An aquarium heater generally has a balanced temperature. It would be neither too hot nor too cold.
However, if you notice your aquarium heater is noticeably hot, it may have an issue. And you should not overlook the fact that it can be alarming!
So, why is the aquarium heater too hot?
Your aquarium heater may be too hot, mainly because of bad airflow. That means your heater may be clogged with dust or dirt particles. Besides, your aquarium heater may also have issues with its fuse. And lastly, keeping it turned for so long may be a reason too. You can resolve these accordingly.
You’ve got your answer here! But you must read along to get the other necessary info about the solutions to this.
So, get started now!
Why Is My Aquarium Heater Too Hot?
Our aquarium heater balances the temperature of the water for fish. Because fish can not control or balance their body temperature.
As a result, they need a balanced temperature for this. And this is where we use an aquarium heater. But we may see our heater getting too hot at times.
But the heater should be at a balanced temperature too. So, why is the aquarium heater too hot? Well, we’ve got this covered here.
Alongside, you can get here the solutions to the hot heater too. Take a look.
Reason 1: Poor Or Restricted Airflow
You know your aquarium heater needs a flow of air. Or else, the heater would get hotter with time. And after a time, the temperature within the machine would be too high.
So, this is one of the reasons for your aquarium’s burning hot. The airflow of your heater gets resisted for some reason.
Now, you may wonder, why is the airflow of my aquarium heater disrupted? Well, it mainly happens because of a dirt or dust clog in your heater.
Basically, you may forget to keep your aquarium heater clean. And it does not only happen outside the aquarium.
Rather, your heater may also get clogged with dirt particles inside the aquarium. So, that is when the airflow area is clogged.
As a result, there is a lack of airflow. And this makes your aquarium hot with time, exceeding a limit at a point.
Remember that with this, your aquarium heater could be broken too.
Solution
If your aquarium heater is clogged, it means you do not keep it clean. So, you need to clean this regularly. Now, how to clean an aquarium heater?
Well, when you take your heater out of the aquarium, clean it. You just have to take it to a water tap. Then you rinse off the machine with tap water.
Rub off the machine with your hand to make sure no dirt particles are left over. Remember that water from the aquarium may contain dirt particles.
So, you may need to clean your heater every time you use it. While rinsing off with water, you may also use liquid soap at times.
But it has to be one day in a while, not every day. And make sure you use a liquid soap that is compatible with your heater.
I hope this helps!
Reason 2: Fuse Issues
Electrical appliances have an important part, which is the fuse. And this fuse is something kind of sensitive. So, this gets issues or turns bad many times.
If your fuse has any issues, this often gets the appliance heater. And this happens often with aquarium heaters. So, that is when your aquarium heater becomes too hot.
Remember that a bad fuse may also cause your heater to stop working. In particular, an Aqueon heater would fail to work with a bad fuse.
Solution
For a bad fuse, you can do nothing but replace it. So, you need to get a new fuse for this. And you simply replace it.
But if you are not sure about it, do not do it. Because you’d better get the help of an expert in that case.
Reason 3: Keeping The Aquarium Heater Turned on So Long
Sometimes, you may forget to turn off the heater. Some people don’t even know that it doesn’t need to be turned on all the time.
So, it is kept turned on very long. If you kept your aquarium heater turned on for a long time, it would have effects.
So, what happens when the aquarium heater is turned on for a long time? Well, this would get your heater heated after a time.
And that is why your heater may be overheated after a time. One thing to remember is that you don’t keep it turned on while changing the water.
Solution
If you find your heater running for a long time, let it rest. Turn it off and give it a break for at least 2 hours. And then turn it on again when needed.
If you think it is overheated, you may cool it down. You may use your AC to cool it down quickly.
So, these are the reasons and solutions for this. I hope this helps!
What Are the Symptoms of a Hot and Bad Aquarium Heater?
If you are having a hot aquarium heater, you may be concerned. But you may not be tense about it. Because sudden or random issues may not get so serious all the time.
However, if you notice your aquarium heater too often, you might be concerned. Like, that would be something alarming.
Because that can indicate that your aquarium heater may have permanent issues. And this might also indicate a bad aquarium heater.
So, what are the symptoms of a bad aquarium heater? Well, we have got a number of common symptoms here. Take a look.
Symptom 1: Blurry Water
Another symptom you may notice is a change in the color of the water. That means your gallon tank water may get its color changed a bit.
Normally, the water is transparent in color as usual. But with a bad Aqueon heater, the watercolor may be a bit blurry.
It would be kind of whitish in color. So, why does the aquarium water turn blurry? Well, it is because of the temperature decrease.
When the heater goes bad, the temperature decreases with time. As a result, the water starts to cluster at times.
And due to this, you would see the water turn blurry with time. In addition, you may also notice the food of fish unsunk there.
Symptom 2: Death of Fish
Fish dying is a fairly obvious sign of a problem. You may be curious as to why your fish are dying if you notice them.
Many times, people assume it is the fish itself. But it can also be your heater. You did read that correctly. You would frequently find your fish dying with a subpar heater.
And it would happen really suddenly. So, as soon as you notice your fish is frequently dying, glance up at the heater!
Remember, this symptom may start with a change in the movement of your fish. Basically, you will notice that your fish slow their movement inside the aquarium.
With time, your fish would start losing their lives and keep on dying. So, if you can get this symptom at the primary stage, it would be better.
Because you would be able to save your fish. However, not being able to calculate that would cost your fish.
So, these are the 2 basic signs that you might experience. Don’t ignore any symptoms, and get to work on the fixes right away!
FAQs
How do I prevent my aquarium heater from damaging?
You know you can prevent your heater from damaging following some simple tips. One of the most important preventions is keeping your heater clean. Like, many users think it is clean all the time staying with a gallon tank. However, this gets dirt from the water with time.
How long can I use an aquarium heater?
You can carry your gallon tank or aquarium heater long. This would go on for at least a few years. But remember that the usage of it can alter the lifetime of these heaters depending on you. Because if you can use them properly, they can be really durable. On average, these workers work for at least 3 years.
Do I always need an aquarium heater for my fish?
Well, yes, it is a must to have an aquarium heater for fish. Because you know that fish can not maintain the temperature of their bodies themselves. As a result, they tend to lose their lives very often. And that is why fish need to have a balanced temperature in their environment.
The Final Words
Now you know why the aquarium heater too hot! You now have a good idea of what to do to get out of this too.
But do not forget one thing. If your aquarium is slightly hot, you may overlook this fact. However, it is important to observe the change in temperature. Because the temperature change may be alarming.
So, be careful and good luck!