mini-critters has the right

heater for your aquarium

The water in your aquarium, if not controlled, will gradually cool off or warm up to match the average temperature in your home...somewhere around 70 degrees for most of us around Sioux Falls. 

While mini-critters does carry coats for your dog, we haven't yet found a supplier for fish coats. 

That means you'll have to add a heater to your aquarium...

Aquarium heaters are glass or ceramic tubes that have a heating element in them.  There is a thermostat on one end that you can set to the temperature you want and there is also a cord that needs to be plugged into a wall outlet.

It's wise not to trust the thermostat entirely since they can "drift" as the heater gets older.  We suggest either a floating thermometer or a plastic stick-on thermometer that goes on the outside of your tank as a way of double-checking that your heater is doing it's job properly.

Running the temperature out of range can harm your fish.  It can also affect your water quality, as the bacteria and algae that are at work in your water will work more slowly in cold water and can go out of control in warmer water.

Tank temperature can also be affected by your lighting. (Never put a tank in direct sunlight, this will cause temperature and algae problems.)  Saltwater reef environments require lots of light and that can actually cause the aquarium to overheat.  Because of this there are aquarium chillers available.  They are simply refrigeration units that cool water as it is being pumped through.