Safe Heater

[John_White]

In the past I've used the following heating method to heat the enclosures of "snappy" aquatic reptiles and lavishly planted vivariums and terrariums. The main advantage of this heating system is that no AC power needs to enter the cage. Typical aquarium heaters are easily broken and/or their AC power cords can be chewed or bitten which can lead to heater failure or even worse elocution. Also temperatures can be adjusted without disrupting the enclosure.


There are three main components to the heating system: a standard five gallon bucket, a canister filter and an aquarium heater.


Attach the aquarium heater (100-200 Watt) to the side of the bucket using stand-offs and suction cups. Make sure that the bottom of the heater doesn't touch the bottom of the bucket. Set the aquarium heater temperature a few degrees higher than the desired enclosure temperature as there will be some heat loss from the connecting hoses.


Insert the canister filter in to the bucket. Make sure that the filter doesn't touch the aquarium heater.


Fill the five gallon bucket with water to the water level of the canister filter. Be careful not to add too much water or the motor assembly may get wet. To help reduce evaporation and heat loss, holes are cut in the lid of the five gallon bucket to accommodate the hoses and electrical cords.


Disadvantages of this heating system include it's low efficiency and enclosure heat loss during filter maintenance. To increase efficiency keep hoses as short as possible. To minimize enclosure loss during filter maintenance, I use multiple Fluval 403 heaters and simply switch out filters.

[Ed_r]

John I think you have a water problem there. :P

So the heated water in the bucket, heats the filter water coming in and going out to the tank/pool? This seems like it would take an awful long time to heat a good sized pool. How big of a pool would one bucket set up heat?

[thetupak]

That's a pretty cool tip

[NicoleRussell]

I use a cage for my heater and luckily, the wd's do not chew wires.....perhaps it's possible to cover any exposed wire to avoid this?

[John_White]

Originally Posted by Ed_r

John I think you have a water problem there. :P

So the heated water in the bucket, heats the filter water coming in and going out to the tank/pool? This seems like it would take an awful long time to heat a good sized pool. How big of a pool would one bucket set up heat?

Yes, I attempted to dye the water a light blue, but used a tad too much dye. - LOL The dye is a concentrate for large ponds. The instructions say 1quart per 1,000,000 gallons.

I used this system many years ago to heat approximatly 40 gallons of water for a juvenile Philippine crocodile. One of the *many* requirements for me keeping this crocodilian (I was only baby sitting him while his main enclosure was being finished) was that no AC power enter its enclosure.
A standard aquarium heater protected by a section of PVC pipe, with the AC cord protected by Romex or other flexible conduit probably would of worked better or a titanium heater with protected cord but unfortunately these were not an option because they didn't meet the requirements.

[John_White]

Originally Posted by NicoleRussell

I use a cage for my heater and luckily, the wd's do not chew wires.....perhaps it's possible to cover any exposed wire to avoid this?

I would of preferred to use this method but at the time it didn't meet the requirements.
Are WDs = water dragons?

[NicoleRussell]

yes sorry
I use a heated pool for them and the frog that cohabitates with them. The cage protects the animals from coming in contact with the glass. I use a fluval 404 to filter it.