Path: utzoo!hoptoad!amdcad!decwrl!labrea!agate!eos!ames!nrl-cmf!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!bloom-beacon!mit-eddie!necntc!dandelion!ulowell!apollo!molson From: molson@apollo.uucp (Margaret Olson) Newsgroups: alt.aquaria Subject: cheap stuff (really heaters) Message-ID: <3be4c614.dab4@apollo.uucp> Date: 6 May 88 18:51:00 GMT Organization: Apollo Computer, Chelmsford, Mass. Lines: 30 Many fish may be able to handle temperatures variations from 60 to 90, but some can't. If you don't know the requirements of the fish you have (amazingly common), you are best off with a heater. If you are a cheap skate, and live in an old new england house, you may really really need a heater. For a while I lived in such a place. My livingroom (with fish) got into the low fifties on winter nights, maybe even lower. I discovered that the only heaters that were worth anything were the 150 watt submersible german things. They did the job and have held up very well. I used two heaters in the 30 gallon, and one in the 15 gallon. My fish stopped dying. These heaters are expensive, but not as expensive as heating that house at night. I've given up buying used equipment. Too often in breaks or is in lousy shape. I bought used 30 gallon tank with all assesories. I wound up replacing the heater, lid, and filter in very short order, and in the end it was a lot of aggravation for trivial savings. Maybe other people have had better luck, but unloved stuff with moving parts is usually in lousy shape. I don't buy setups either - I've never seen one that had a decent heater or filter. Margaret. apollo!molson