How do you heat a pico reef?

I've been looking around for a small heater for the 2.5 gal tank I'm setting up. Fortunately, right now we are having unseasonably warm weather, but eventually it will cool off and I'll need something to keep the temp from fluctuating. I saw a small heater at Wallmart that was for small tanks, but it had no way of adjusting it. It just said to unplug it when the temp reached 82! I think it was 7 or 7.5 watts. A heater I couldn't set was just too scary to consider.

But I've looked around LFS and so far haven't seen any low wattage heaters. So, how do all of you heat your tiny tanks?

[Witfull]

the smallest i have seen at LFS is 25wt heaters and they work fine.

[LuckyInk]

Check out the Mini Heater.

Thanks for the tips! My concern about a heater is not to "cook" the creatures in the tank. The mini heater will only raise the temp 4-5 degrees, which should be OK since I live in an area with very mild winters. My secondary concern---which came up when I looked at a 25 watt heater in a store this past week---is that it's too long not to touch the substrate. All heaters have warnings not to touch the glass, rocks, substrate, bottom, etc. My tank has a depth of 8"---less with the substrate. The mini may be the way to go...

[Cougra]

You could always get a submersible heater and turn it on it's side so that it doesn't touch the substrate.

[mps9506]

Check out Premium aquatics. I've seen some little heaters there that I may ise to keep my never developing pico reef with.
Small submersiable pump heaters and also some heater pads under the tank. My only concern is going to be how well the temperature regulation will be. Hopefully no crappy thermostats.

[jeffkeith_us]

The wattage of the heater really will not be the problem. You see, you don't wont the water temperature in the aquarium to change up or down more than 1F in a day. So even if it were a 100 watts heater it would still be good. When the temp gets to where you have it set the heater will just cycle off. Some people even use two heaters. What will be a problem is setting the thermostat.
Heat another container of water, with whichever heater you get. Set the thermostat using two thermometers before you put it in your aquarium. When you like the readings you are getting from both thermometers unplug the heater then transfer it to the aquarium.
In all my aquariua I use no less than 5 watts per gallon, but most are 10 watts per gallon. Heat control is one of the 3 reasons not to employ a small aquarium.The best way to control the tempature of small aquaria is to control the tempature of the room where you keep it.
Jeff

I understand that I can have a heater with more wattage tham I'll actually need; after all that's what calibration is all about. Ideally the heater shouldn't be running all the time. I guess my concern about sizing wattage to the size of tank comes from things I've read over the years about heaters getting "stuck" in the on position and cooking the fish. I've never had it happen or heard of it happening, but it's one of those things that's always mentioned in magazines and books. (The aquarium version of an "urban legend", perhaps? ) I keep in eye on the heater in my freshwater tank and always heave a sigh of relief when our brief winter is over so I can take it out.

I love that I'm getting so many different answers to this question. When I asked it I had no options. Now, I've got choices. Thanks, everyone!

[mps9506]

Originally Posted by Gymshoes

I guess my concern about sizing wattage to the size of tank comes from things I've read over the years about heaters getting "stuck" in the on position and cooking the fish. I've never had it happen or heard of it happening, but it's one of those things that's always mentioned in magazines and books. (The aquarium version of an "urban legend", perhaps? )

Oh it happens alright. That's why I recomend sticking to quality heaters with quality thermostats (which are getting harder to find every year). Ebo Jager was good, but now they are just Jager and changed the design. Visi Therm was very good before being bought by Marineland (still not a horrbile heater IMO),

A safe option is to purchase a quality temperature controller that you can plug your heater into. Just jack the thermostat on the heater up and rely on the temperature controller to cut the heater on and off.

Just to update this thread...I ordered a Finnex ultra-compact 25 watt submersible heater from Premium Aquatics. My blog entry (with photos) on the new heater is here: http://nanoreef.wordpress.com/2005/1...ugly-paradise/

And again, thanks for the suggestions.

[smilo57]

I would reccomend making a sump for the heater and filter (if you choose to do have a filter...), this way, your temp, ammonia, nitrites/trates wont fluctuate to quick, and your water changes dont have to be done every 3 days haha. Anyways, if you try to add a heater AND have any type of lighting, theres no real way to make it right w/out a sump....plus, you dont want the heater cluttering your tank. Im setting one up soon and will post pics w/in a week or so.