On Thu, 27 Apr 2006 17:16:48 -0700, Larry Blanchard
wrote:

Mister Gardener wrote:

I've always placed my tank
heater horizontally about an inch above the gravel, that simple
placement provides a bottom to top convection wave of sorts

That brings up a question. I always see heaters on the back wall of a
tank. Is there any reason they can't go on an end wall?

I'm planning on a rotating powerhead at the left corner of the back wall
and a stealth heater on the right end wall. This should give me plenty
of circulation past the heater.

The way the tank is going to be situated in the living room, the end
placement of the heater is the best way of hiding it with the fewest
plants. Now I just have to find the least conspicuous (and most
readable) spot for the thermometer :-).

BTW, I got some more cork to experiment with. I should have some
reportable results in another month or two.

Go for it. Think outside of the rectangular box. With submersible
heaters and various lengths, you can put it anywhere you like. Create
some interesting flow patterns. I've been pleased with the I forget
who makes it but it's at Foster and Smith stainless steel heater with
the outboard controller. With a little temp sensor size of a dime that
can suction cup anywhere you want it. The cables for the sensor and
the controller/thermostat are quite long, so there are many options
for placement. Less than 20 bucks. I'm also test driving one of the
digital thermometers, 5 bucks, also at F&S. Not a cheapo stick on.
Small temp probe same deal as the heater, and the little LCD display
box outside the tank, mines mounted on part of the wooden stand that
holds the tank. In a location that I can see it whenever I pass
through the room. Seems quite accurate. I'm about to pick up a couple
more for my other tanks. I've always felt limited in filter placement,
I think my filter would be much more effective hanging off the end of
the tank instead of the back, more of a river effect in circulation.
I'll probably do that one of these days, but I'll have to do some
custom light and hood arrangement. For now, I'm just happy that I've
got everything growing and living inside the proverbial box. I'll save
the custom work for something do in my old age. After I catch up with
NetMax.

-- Mister Gardener
-- Pull the WEED to email me