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Looking For The Best Heater For Betta Tank?
Here’s a look at our favorites, including our top pick – Tetra HT Submersible Aquarium Heater with Electronic Thermostat.
#1 Best Heater For Betta Tank
Fish are cold-blooded animals, so they can’t regulate their body heat like other mammals in the sea. In order to survive, fish rely on the temperature of the water around them to keep their body and organs at the right core temperature. As your fish’s owner, it’s your responsibility make sure the water temperature is just right, and a submersible aquarium heater is the best way to do that.
What to look for in a heater for betta tanks
As you’re shopping around for the best submersible aquarium heater, here are a few things to look for:
- 78-degrees Fahrenheit – like most tropical fish, bettas thrive in water that’s heated to 78-degrees Fahrenheit. The heater you choose should include that temperature in its range.
- Electronic thermostat – modern heaters contain an electronic thermostat to keep tabs on the water temperature. It’s important to get a heater with an accurate thermostat, as even the smallest temperature drops can have an immediate negative effect on your fish’s health.
- Indicator lights – these aren’t necessary, but they’re helpful. Most indicator lights simply light up when the device is actively heating. Some heaters include a standby indicator light to let you know the device is still alert and monitoring temperature, even when the heater isn’t active.
- Wattage – the #1 mistake most people make when purchasing a submersible aquarium heater is getting the wrong size. Bigger aquariums need heaters with a higher wattage, so you need to know how many gallons of water your tank holds before you make your purchase. Generally speaking, you’ll need 8 watts for 1.5 gallons or less, 25 watts for 1.5 – 5 gallons, 50 watts for 5 – 10 gallons, 75 watts for, 100 watts for 10 – 30 gallons, 200 watts for 40 – 55 gallons, and 300 watts for 55 – 80 gallons.
Tetra HT Submersible Aquarium Heater with Electronic Thermostat
The Tetra HT10 Heater uses a low-voltage electronic thermostat to maintain a consistent water temperature of 78-degrees, which is the ideal temperature for most tropical fish. It doesn’t require any adjustment or monitoring—when the indicator light is red, it’s actively heating the water, and when it’s green the heater is on standby (indicating that the water is at the proper temperature).
The heater is fully submersible, can be installed vertically or horizontally, and is ideal for up to 10-gallon fish tanks with a glass canopy or hood. Its compact size makes it easy to conceal behind decorations and plant life, so it won’t be an eye-sore in the tank.
If your fish tank is larger than 10-gallons, you can upgrade to the HT20 or the HT55. The 100-watt HT20 is ideal for fish tanks with 10 – 30 gallons of water, and the 200-watt HT55 is intended for fish tanks with 40 – 55 gallons of water.
Fluval Marina Submersible Heater for Aquarium
The Fluval Marina Submersible Heater comes in two sizes—a mini 25-watt heater for up to 5.5-gallon tanks, and a small 50-watt heater for up to 10-gallon tanks. Whichever size you go with, both heaters provide reliable heating for freshwater and saltwater aquariums.
They’re easy to use, safe, and convenient, with an easy-to-access temperature dial, an on/off indicator light, and a bumper guard to keep your fish away from the heater. Fluval Marina Submersible Heaters are made with durable impact-resistant glass and are 100% waterproof. The package includes a bracket with suction cups for easy installation and secure placement.
Marina Betta Submersible Heater for Aquarium
The Marina Betta Submersible Heater is the perfect heater for small fish bowls and mini-aquariums with 1.5-gallons of water or less. The simple 8-watt heater is made of a durable polymer that’s tougher than glass, so it’s built to last.
It’ll automatically maintain a water temperature of 78-degrees—no need for any manual adjustments or monitoring. The heater comes with a suction cup for easy installation, and it has a red indicator light that’ll let you know when the heater is active.
Hygger Submersible Aquarium Heater Fish Tank Water Heater Thermostat
This Hygger fully submersible heater uses two suction cups for simple mounting, and it can be placed vertically or horizontally. It’s made of high-quality, shatter-resistant quartz glass with a waterproof double seal, and a black protective sleeve to keep your fish away from the warm glass.
The electronic thermostat can read and regulate temperatures ranging from 61-degrees to 90-degrees, so it has an incredibly wide range. It also has a “running-dry” protection system that shuts off the heater when the device is removed from water and turns it back on when it’s back in the water. It’s suitable for freshwater and saltwater aquariums.
This product comes in a variety of sizes to suit your needs. The smallest is a 50-watt heater that’s ideal for 5- to 15-gallon tanks. There’s a 100-watt version for 15- to 26-gallon tanks, a 200-watt model for 26- to 53-gallon tanks, and a 300-watt version for 53- to 80-gallon tanks.
Freesea FS-28 Small Aquarium Heater with LED display
If you’re looking for a heater with a heads-up temperature display, this is the one for you. The Freesea FS-28 Small Aquarium Heater has an LED display that’s easy to read and monitor. That said, it’s built to run automatically without any manual adjustments, so it’ll take care of all the work.
It’s ultra-compact, and it has a plastic protector guard around the heating glass to keep your fish safe. Based on the size of your tank, you can choose between three models that offer 50-, 75-, or 100-watts.
Takeaways
All of the heaters that we’ve discussed offer top-quality, durability, accuracy, and safety, so you can’t go wrong with any of them. At the end of the day, the differentiator will be the size of your tank. If you have a 1.5-gallon fishbowl, then the Marina Betta Submersible Heater is the simplest solution.
If you’re just looking for a plug-and-play heater without any temperature toggling, the Tetra HT heater is a great pick. If you’re looking for a wide temperature range with options ranging from 50-watts to 300-watts, I’d definitely recommend going with the Hygger Submersible Aquarium heater.
