How Often Should You Replace Your Aquarium Heater?

Aquarium heaters are a critical part of ensuring that your tank matches the natural environment of your fish. If your heater isn’t working correctly or stops working at all, this can put the health and lives of your fish in immediate danger. Learn how to ensure that you’re consistently giving your fish the right temperature-controlled environment. This article will review how often you should replace your aquarium heater.

Gauge the Life Span

Aquarium heaters often get a bad rep for breaking down frequently. However, a quality aquarium heater will usually have its life span written somewhere. It should also have a warranty. If not, you should know that most aquarium heaters don’t last past three to five years. If your aquarium heater is past its prime, that will be an indication that your heater needs replacing. It’s better to replace your heater early rather than waiting for it to stop working.

Check for Wear and Tear

If you’ve determined the age of your filter but are still unsure, it’s best to check the condition of your heater next. It’s a best practice to inspect all the parts and pieces for tears and cracks. In order to see cracks clearly, you’ll want to clear the heater of any mineral deposits that may be obscuring the damage. However, be sure to let the heater cool completely before the inspection to avoid injury.

Check for Thermostat Accuracy

Most aquarium heaters will come with a thermostat so that you can quickly check the temperature of your tank. To check the thermostat’s accuracy, grab an aquarium thermometer and place it as far as you can from the heater. If the thermostat isn’t measuring the actual temperature of the tank, the thermostat has broken. While you can manually measure your tank’s temperature, the thermostat will usually break down before everything else. When this happens, other issues are sure to follow.

Measure Average Temperature

It’s normal for your heater to be off by one or two degrees every once in a while. However, if the average temperature fluctuates, it puts lots of undue stress on your fish. To measure temperature fluctuations, take an aquarium thermometer. Note the temperature once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once at night. Do this for about a week.

Average the temperature of your tank by adding the three numbers up and then dividing by three. This will give you the average daily temperature. If your average temperature fluctuates by five or more degrees, this is a serious problem and an indication that your heater needs changing ASAP.

Knowing how often you should replace your aquarium heater is a critical step in keeping your fish happy, healthy, and comfortable. Luckily, if you need to change your aquarium heater, you can order your fish aquarium supplies online, right from the comfort of your own home. This way, you never have to wait to give your fish the environment they deserve.