[dynamite&lazerbeams]

My friend gave me a 50w top fin glass-tube type tank heater. I have a 2.5 gal planted tank with a beta fish. If I set it on the lowest setting would it be safe to use? It gets a little hot to the touch and I don't want it to burn my fish.

Otherwise I'll just buy a smaller one and save this heater for the 10gal I haven't set up yet.

Thanks for reading!

 

[jrman83]

Bettas like temps well above 80, but that heater seems a little too much. Depends on the size maybe. Might work okay.

 

[dynamite&lazerbeams]

Bettas like temps well above 80, but that heater seems a little too much. Depends on the size maybe. Might work okay.

Thanks for the reply! It's about 8 inches.

 

[Kat12]

heater guard?

petsmart ones are 50% off at petsmart, might check if yours has a 25w

 

[PlantedRich]

In my experience, the heater size is not so much that the fish will burn itself but what happens when the heater does fail. It will often stick on and heat full time. In a 10 gallon, a 50 watt will kill in less than eight hours at my house. In a much smaller tank like you have, I might guess it could do it in half that time. A smaller heater will give you a better chance of spotting the trouble before it is fatal.