By
James Palmer
James Palmer
Editor
James is a leading resource for unbiased and reliable reviews on fish products. Throughout his career, he has honed his writing skills through his contributions to several f read more
reviewed
Reviewed By
Keily Brown
Keily Brown
Expert Writer
Keily is a valuable asset to the team and a dedicated contributor to the site's success. Keily's education in veterinary science has given her a deep understanding of the an read more
Last updated: August 28, 2023

Fluval M Series Heater Review – Exceptional Performance and Reliability!

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By
James Palmer
James Palmer
Editor
James is a leading resource for unbiased and reliable reviews on fish products. Throughout his career, he has honed his writing skills through his contributions to several f read more
reviewed
Reviewed By
Keily Brown
Keily Brown
Expert Writer
Keily is a valuable asset to the team and a dedicated contributor to the site's success. Keily's education in veterinary science has given her a deep understanding of the an read more
Last updated: August 28, 2023
PickedByFish is reader-supported. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Learn more about our process here
Ideal for
  • Anyone looking for an aesthetically appealing aquarium heater
  • Anyone with a small or medium-size aquarium of up to 65 gallons
  • Both freshwater and saltwater fish keepers
Main features
  • Computer-calibrated thermostat
  • Sleek and compact design
  • Easy-to-adjust temperature control
Editor's Rating
9,7
out of 10
  • Overall Performance
    9.5
  • Tank Capacity
    9.8
  • Ease of Installation
    9.7
  • Warranty
    9.8
Users’ Rating
4.5
out of 5
84 Users’ Rating
rating rating rating rating rating
rating
rating rating rating rating rating
4.5
out of
5
84 Users’ Rating
  • 5 stars
    67%
  • 4 stars
    15%
  • 3 stars
    15%
  • 2 stars
    2%
  • 1 stars
    0%
Add your rating:

Fluval M Series Heater is a premium quality submersible aquarium heater made in Europe with superior quality components. Its build quality is unmatched, and it is made with shock-resistant glass to mirror your fish tank’s surroundings so that you can maintain the correct water temperature with great aesthetics. Besides excellent build quality, the heater is popular for its accuracy and reliability.

Moreover, the Fluval M Series Heater is the ultimate aquarium heater to buy if you are looking for an easy-to-use, old-school type aquarium heater. It provides consistent temperatures and is incredibly easy to install and calibrate. The 200-watt heater can warm up a 65-gallon aquarium very fast with its broad 66 to 86 degrees F temperature range. This Fluval M Series Heater Review has all the details about the heater’s features and capabilities. Read on to see if it is what you are looking for.

Specifications

Watts
200W
Aquarium capacity
Up to 65 gals.
Dimensions
13 x 1 x 1 in
Weight
0.66 lbs.
Warranty
3 years

Review

The Fluval M Series Heater is a submersible aquarium heater Trusted Source Aquarium heater - Wikipedia An aquarium heater is a device used in the fishkeeping hobby to warm the temperature of water in aquariums.[1] Most tropical freshwater and marine aquariums are maintained at temperatures that range from 22 to 30 °C (71-86 °F). en.wikipedia.org meant to be used in either freshwater or saltwater aquariums to maintain a conducive ambient temperature for different fish species. The compact heater is packed with features that offer exceptional performance and reliability. Here are some of the features in detail:

Overall Performance

Fluval M Series Heater Review - Exceptional Performance and Reliability!
The Fluval M200 has a temperature range of 66 to 86 degrees F and is designed to heat up a 65-gallon fish tank

Fluval is a popular aquarium equipment brand that has built a name for itself since it first broke into the aquatic scene in 1975. They became popular as a brand that created the world’s first 3-stage filter with synchronous motor technology. The pioneering spirit is still very strong, judging from the quality of their aquarium heaters. The Fluval M Series Heater is one of their most popular heaters trusted by many fish keepers for the best performance and longevity.

The heater has a broad temperature range of 66 to 86 degrees F and can efficiently heat up a 65-gallon fish tank. Very few 200 watts can heat up a 65-gallon aquarium easily, and most are usually limited to 15 to 30-gallon tanks. Here Trusted Source Aquarium Heater Size Guide Learn how to calculate the right wattage for single or multiple aquarium heaters, based on the room temperature and the desired tank water temperature. www.thesprucepets.com is a heater size guide that will help you know the right size of heater for your aquarium capacity.

In a nutshell, the Fluval M Series Heater offers reliable performance, and it is incredibly consistent and is easy to use. It does have a few downsides, but for its price range, it is a pretty great aquarium heater.

Wattage and Aquarium Capacity

The 200-watt Fluval M Series Heater is suitable for aquariums of up to 65 gallons. It is important that you get the correct wattage for your aquarium. Industry professionals insist on doing basic math to get the correct heater size for your fish tank. To get the correct wattage, multiply your aquarium capacity by the desired temperature. For instance, if your tank is 20 gallons and your desired temperature is 10 degrees F, then the most suitable wattage is 200W.

If you go for a heater with a lower wattage, it will have to stay on continuously in its effort to reach the set temperature, and this may wear it out and reduce its lifespan. Therefore, if you have a larger aquarium, go for the 300W Fluval M Series Heater.

Temperature Control and Consistency

The Fluval M Series Heater is one of the best small aquarium heaters out there when it comes to ease of temperature control and consistency. Consistency is where the heater shines. You will barely notice temperature swings during the day and at night as the heater holds to the set temperature for weeks. Its thermostat is computer-calibrated, thus highly accurate, and its temperature control dial is easy to adjust. The knob offers smooth adjustments when moved in small increments.

With a broad temperature range of 68 to 86 Degrees F, you can set the most conducive temperature for different fish species.

Build Quality

When it comes to balancing functionality and aesthetics, the Fluval M Series Heater tops the rank. It comes in a sleek, slim, and compact design that has a built-in reflective technology that makes it mirror the surroundings of the aquarium. This is the heater’s main selling point and is the reason behind its popularity among fish keepers.

The heater’s build quality is unmatched as it is carefully designed and made with superior materials in Europe.

The main materials used to make the heater is shatter-proof Borosilicate glass and high-density ceramic. The ceramic heat sink ensures even temperature distribution.

Although they are marketed as shatter-proof, you should know that glass and ceramic are generally fragile and prone to shattering if mishandled or in case of a malfunction. Also, the heater doesn’t come with a heater guard, which is normally meant to prevent the fish from getting burnt when they contact the heating unit.

Installation

On the bright side, the Fluval M Series Heater is super easy to install. Its slim and compact profile makes it easy to place during installation. The entire installation process is literally less than 5 minutes. All you have to do is stick the heater to the fish tank’s wall using suction cups then plug it in.

Compared to other heaters within its price range, its suction cups are very strong and impressive. They hold the heating unit in place forever. So many models come with suction cups that keep falling off, forcing users to seek other alternative of suspending the heating unit in the fish tank.

Sensors

The Fluval M Series Heater does not have overheating or dry sensors. This means you have to be super-keen when using it to avoid any damages in case of a malfunction. An overheating sensor ensures the heating unit shuts down if the water temperature gets too high. Overheating can cause cracks or shattering to the heater which may expose the coil to the aquarium, posing danger to your fish. If the temperature goes a little too high, your fish may die.

Dimensions and Weight

Fluval M Series Heater Review - Exceptional Performance and Reliability!
This slim and compact heater doesn’t take up much space in your aquarium

As mentioned before, the Fluval M Series Heater comes in a super-convenient slim and compact build that is easy to handle. It also doesn’t occupy much space in the aquarium, thus ideal for small to medium size aquariums.

Its convenient size, combined with its reflective technology, make it the ultimate heater bulk-free aquarium heater.

Warranty

The Fluval M Series Heater is backed by a generous 3-year warranty. This shows how much faith the manufacturer has in the heater’s quality. In case you encounter any manufacturing defects during use, you can contact the seller immediately for a replacement.

Price

The Fluval M Series Heater is affordably priced at 31.99 dollars as of now (January 2022). With is premium build quality and top-notch performance, it is a great buy for the money. If you value a good pennyworth, this heater is your best bet.

Indicator light

There is a light blue that comes on when the heater is on active heating mode. It doesn’t have standby light though.

PROS

CONS

  • Consistent temperature
  • Easy to install
  • Easy to adjust temperature controller
  • Simple calibration
  • Exceptionally durable build quality
  • Elegant design with reflective technology
  • Convenient slim and compact profile
  • Offers excellent value for money
  • 3-years warranty
  • Does not come with a built-in heater guard
  • Fragile glass exterior that is prone to  cracking or shattering

Other Heaters of the Series

  M50 M100 M150 E300
Watts 50W 100W 150W 300W
Aquarium capacity 15 gal. 30 gal. 45 gal. 80 gal.
Dimensions 11 x 1 x 1 in. 11 x 1 x 1 in. 13 x 1 x 1 in. 15 x 1 x 1 in.
Weight 0.62 lbs. 0.55 lbs. 9.17 oz. 1.72 lbs.
Warranty 3 years 3 years 3 years 3 years

M50

This a submersible 50-watt heater suitable for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums of up to 15 gallons. It offers great aesthetics with its built-in reflective technology and shock-resistant Borosilicate glass. Its thermostat is computer calibrated and its temperature control dial is super-easy to control. Installing the M50 is also a breeze, thanks to its slim profile tube that is easy to place.

M100

The M100 is also a submersible heater but with 100 watts. It offers exceptional performance and unmatched reliability for any fish keeper with either a freshwater or saltwater aquarium of up to 30 gallons. It is more powerful than the M50, yet they are almost similar in size. Its slim and compact profile makes it incredibly easy to handle during installation. Its computer-calibrated thermostat together with the easy to adjust temperature control dial guarantee consistency.

M150

The M150 is a reliable 150-watt submersible aquarium heater designed for 45 gallon freshwater and saltwater aquariums. It also has a durable mirrored finish that seamlessly blends into the aquarium’s surroundings. Its sleek and compact design doesn’t take up much space in the aquarium and is very easy to handle during installation. Installing the M150 is a no brainer, and it takes less than 5 minutes thanks to its slim profile that is easy to place. The heater is backed by a 3-year warranty which is a clear indicator that the Italian construction is reliable.

E300

This is one of the most popular Fluval aquarium heaters. The 300-watt heater is made for 100 gallon fresh and saltwater aquariums. It is easy to install thanks to the convenient slim mounting bracket it comes with. You can adjust or remove the heater without moving the mounting bracket.

The heater distinguishes itself with a dual-sensor VueTech microprocessor technology which displays the correct water temperature and visually alerts you in case of any fluctuations. Whenever the water temperature varies with +/-2 degrees F from the preset temperature, the temperature readout will change color.

What’s more, the heater offers precision temperature control that allows for increments of +/-0.5 degrees. The heater’s design considers the safety of your fish by including a heater guard that prevents them from getting burned when they contact the heater. The glass sleeve is also protected against shocks from large fish species.

Conclusion

From our Fluval M Series Heater review, it is evident that the heater is the ultimate option for anyone looking for great value for their money. The heater is a perfect combination of modern aesthetics and reliable Italian construction. Its slim and compact profile is a welcome departure from bulkier traditional heater designs. Its main highlight is the reflective borosilicate glass tube that makes it blend seamlessly into the surrounding of the aquarium and its versatile freshwater and marine water use. It is everything you need for the perfect and comfortable temperature for the inhabitants of your 65 gallon aquarium.

References

1.
Aquarium heater - Wikipedia
An aquarium heater is a device used in the fishkeeping hobby to warm the temperature of water in aquariums.[1] Most tropical freshwater and marine aquariums are maintained at temperatures that range from 22 to 30 °C (71-86 °F).
2.
Aquarium Heater Size Guide
Learn how to calculate the right wattage for single or multiple aquarium heaters, based on the room temperature and the desired tank water temperature.
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