I need a cheap Heater guard. My plecos are getting burnt and i need to come up with a way to shield them off without contaminating the tank. What materials would work?I already checked stores, the only guard i could find was a reptile heater with a pre- attached guard on it. $44.95 for that .I need help in the next hour or so . Please give as much input as you can. thanks.
Sounds like for that kind of money you can just buy a new heater - they sell non-glass ones (I have one buy Rena) that will not break or burn fish. At my fish store they do sell plastic heater guards for about 10 bucks, so maybe you just need to shop around more. Alternatively maybe you just need to put the heater in a better spot or arrange good spots for the pleco away from the heater - this isn't a normal issue. to use pvc you would have to arrange it so it is sitting off the glass of the heater, but still secure, and drill lots of holes in it too.
If you make your own heater guard, use PVC plastic pipe, not the ABS because the ABS has a lower melting point. There are aquarium decorations with holes for a heater. Most look like some variation on a tree trunk. Copper is toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. The guard not only protects the fish from burns, but protects the heater from rocks and overactive fish who might start pushing it around. If there are fish clubs around you, they usually have auctions. I have gotten a box of fish tank decorations, including a few heater guards, for as little as a buck!
Sounds like for that kind of money you can just buy a new heater - they sell non-glass ones (I have one buy Rena) that will not break or burn fish. At my fish store they do sell plastic heater guards for about 10 bucks, so maybe you just need to shop around more. Alternatively maybe you just need to put the heater in a better spot or arrange good spots for the pleco away from the heater - this isn't a normal issue. to use pvc you would have to arrange it so it is sitting off the glass of the heater, but still secure, and drill lots of holes in it too.
If you make your own heater guard, use PVC plastic pipe, not the ABS because the ABS has a lower melting point. There are aquarium decorations with holes for a heater. Most look like some variation on a tree trunk. Copper is toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. The guard not only protects the fish from burns, but protects the heater from rocks and overactive fish who might start pushing it around. If there are fish clubs around you, they usually have auctions. I have gotten a box of fish tank decorations, including a few heater guards, for as little as a buck!
