic animals.
In this sense, the JBL ProTemp model has been designed for aquariums from 10 to 50 litres, salt or fresh water that require a temperature between 20 and 34°C. In addition, the rotary control allows easy adjustment, being able to graduate with an accuracy of +/- 0.5°C.
As for its manufacture, this model is built with quartz glass and a protection resistant to pet aggression. But, if you still have doubts about the characteristics of this heater, you can review the summary of its main positive and negative aspects.
Pros
Precision: The upper dial allows you to adjust the temperature from 24 to 30°C, increasing by 0.5 degrees to optimize its precision.
Protection: The heater is protected against aggression from animals, which also increases their safety by preventing burns.
Resistance and support: The device can be submerged up to 1 meter deep, while the suction cups allow a secure hold, even horizontally, being suitable for turtle ponds.
Cons
Plug: Some models come with the English plug, so you will have to put an adapter if that is your case.
Eheim aquarium heater
8. Eheim Thermostat Heater for Aquarium 75 W
With the quality that characterizes the products of this brand, the Eheim aquarium heater does not disappoint users, since its performance is efficient in any of its nine sizes.
In other words, you can choose the thermostat you need for aquariums from 20 liters to 1000 litres, maintaining the right temperature that is easily adjusted thanks to the regulator with 0.5°C precision.
In addition, the glass coating increases the heating surface and distributes the temperature evenly so that the water heats up in a short time.
For its part, the subjection is determined by the double suction cups that promise a firm adherence to the surface of the aquarium, without forgetting that it has a compact size, so it will not affect the appearance of the pond. Also, it incorporates a pilot light that indicates whether the thermostat is on or not, thus complementing its functional design.
Pros
Regulation: This model allows you to precisely regulate the temperature between 18 and 34°C, offering a greater adjustment range to recreate the habitat of different species.
Design: The device is fully submersible and therefore has protection against dry running, in addition to having a coating to disperse heat evenly and without affecting animals.
Capacity: The 75W heater is indicated for aquariums with a capacity of 60 to 100 liters. But, if you need other powers, this brand has 9 different sizes so you can choose the right one for your aquarium.
Cons
Connection: The product may arrive with an American or English plug in certain cases and randomly. However, with an adapter you can use it normally.
Shopping guide
With the most accurate data you can ensure a good investment, especially when it comes to caring for your pets and for this reason today we want to explain what you need to know about thermostats for aquariums. These devices are used to heat the water to the most suitable temperature, according to the needs of the fish and other aquatic animals, so continue reading our guide to buying the best aquarium heater and learn about the aspects that the chosen device should have.
Power
Because it is a device with a thermostat, power is one of the main elements that we look for in a comparison of aquarium heaters, since the capacity of the device to heat a certain amount of water will depend on this number.
As a general rule, it is believed that 1 watt is needed for each liter of water, and based on this proportion, manufacturers offer heaters from 25W of power for smaller aquariums to 500 W for ponds that exceed 500 litres, offering efficient performance and constant heating so that the animals feel that they are in their natural habitat.
Temperature range
Related to the previous aspect we have the temperature range in which each heater can be adjusted, being common the models that oscillate between 20 and 34°C, while other devices allow to regulate the minimum temperature in 18°C and the maximum in 34° c.
In this sense, it is important that the device has a simple adjustment system, so those with dials are recommended to choose the desired temperature, or better yet, digital models with external controls that allow the temperature to be adjusted without removing the device from the aquarium, much less get your hands wet or contaminate the water with traces of dirt that may be in them.
Likewise, it is convenient that the heater has a viewer or an LCD screen to better visualize the temperature in which it is working and whether or not there is any alteration with respect to the default values for its operation.
Materials
Before seeing how much an aquarium heater costs, we must make sure that it is made with excellent quality materials, since they will be subjected to high temperatures, so they must be resistant to heat. On the other hand, some models must be submerged in the aquarium, so their structure must be completely waterproof so as not to affect the internal components.
For this reason, many of them have IP68 protection so that water does not penetrate inside, in addition to being made of quartz glass or high-impact resistant glass.
These products must also have protection against animals because there are some fish or aquatic animals that are curious about the device and may even bite it, so to prevent the fish from suffering any burn or electric shock, they must have a resistant coating.
Design
If you are concerned about the appearance of your aquarium and the elements that are part of it, you should know that you will find different formats of heaters, some with a discreet and elongated design that will hardly take up space inside the fish tank. Others may look like tubes with an inlet and outlet connection to attach the water pipes near the filter. This heats the water that is entering the tank.
Generally, these are external models that do not need to be submerged in the aquarium and have a more basic and remote control-like appearance, so aesthetics take a backseat.
However, the brands specialized in aquarium products have interesting proposals for very delicate and resistant heaters with green coatings that can go unnoticed inside the fish tank, both for the animals that live in it and for the visitors who stop to admire your fish.
Connection
As we are looking for an electrical device, it is very important to take into account what type of connection it incorporates and needs, even when it is a cheap heater, since some may include American or English type plugs, which would generate an additional cost to buy an adapter.
Likewise, many manufacturers emphasize the extension of the power cable, to provide greater comfort in the installation of the heater, so it is recommended that it be longer than 1.5 meters and not be a limitation when plugging it in.
In short, the purchase of an aquarium heater should not be a concern if you are clear about what you need for your fish, in addition to the appearance you would like it to have and the price you are willing to pay. Therefore, evaluate all these aspects at the time of making your purchase and, surely, you will be right with a functional equipment and with a very positive quality-price ratio.
Frequently asked questions
Q1: How to use an aquarium heater?
In an aquarium, the pH of the water, chlorine and nitrites must be controlled, but if you have tropical fish, the temperature of the water must also be adjusted and for this the aquarium heater is necessary. With this device, the growth of the bacterial population is also favored, which in turn allows a biological filtration of the water to recreate the natural conditions of the environment.
Depending on the different designs available, you can use the heater inside or outside the water, frequently checking the temperature level or the indicator that it brings, as well as the light warnings about the activation of an error to ensure that the conditions are not altered. water conditions.
Q2: What heater do I need for a 100 liter aquarium?
A heater of 100 W of power is enough to use in 100-liter aquariums, in this way they will maintain a stable temperature without fluctuations, since it is estimated that 1 watt is necessary to heat 1 liter of water. However, there are 75 W models that are sold for 100 liter fish tanks, so it is best to consult the manufacturer’s specifications to find out how much the device’s capacity is.
Q3: How to repair an aquarium heater?
On the Internet you will find many tutorials and explanatory videos on how to repair the resistance of the heater or change the switch of the heater so that it continues to work normally. However, it is important to keep in mind that if you are not an electrician and you do not have many skills in this regard, it is best to seek technical advice from a professional or simply change the heater.
Remember that electricity and water combined can be dangerous for you and your fish. So do your research well before you start handling the heater and quickly unplug it if it is not working well, because it can cause an electric shock and harm your fish.
Q4: How to heat aquarium water without heater?
Directly heating the aquarium water is not recommended if you do not have a specialized device, because you can alter its pH or cause damage to the fish, since there is no safe temperature control. But, a less dangerous and homemade technique that you can apply temporarily, if you do not have a heater, is to place hot water in covered bottles and introduce them into the aquarium without the water overflowing. With this, the pond water will gradually warm up for the safety of the fish. You will also need a thermometer to know the temperature that the water reached and verify that it is suitable for your fish.
Q5: Where to put the aquarium heater?
The placement of the heater will depend on its design, since it can be external or submersible. In the first case, it can be placed after the water filter, while if it is submersible you must insert it and use the fixing system, such as suction cups to adhere it to the walls or floor of the aquarium, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions.
Q6: How to tell if an aquarium heater is working?
Most of the models currently sold in the category of aquarium heaters include an indicator light or an LED that shows us when it is working correctly. Some include a screen that displays an error message if the temperature drops too low or the device has stopped working. Also, the manufacturer offers instructions on how to restart the computer or correct the most common errors.
Q7: How does an aquarium heater work?
The aquarium heater is composed of a switch system and the heater in the form of a spiral. This system is the thermostat, which is sensitive to heat and is made up of metal sheets.
This mechanism bends when the thermostat reaches a certain temperature by connecting the electrical circuit. The main characteristic of this device is that it is very sensitive and activates when it detects an alteration of at least 1°C. In this way a constant temperature is maintained inside the aquarium.
As for the lower part of the heater, this is where the electrical resistance is located, generally in the form of a spiral made of chrome-nickel and covering a ceramic matrix.
All this system that makes up the heater goes inside a tube that can be made of glass, acrylic, plastic, stainless steel or other resistant material that prevents water from entering the mechanism or the fish from suffering a burn if they get too close to the heater.
According to some users, if the heater is properly maintained it can last for many years, as long as improper handling is avoided or repairs are attempted at home if it fails. It is always best to go to a specialized technician or to a pet store where they sell these devices and ask them to check the heater.
» Review information from previous years
Duojin 220V – 240V Adjustable Submersible Fish Tank Heater
Measuring 31 cm x 8 cm x 9 cm, this Duojin model is an external aquarium heater with simple operation, which allows you to adjust the temperature of the pond between 20 and 35 degrees.
Este dispositivo destaca por su precisión en el control de temperaturas, pues incorpora una pantalla LED digital para leer con facilidad los números y cuando el agua alcanza la temperatura límite establecida, este deja de calentar de forma automática. Y al descender, al menos, 1 grado el calentador se activa nuevamente para regular la temperatura del acuario. Por estas características, el Duojin EH 500W es reconocido como el mejor calentador para acuario, según algunos usuarios.
Por otra parte, este equipo cuenta con protección en seco y contra sobretemperatura gracias al revestimiento de sus componentes, además ha sido fabricado con vidrio de cuarzo y un material de doble sellado que aumentan su resistencia.
Otras de las características de este producto permiten que sea considerado por la mayoría de sus compradores como el mejor calentador para acuario del momento, así que te invitamos a leer el resumen de sus pros y contras.
Pros
Funcionamiento: Este modelo es externo, es decir que no hace falta sumergirlo, siendo adecuado para los acuarios con peces agresivos que atacan los dispositivos dentro del estanque.
Temperatura: La potencia de este equipo permite ajustar la temperatura del agua entre 20 y 35 grados, desconectándose automáticamente cuando la temperatura llega al punto establecido.
Pantalla: La pantalla LED incorporada permite visualizar fácilmente la temperatura del acuario, así como la presencia de un posible error del dispositivo.
Construcción: Está fabricado con materiales resistentes al calor y con un nivel de impermeabilidad IP68, ofreciendo una buena durabilidad.
Contras
Instrucciones: En algunos casos el manual de instrucciones llega en chino, así que se debe mejorar este aspecto con una traducción adecuada de dicho manual.
Nicrew Calentador de Acuario Sumergible 25W
Con una potencia de 25W, este dispositivo es el adecuado si necesitas un calentador para acuario pequeño, pues tiene capacidad suficiente para las peceras de 20 o 30 litros.
Sobre su fabricación destacamos que es completamente impermeable, lo que determina su diseño sumergible, siendo también seguro para los animales dentro del acuario, porque se reducen los riesgos de explosiones y quemaduras. Además, este modelo destaca por su bajo coste y altas prestaciones, así que algunos usuarios creen que es el calentador para acuario más
