My tank is burning hot !

[Emma_fish]

I have a 20 gal new tank w no fish or coral yet still cycling and I have the heater on it’s lowest setting and it is at 36*C and I don’t know what to do

 

[metzer]

may just have a bad heater. you can rotate in ice jugs to get it lowered but if no fish or coral then maybe not needed. double check your measuring device to make sure it is 36 as well.

 

[Ludders]

what wattage is your heater? It's always best to have a separate controller with heaters in my experience.

 

[ScottR]

Your heater might be too big for your tank or it may be malfunctioning. 36 is too hot for fish and corals. I’d definitely replace it.

 

[scabbedwings616]

It’s def your heater. Like the others say, might be too bog or malfunctioning

 

[Steph1]

Take the heater out and get a new heater?.......now

 

[Philly Reefer]

What is the wattage of the heater?
Point a fan over the tank to cool it down

 

[Emma_fish]

Your heater might be too big for your tank or it may be malfunctioning. 36 is too hot for fish and corals. I’d definitely replace it.

 

[Emma_fish]

may just have a bad heater. you can rotate in ice jugs to get it lowered but if no fish or coral then maybe not needed. double check your measuring device to make sure it is 36 as well.

It was at 40 a few minutes ago

 

[Wee Mad Arthur]

What’s it set to? If the water temperature is hotter than you’ve set the heater to then it has failed and stuck in the on position. Can happen to any heater but cheap ones are more prone to it. As you’ve got no live stock in the tank don’t worry about it, turn it off and leave it 10 mins for the heater to cool down then take it out.

 

[Emma_fish]

What’s it set to? If the water temperature is hotter than you’ve set the heater to then it has failed and stuck in the on position. Can happen to any heater but cheap ones are more prone to it. As you’ve got no live stock in the tank don’t worry about it, turn it off and leave it 10 mins for the heater to cool down then take it out.

Aww ok thanks

 

[halfmoon61]

Pumps put out heat, new tank cycling I would remove the heater and see what the temp settles at. I had a 30 gal with no heater, the mag drive I used heated the tank.

 

[Emma_fish]

Pumps put out heat, new tank cycling I would remove the heater and see what the temp settles at. I had a 30 gal with no heater, the mag drive I used heated the tank.

Oh ok that may work I will try it thank you

 

[Saltyreef]

Also in my experience, fully submersing the heads of those types of heaters shortens the lifespan and messes with accuracy.
Ive always left the black control portion out of the water and submerse any glass/quartz.
They seem to work so much better than ones i had fully submersed.

 

[daybreaksky]

check out heater controllers like Inkbird models that have an outlet and a temp probe, some have 2 for backup and then you don't have to rely on the heater temp setting. It's a great investment and pretty cheap

 

[92Miata]

If your tank Is getting to 40c, your heater is way too large.


When you replace it, buy an inkbird and a significantly smaller heater.

I'd recommend 50w max in a 20g. I run 50w in my 40g tanks, and if I could find a good 25w, I'd run that instead.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

What I would do right now to bring the temp down is tak a plastic ziploc bag, make sure it has no holes in it, then put ice in it. That should cool the water down, but make sure you replace the ice every half hour or so because it will melt fast.

 

[Emma_fish]

Also in my experience, fully submersing the heads of those types of heaters shortens the lifespan and messes with accuracy.
Ive always left the black control portion out of the water and submerse any glass/quartz.
They seem to work so much better than ones i had fully submersed.

Thanks for the advice will try it

 

[Emma_fish]

What I would do right now to bring the temp down is tak a plastic ziploc bag, make sure it has no holes in it, then put ice in it. That should cool the water down, but make sure you replace the ice every half hour or so because it will melt fast.

Thanks but there aren’t anything alive in there now apart from 0.25 ppm ammonia

 

[Emma_fish]

If your tank Is getting to 40c, your heater is way too large.


When you replace it, buy an inkbird and a significantly smaller heater.

I'd recommend 50w max in a 20g. I run 50w in my 40g tanks, and if I could find a good 25w, I'd run that instead.

The 25w heaters on Amazon say they are for 5 gallon tanks I have one two small ones for my small quarantine tank that is around 5 gallons but I don’t know how many watts they are and I don’t know if they work because my quarantine tank has no water in it yet