A club for owners of Parrot Cichlids

A word on tank heaters. Though absolutely necessary in colder regions, these devices need to be monitored carefully to avoid serious problems. Tank heaters are often poorly calibrated, meaning the temperature the heater is set to is not the same as the water temperature maintained by the heater.
When first installing the heater calibrate it by starting lower than the temperature you wish to maintain and wait until the temperature stops changing - this could be several hours. Compare the temperature you have set and the temperature you actually got. It could be very different. Raise the temperature slowly until you hit the goal, and make a note of the setting on the heater.
If you have a large tank, you may need more than one heater, to avoid putting so much strain on the single heater that it burns out by being on constantly. If you have a sump filter, you can put the heater in the sump.
It is a good idea to have a thermometer easily visible from the front of the tank, and check it regularly. Heaters do go off calibration OFTEN, and you can easily end up killing all the fish in the tank with high temperatures.
What to look for in a tank heater: Top Aquarium Heaters