The Bottom Line
For those looking to heat a mini aquarium by a few degrees, this is a great heater that gets the job done. If you are looking to heat a tank larger than five gallons, or need to heat the tank by more than a few degrees, this heater isn't for you.
Pros
- Unbreakable
- Small size
- Easy to hide
Cons
- No temperature setting
- Slightly over-rated for tank size
Description
- Flat, easy to conceal under gravel or behind plants.
- Made of unbreakable materials.
- Completely submersible, can be in or out of water.
Guide Review - Hydor Mini Aquarium Heater
I'll say up front that I'm a big fan of this little heater - as long as you choose it for the right reasons. Knowing what it doesn't do is almost more important than what it does do, so I'll start with what it lacks.
What this heater does not have is any sort of temperature settings. In fact, it doesn't even have an on and off switch. Plug it in and it's on, to turn it off you must unplug it. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's important to be aware that it has no controls.
On the plus side, this heater is small and unbreakable. It can be placed under the gravel, stuck on the side of the tank behind plants, or even slipped under the bottom of the tank, thus eliminating the cord hanging over the side of the tank.
The Hydor Mini Aquarium heater comes in two sizes. One is 7.5 watts, and states it is for aquariums up to five gallons in size. The other is 15 watts, and suggests use for tanks of five to ten gallons in size. I've found that both are a bit overstated for heating capacity. I would not use the smaller one for tanks over three gallon. The larger one is good for five to seven gallon tanks, but I wouldn't recommend it for a ten gallon tank unless the tank requires very minimal heating.
Bottom line, if you have a tank of five gallons or less, the Hydor Mini Aquarium heater is an excellent option.
What this heater does not have is any sort of temperature settings. In fact, it doesn't even have an on and off switch. Plug it in and it's on, to turn it off you must unplug it. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's important to be aware that it has no controls.
On the plus side, this heater is small and unbreakable. It can be placed under the gravel, stuck on the side of the tank behind plants, or even slipped under the bottom of the tank, thus eliminating the cord hanging over the side of the tank.
The Hydor Mini Aquarium heater comes in two sizes. One is 7.5 watts, and states it is for aquariums up to five gallons in size. The other is 15 watts, and suggests use for tanks of five to ten gallons in size. I've found that both are a bit overstated for heating capacity. I would not use the smaller one for tanks over three gallon. The larger one is good for five to seven gallon tanks, but I wouldn't recommend it for a ten gallon tank unless the tank requires very minimal heating.
Bottom line, if you have a tank of five gallons or less, the Hydor Mini Aquarium heater is an excellent option.
