Tropical fish, unlike other species that you can put in your tank, may require a specific temperature for them to live properly. This is because they are used to warmer oceans that they don’t do too well when they live in an aquarium that has very cold water. This is why you may be looking for the best heater for 10-gallon tank.
See also:
In this article, we will review some picks for an ideal tank heater to keep your fish species alive and also to maintain the constant temperature and ecosystem inside your fish tank or aquarium.
Our Reviews
We bring you our top picks for the best heater for 10-gallon tank:
Hygger Submersible Aquarium Heater
Made for tanks with betta fish, this one has a cool design around the heating lamp so it can go well with your existing aquarium decor. Because of its compact design, it can do well even in smaller tanks, while its milky quartz material can make it a bit more durable than others. The 10-gallon heater has 50 watts of power and works on 110-120-volt systems.
The operation is quite easy due to the rotating dial design, which allows you to set the temperature depending on your needs. The adjustable temperature works due to the included thermometer in the unit. Like most heaters, it is waterproof and is submersible.
Things We Liked
- Easily adjustable temperature
- Fully submersible
- Compact design
- The milk quartz is explosion-resistant
- 3-year warranty
Things We Didn’t Like
- The temperature gauge may be too sensitive at times
Mylivell Aquarium Submersible Heater
With a range of 65 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit (or 20 to 43 degrees Celsius) on its controls, this fish tank water heater is also submersible and has 50 watts of power. It is known for its unique suction cup installation so you can easily place it on the walls of your tank. It has been rated IPX8 for its waterproof and submersible qualities.
You can also use this heater for saltwater aquariums due to its tough material. When this product arrives in your doorstep, it already comes with the mounting equipment, such as brackets and suction cups.
Things We Liked
- Adjustable temperature
- IPX8 rated for water submersible qualities
- Comes with mounting equipment
- Easy to set up
- Good for betta fish
Things We Didn’t Like
- The temperature gauge can be inaccurate at times
boxtech Submersible Aquarium Heater
As an aquarium heater, this one has easy controls using the dial, like with our previous picks, and is designed with 50 watts of power. The included power cord is about 4 1/2 feet and works on 110-volt systems. You can adjust the temperature from 68 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. For a safety measure, the heater stops heating when it is pulled out of the water.
The heater can be submerged up to 1.7 feet and is IPX4 rated for the controller and IPX8 rated for the heater itself. Again, milky quartz is used to avoid explosions and leakage of electricity.
Things We Liked
- Good power cord length
- Adjustable temperature
- Safety stop when pulled out of the water
- IPX ratings for the unit
- Compact design
Things We Didn’t Like
- The thermo housing and heating element could be too far from each other
Hygger Titanium Aquarium Heater
Also from the same company as our first pick, this 50-watt heater is made with titanium material instead of quartz. It works on 110-120-volt systems and has a length of 8 inches for its heating rod, which makes it ideal for spacious tanks. The heater comes with suction cups that you can use to attach the heater to the wall of the aquarium while you can also mount the temperature controller on the wall.
It also has an auto-stop feature when it reaches your desired temperature and it also keeps your last preset in its memory bank, so you can just turn it on without having to set it again. The unit has an indicator light for you to know that it is working. You can set it from 32 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
Things We Liked
- A wide range of temperature setup
- Has a long heating rod
- Just right wattage for 10-gallon tanks
- Easy setup
- Auto-stop feature when the target temperature is reached
Things We Didn’t Like
- You can’t use an external controller to monitor the temperature
Aqueon Submersible Aquarium Heater
Made with 50 watts of power, this heater works even in smaller tanks due to its compact design of 12 inches. Its temperature precision is up to 1 degree and you can set it between 68 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit. There is an auto shut off feature that can prevent your heater from overheating when not in use. Being cUL certified, this heater is also made with a shatter-resistant construction and body.
The included LED lights automatically turn on to help you know that the heater is working properly. If you have an Aqueon tank then this heater may work just fine. It is backed by a lifetime warranty as well.
Things We Liked
- Has suction cups
- Easy to set up
- Heats up constantly
- Easy to use the thermostat
- Has LED lights
- Automatic shut off feature
Things We Didn’t Like
- May have problems with suction cups sometimes
Things to Consider
Before buying the best heater for 10-gallon tank, you may want to know about the following facts first:
What are the uses of a tank heater?
Most fish keepers will tell you that a tank heater is important in regulating your fish in the temperature that they live in. The main use of a tank heater or aquarium heater is for tropical fish so that they can live peacefully.
How do I know which is the best heater to buy?
To help you find the ideal heater for your fish tank, you should consider the following:
- The size of your tank. Please refer to our table below for more details. The size of your tank is important because if you pick a heater that gets too hot for your tank, it might kill the fish with its temperature. Therefore, you should pick the right size for your tank.
- Your budget. Most heaters for fish tanks don’t cost much, but there are higher-priced ones that tend to work better over the cheaper ones. After all, it is important to invest in a safe item, but you also shouldn’t compromise your budget.
- Design of the heater. A good heater design for any gallon of the tank should make it easy to set up. Some heaters are designed to hang on the back of your aquarium while others are meant to be submerged in the water or the substrate. Please refer to the different types of aquarium heaters that we listed below for more details on each type and their best uses.
- Thermostat design. Most thermostats that are used by heaters for fish tanks are made with a dial design, so they can be easy to operate. You should consider one that has some manner of waterproofing so that it will not get any damage when the aquarium water accidentally splashes on it, and especially if your unit is supposed to be submersible.
- Safety design. The safety of your heater is important not just for the fish but also for your home to avoid fires and other likelihood of hazards at home. Consider a heater that has safety features, such as:
- Auto shut-off feature. This means that the heater will turn off on its own when you pull it out of the water. This works best especially for heaters that are meant to be submerged into the water.
- Milky quartz material. This can be important if you want to maintain the safety of your aquarium since quartz can be less prone to explosions and overheating.
- IPX rating. A good heater to buy for any fish tank is that it should have leak-proof materials and housing so that the electricity will not merge with the water in any way whatsoever. An IPX rating of 8 or more is the best for submersible heaters and at least 4 for the controls of the thermostat.
- Temperature range. You may also want to consider the temperature range of the heater depending on the fish that you want to keep. Certain fish require a certain temperature and it should be within the settable range of your thermostat in your heater.
- Your fish. Supposed you will be using the heater for tropical fish. What ideal temperature should they thrive in? As we mentioned above, certain species of fish may require a set temperature.
Which size of tank heater should I buy?
This depends on your tank size, which is measured in gallons. Here is a simple chart for you to know which heater wattage is the best for your tank:
| Size of the tank (gallons) | Recommended heater wattage |
|---|---|
| 5 to 10 | 25 to 75 |
| 20 to 25 | 50 to 200 |
| 40 to 50 | 100 to 400 |
| 65 to 75 | 200 to 600 |
What are the different types of aquarium heaters I can buy?
When you want to buy an aquarium heater, you may want to consider the type of heater you want to buy first, and see if they fit well on your aquarium and for your fish:
- Submersible – as the name implies, submersible filters can hang on the back vertically or you can hang them using suction cups in a vertical position. They are best for larger tanks and can provide your tank with a more constant temperature and efficient heating.
- Hang-on – this type is meant to be placed with suction cups or a hook to put it onto the tank’s back portion. They are ideal for most tanks that have little space for a heater.
- Heating cable – this type of heater is placed under your tank’s substrate or gravel. They are best for those who want very even heating but may not be ideal for those with saltwater fish. If you have many plants in your aquarium, this can be a good type of heater to have.
Where is the best place to put my heater?
To use your heater properly, consider a place that has good water flow, such as the filter inlet. This makes it more effective in heating your water as it flows through the tank. Placing it too far from the filter makes it a little inefficient since there is little to no flow there.
How often should I check on my aquarium heater?
You should at least check the aquarium heater’s temperature daily. If you are unsure of the aquarium heater’s thermostat quality, you may also want to consider a separate thermometer to check whether the temperature gauge is accurate or not.
How many heaters should I put in my 10-gallon tank?
That depends on where you live. If your place is quite cold with very little summers and you want to keep tropical fish, you may want to opt for two heaters but this depends on the space that you have on your tank. You can also use the second filter to back up your first one, which can be important to keep the temperature of the aquarium in just the right levels.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, our clear winner for the best heater for the 10-gallon tank is the Hygger Submersible Aquarium Heater because of its easy adjustment for the temperature, milk quartz material that is explosion-resistant, compact design, fully submersible design, and just right size for most 10-gallon tanks. This can be helpful if you are a starter fish keeper.
While other tank heaters are good for their materials and capabilities, we picked this one since it fits mostly well with its compact design as well as easy controls. We hope you liked this review list of the best 10-gallon tank heaters!
What is the Best Heater for 5 Gallon Tank?
What is the Best Heater for 20 Gallon Tank?
What is the Best Heater for 55 Gallon Tank?