Review on 🐠 Aquatop Nano Aquarium Heater 15-Watt - Perfect for 2.6 to 4 Gallon Aquariums at 77°F! by Rudy Allen

After a long search for a good heater for my 2G aquarium for my rooster fish, I decided on this one. And let me say I made the right decision! It's very small (much smaller than I expected and great for my small tank), the construction is great, all black plastic so it's not easy to break, and it keeps the tank at 77-78F. There are no complaints at all and I'm glad I chose this one over some other brands. LONG OVERVIEW: When choosing a heater for a small tank, your options are limited. Pre-installed heaters, adjustable heaters (most are too powerful for small tanks), and always-on heaters. More on that below). I have been running aquariums for many, many years. And I also believe I have a PhD in Scripps Oceanography (with a specialization in microbial ecology). So I know a thing or two about keeping cultures, aquariums and using equipment and such from a laboratory perspective, besides being a hobby. Although I've just dabbled in large saltwater tanks because I just don't have enough to get the job done or spend more money on what they are, my wife and I decided to get back on some taps just for fun obtain. We picked a cool blue and red tipped rooster and bought him an aquarium. Although we live in Southern California it can get a little chilly here in the winter when it's 66F indoors but it's too cold for this fish. So we needed a heater for our small 2G tank. There are about 3 options for heaters if you are in that position for a heater. #1. The heater is always on. This will never be a good option. All this guy does is always heat the water. No more and no less. It's always on. So if your room is very cold, it's better than nothing. This can raise the water temperature 5 or 10 points (F or C) above room temperature. But that's all. The problem is that if the temperature in your room is 78F, your water is 88F. If your room is 88F your water is 98F, if your room temperature is 50F your water is 60F. Your fish is cooked (or still frozen). This type of heating should be avoided. Before you start arguing with me, yes, this type of heater has specific uses, but not for keeping fish in a small aquarium. #2. Adjustable heating. This heater is great! Whether digital or analogue, it is always the best choice. Yes, they do take a little time to perfect, but when it's a quality heater it's totally worth the money and time invested. They allow you to obtain the ideal temperature for your specific application. I have used them many times in my home aquarium and laboratory. It's always the way; However, they don't make them for small (less than 3 gallon) aquariums. Yes, you could use one in a small aquarium. But the heater is too big and the power they produce doesn't provide a buffer zone in case the heater fails. If so, your fish is cooked. And faster than you would even notice. It's only a good choice for larger tanks, and I'd say 10G or more as long as you follow the 10W/G recommendations (or something). #3.excellent pre-installed nano heater. So, from what I said above, that leaves only one choice for small aquariums (less than 5G aquariums). The only available heater type suitable for this role is the preset heater. NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH ALWAYS ON HEATING! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW! SEE #1 ABOVE! But a preset heater that heats up to a set temperature and then turns off is the best option for this situation. And they have several options. And this is where I did all my research and created this review. There are about four or five good ones that meet this requirement. All are set at around 78F, which is where most tropical fish are comfortable. Some of the biggest names that I really trust have had very bad reviews. Heck, I was dying to choose a tetra as I've always had a lot of experience with this brand. However, I couldn't get over the fact that there were so many reviews about cooking fish and/or breaking glass. So when I found this Aquatop heater and read the reviews I became very interested! I did a lot of additional research online and it really is top notch quality. I clicked and ordered. And I couldn't be happier! The heater itself is very small, hard black plastic and fits right into the back of my small fish tank. I plug it in and let it sit for about an hour before plugging it in. When I plugged it in, it heated the water to exactly 77/78F in about an hour. After about a week, the temperature is always the same, even if the room drops to about 66F at night. And my little fish is so happy and colorful. Also, the tiny black heater is almost invisible in my small aquarium and will not crack or break during maintenance. It's a damn good heater. The only thing I'd like to see is an indicator light so I know when it's on or not (other brands have it and it's a great feature). But I can forgive that given its quality and performance. I just have to rely on my thermometer daily, which I should be doing anyway. I'm just going to end this long review by saying this is one hell of an awesome nano preset heater!