Heater requirements

[alerra]

Hello everyone,

What is the difference between a Aquarium Systems Visi-Therm 300 Watt Heater and an Aquarium Systems Visi-Therm Stealth 250 Watt Heater? Obviously, there is a difference in wattage, but is that the only difference? Which one would be best for a 90 gallon tank? Would one 250W or 300W heater be sufficient fot an aquarium that size? Any advice on some cool air stones and action ornaments? There's just so much out there it's bewildering.

thanks,
Andrew

[cocoa_pleco]

you need 5w/g of heating, so on a 90g you need 450w

[Fishguy2727]

With larger tanks you can have 3 watts per gallon, the larger tanks are more stable. The Stealths are the way to go. They are made of shatter-proof thermal plastic, not glass. I have had the nice glass heaters (Visi-Therm included) shatter for no reason. The Stealths are also very accurate and I think MUCH better looking. We have a Stealth 250 in the 90 at work and I don't think it is enough. It is better to go with higher wattage (especially split into two heaters, as in 2 100 watt heaters instead of one 200 watt heater for example) unless the tank is in a warm room and you can get away with a smaller heater.