How to use a heater

[NotReefsafe]

I have a 15g tank with a few corals, a clownfish, and a shrimp. I recently got a Fluval M series 50W heater. Tank hasn't needed it for the first few months the tank was setup as it was a stable 77F. I just put my heater in the tank today and set the heater to 77ish. In a few mins, the temp of my tank went from 75 to 80. I know spikes aren't good so I unplugged the heater.

Should I set the heater to a lower temp?
Are heaters supposed to run 24/7?
Do heaters know the the temp of the tank?

Thanks

 

[Jeffcb]

I have a 15g tank with a few corals, a clownfish, and a shrimp. I recently got a Fluval M series 50W heater. Tank hasn't needed it for the first few months the tank was setup as it was a stable 77F. I just put my heater in the tank today and set the heater to 77ish. In a few mins, the temp of my tank went from 75 to 80. I know spikes aren't good so I unplugged the heater.

Should I set the heater to a lower temp?
Are heaters supposed to run 24/7?
Do heaters know the the temp of the tank?

Thanks

Not all heaters have an accurately calibrated thermostat.

Yes lower the temp on the heater.
It shouldn't run 24/7. but it should be in the tank 24/7 and only turn on as the temp in the tank drops and its needed.
Yes it should know the temp of the tank.

Try testing it in a bucket of water and adjust it until it keeps the water 77. Then move it to the tank

 

[Brucealmighty]

Yes they should know the temperature of the water, chances are 9 out of 10 that the heater temp sensor and the one you usually use are not going to match, usually they are a set and leave kind of device, in bigger tanks you need more, I have 2 one powered through apex other through a D-D Temperature controller they don't match and they're both expensive for the contrast to your smaller version it seems a bit dicey to leave it permanently off if you miss the time to turn it on you could end up with a disaster waiting to happen

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I'm sorry but fluval brand makes me cringe.
IMO Eheim heaters are the most accurate and most reliable heaters.

Anyways its always a good idea to have a heater controller, something like inkbird, they are pretty cheap and worth the money. You can set a minimum temp like 75 and a max temp like 78 for example, and the controller will turn the heater on and off to keep the water within 75 and 78.

 

[NotReefsafe]

Thanks everyone.

Heaters don't shut themselves off when water gets too hot?

Should I use a timer for my heater as I do my light?

 

[Jeffcb]

Thanks everyone.

Heaters don't shut themselves off when water gets too hot?

Should I use a timer for my heater as I do my light?

The heater should shut itself off when it reaches the desired temp setting.

Do not put the heater on a timer.

If your heater is not shutting off at the setting you have set, it may be malfunctioning.

 

[EricR]

The heater will turn itself ON/OFF (or at least it should).
The point made earlier is that the temperature setting on the heater is just likely inaccurate, which is common.
Don't use a timer for the heater.

Do the bucket suggestion in post #2.
If it never turns off, take it back.
If it works but the temperature setting is just inaccurate (likely), just set the dial to whatever number gets you the real temperature you want.

Once in the tank, it should then work and you may just have to monitor for a day and do a little final dialing in.

 

[killer2001]

I do not trust heaters. I would rather focus on climate control in the room the fish tank is in.