Whether you are keeping tropical fish or coldwater fish, it is important to keep their temperature in the right levels to avoid dying fish. In line with this, you may need a heater for your tank, and this is why you may need to look for the best heater for 55 gallon tank.
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Tanks of this size can usually house many species as compared to smaller tanks, and some of them can even have much more plants and non-fish species as well, such as fry and snails. However, if they don’t benefit from a quality heater then their lives may be at stake.
In choosing an ideal heater, you should know if it has the right wattage that is equal or appropriate for your tank sizes. Larger tanks can benefit more from higher wattages. For instance, 55 gallons can be more suitable for 300 to 500-watt heaters. And of course, a heater should be safely submersible so that it doesn’t short-circuit your fish.
Top Best Heater for 55 Gallon Tank
Here are our top picks for the best heater for 55 gallon aquarium:
boxtech Submersible Aquarium Heater
If you like an aquarium heater that is covered well to keep the fish away from the hot rod, this one has a casing over it.
At 300 watts of power, it has explosion-proof material and runs on 110-volt systems with a 5-foot power cord. It has a temperature range of 20 to -32 degrees Celsius or 68 to -90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Having an automatic temperature stopper when it reached the desired temperature, it also automatically starts when it is placed in water.
It is rated IPX4 for the controller and IPX8 for its heater. This means that you can set the controls safely even when it is a little wet and the heater itself won’t get a short-circuit failure when it is submerged underwater.
Things We Liked
- Has a covering to protect your fish
- Wide temperature range
- IPX8 and IPX4 waterproof rating
- Automatic temperature sensor
- Compact design
Things We Didn’t Like
- The wire could be a bit too long
Orlushy Submersible Aquarium Heater
Also with 300 watts of power, this one is made with quartz glass so it won’t easily explode either. It has a length of 11 inches so it can fit well for most 55-gallon aquarium tanks.
It runs on 110-120-volt systems and has a 6-foot power cord for convenience. The temperature device or the thermostat has a digital display for easy observation and controlling it.
The knob on the thermostat is easy to use to adjust the temperature. The best thing with this heater is that it can be used for both saltwater and freshwater aquariums just fine.
The temperature range is from 68 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit. To install, all you need to do is to use the suction cups provided.
Things We Liked
- Explosion-proof material
- Digital thermostat
- Easy to adjust
- Has suction cups
- Saltwater and freshwater tank compatible
Things We Didn’t Like
- The suction cups could be designed better
HITOP 50W 100W 300W Aquarium Fish Tank Heater
Made with thick quartz glass, this fish tank heater has a range of 61°F to 90°F (16°C – 32°C) so it may be good for different species of fish.
It also has a slim design at 11 inches with a 1-inch thickness, so your fish don’t get cramped up in your tank.
At 300 watts of power, this heater has suction cups included. You can choose between two temperature units to read on the device for easier reading.
A standard UL plug is used while the cable runs at 1.5 meters or 4.9 feet. It is backed by a 12-month warranty.
Things We Liked
- Easy temperature control
- Switchable between temperature units
- Overheat protection
- Slim design
- Suction cups
- 12-month warranty
Things We Didn’t Like
- Requires a digital thermometer for further adjustment
Hygger Titanium Aquarium Heater
As an aquarium heater with 500 watts of power, it has a 5.5-foot length of the power cord while the thermometer is easy to use due to the digital display, in which you can set between Fahrenheit and Celsius.
The buttons on the panel can make it easy to navigate the right temperature setting that you want.
It has corrosion-resistant material that heats fast and is also IPX8 rated for waterproof. The design also makes it easy to clean while installing it can be a breeze due to the 2 strong suction cups.
Things We Liked
- High wattage/power
- Switchable temperature units
- Easy navigation
- Digital display
- IPX8 waterproof
- Suction cups
Things We Didn’t Like
- The digital readout could get frosted sometimes
ViaAqua 200-Watt Quartz Glass Submersible Heater
Yet another submersible heater for 55-gallon tanks, this one can be used as the main heater or as a backup heater for your system. It can be ideal for tanks with Parrot Cichlids and other tropical fish.
High-quality quartz glass is used to keep it from overheating.
The temperature setting doesn’t get foggy due to its design while the heater can be used for both freshwater or saltwater aquariums.
It is fully submersible and has a power light indicator. The ceramic heater core material is used to make the heat distribution balanced.
Things We Liked
- Compatible for both saltwater and freshwater tanks
- Ideal for tropical fish
- Quality quartz glass
- Ceramic heater for even heat distribution
Things We Didn’t Like
- Short power cord
Things to Consider
After our heater for 55 gallon tank reviews, here is our buying guide to help you in deciding:
Why do I need a heater for a fish tank?
A fish tank heater is important because it controls the temperature of your fish and other species in your tank. Without a balanced temperature, your fish may die because they are not used to a different temperature.
This is especially true if you have a tropical fish. You need to set a temperature that is just right for their needs.
How do I choose the best tank heater?
To choose an ideal tank heater, you should look for the following:
- What’s your aquarium size? The size of your aquarium can dictate the wattage that you need. For instance, here’s a chart that can help you:
| Heater Wattage | Aquarium Tank Size |
| 20+ watts | Around 5 gallons |
| 50+ watts | Around 20 gallons |
| 100+ watts | Around 40 gallons |
| 200+ watts | Around 60 gallons |
As you can see, if you were to keep an aquarium tank heater for 55-gallon tanks, it should be from 200 to 500 at least so that it will be powerful enough.
- What fish are you keeping? Tropical fish may require a different temperature than regular fish.
For temperatures of 65 to 75, you may want to keep some goldfish and most beginner fish, such as plecos, clownfish, gourami, harlequin rasbora, and various tropical fish that are okay for such temperature.
For temperatures of 76 to 80, you may find fish such as the betta, yellow tang, and the like just fine for it.
- How much is your budget? Having the right budget for a heater should also be considered. However, you should not compromise on safety if you want a heater that doesn’t explode. Don’t buy heaters that are totally cheap but still consider a lower-priced one if you have a limited budget.
- Is it safe? As we said above, safety concerns should be addressed if you are buying a heater, since it is an electric device that can possibly cause fires or kill your fish if used in the wrong way.
Consider materials such as quartz that aren’t explosive and should be at least covered properly so that it will not touch the fish when it is submerged in the water. Another safety feature is that when the heater goes into the water, that is the only time it will turn itself on to prevent overheating, and it will also stop at the temperature that you set it to.
- Is it easy to clean? Many heaters nowadays are being developed with advanced technology such that there are fewer gaps and this makes it easier to clean and to maintain.
- Is it easy to set up? Do go for a digital display if you don’t like reading small numbers on the thermostat of the heater system. What’s more, a heater that remembers its set temperature can be more convenient to use.
Consider the user’s manual when you set up the tank heater. Also, you may need suction cups if it is a hang-on back filter, but make sure that the suction cups are pretty strong to avoid the tank heater going haywire around the fish.
- Does it get in the way of other fishes? Do consider a slim design for a fish tank heater if you have a smaller tank or a narrow design. This goes the same if your fish tank is filled with too much fish or many plants around it. This is so that your fish will have enough space to swim around and relax without fearing the heater unit (and without the likelihood of accidents as well).
- What kind of heater is it?
There are different kinds of aquarium heaters out there:
- Submersible. These ones are usually dropped into the tank and can be placed vertically or horizontally depending on the user manual. The advantage of a submersible fish tank heater is that you’ll have less worry in it since it is already at the bottom.
- Hang-on back. This type of heater can be attached to the rear of the tank and is great for adding more space to your tank and to your fish. Hang-on back heaters could be a bit dangerous when not attached properly.
- Heating cable. This one is used underneath the substrate or gravel and is the best for conserving space. If you have a small tank, do consider this option.
What’s the ideal wattage I should use for 55 gallons of water in a tank?
An ideal wattage for a heater for 55 gallon aquarium is from 300 to 500 watts of power. This is because this wattage is good for tanks that have a size of 30 to 80 gallons of water.
Too much wattage could kill your fish because of the heat, while too weak wattage could possibly keep your tropical fish cold.
How do I use a heater for a fish tank?
To set up your fish tank:
- Set it up. Depending on your type of heater, set up using the user’s manual and the materials given in the set. For instance, you may need suction cups to attach the heating tube to the back of the tank and then set the thermostat somewhere that is accessible.
- Set the temperature. Use the thermostat and set it to your desired temperature. Remember that not all fish will be applicable to the same temperature, so do some research on this. Temperatures can be set on either Fahrenheit or Celsius temperatures, depending on which one you use.
- Wait. About 24 hours of the time period may need to be spent before the temperature sets just fine.
- Monitor. Keep the temperature at the right levels. You can use an external thermometer if you want to be totally sure as sometimes, the thermostat of the heater may not work as accurately as you think.
Conclusion
Our top pick for the best aquarium heater for 55-gallon tank would be the boxtech Submersible Aquarium Heater due to its coverage to protect your fish, compact design, IPX8 and IPX4 waterproof rating, automatic temperature sensor, and wide temperature range.
Despite its long wire which can be worked around, it is a good beginner and advanced fish keeper’s aquarium heater for a 55-gallon tank and those of similar sizes due to its 300 watts of power. We hope you enjoyed these reviews and buying guides and hope it helped you to decide an ideal heater for your tank to keep your fish happy.
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