How do i know if my heater for my salt water fish tank is heating the water,

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AmandaR

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cooling it or keeping it the same? I have a heater that is hanging in the water, the temperature is at 75 which is where i want to keep it but i dont know if i need to turn the wheel just untill the light stays on or just untill the light is off to keep it where its at.
 
Leave it on the time and get a thermometer and monitor it. heaters run in cycles so you can't go by the light. For future reference Marineland makes a heater called a Stealth. It doesn't have a light but keeps the temp within 1 degree of where you set it at. It's almost totally indestructible.
 
From your question, I'll assume this is a new tank with a new heater. You want to put the heater in the tank, and let it acclimate to the water temperature for 15 minutes before you turn it on.

If the heater has already been on for a while, 30 minutes or more, and the water temperature is where you want it, turn the dial just until the light comes on [ where it will turn on just above 75 degrees]. The turn it back just until it goes off. That will have the temperature setting so it comes on right around the temperature your water is now [75].

When the temperature falls below 75, the light will come on, showing the heater is warming the water. As soon as it gets back to 75, the light will go off to keep the water from overheating. It will let the temperature go 1-2 degrees in either direction before coming on or switching off.

And yes, a thermometer will let you make sure the temperature is where you want it. Put the heater where there's good water flow so the warm water circulates around the tank, not just stay in 1 corner. And put the thermometer on the opposite side of the tank, this gives you a better idea of the water temperature in the tank.
 
most heaters have a setting. turn the dial to a certain degree then a small computer in the heater tells it to turn on or off if needed. if you have a very old heater or extremely cheap then it has no function. if so throw it away and buy a better heater. most heaters now you just turn the dial to the heat you want say 75 and then put in the water. it automatically turns on when it needs to and turns off when it needs to.

the light is usually an indicater that it is on and heating.
 
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