Planting Next to Heater

jeaninel

Is it ok to plant right near the heater? Will it bother the plants if they're too close or the leaves are touching the heater? This is in a 10 gallon with a 50 watt heater.

herefishy

You failed to say what kind of plant, but we wil go ahead with an answer. Leaves should not touch the heater. However, I just went to check my tanks, and I have a couple where an Amazon Sword is touching the heater. None ofthe leaves are burned or damaged by the heater and the plant looks fine. I think that where a problem may arise is when you use a high wattage heater, say 150w or larger. Then the elelment gets very hot and may cause damage.

jeaninel

Oops, sorry about that. I was thinking of Anacharis along the back of my tank to kind of hide the heater. There's also a crypt near the heater right now but I may move it.

I kind of had the same thought that 50W was probably low enough not to do too much damage but you never know.

fish_4_all

I have the same experience with small heaters, 50-75 watt heaters in 10 gallon tanks without a problem. I have had Vals, swords, and Ludwigia grow all around the heater without a problem. One thing to make sure is that the plant does not cut down on circulation around the heater. This could lead to a colder tank and the plants touching the heater to overheat.

I agree with Herefishy, larger heaters would likely be more of a problem.

jeaninel

That's a good point about the water circulation...hadn't thought of that.