By
James Palmer
James Palmer
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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 31, 2023

Hygger Aquarium Heater Review – Is It Worth the Money?

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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 31, 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 with a 15 to 30-gallon fish tank
  • People on a tight budget
  • Fish owners with a freshwater or saltwater aquarium
Highlights
  • Fast heating
  • Fully automatic control
  • Memory function on the controller in case of a blackout
Editor's Rating
9,5
out of 10
  • Overall Performance
    9.5
  • Tank Capacity
    9.1
  • Ease of Installation
    9.8
  • Warranty
    9.6
Users’ Rating
4.4
out of 5
65 Users’ Rating
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rating
rating rating rating rating rating
4.4
out of
5
65 Users’ Rating
  • 5 stars
    54%
  • 4 stars
    34%
  • 3 stars
    11%
  • 2 stars
    2%
  • 1 stars
    0%
Add your rating:

Both freshwater and saltwater fish are comfortable at a water temperature range of 72 to 80 degrees F. You need a high-quality aquarium heater to be able to be able to maintain a conducive ambient temperature for your fish. The Hygger Aquarium heater is one of the best investments you can make. It is vastly compatible with many aquariums and is packed with features that make it easy to use and reliable.

The Hygger Aquarium Heater is fully submersible, meaning you have to fully immerse it in the aquarium heater. It comes in 4 different sizes meant for use in different fish tank sizes, from as little as 5 gallons to 120 gallons. Remember you have to pick a suitable heater for your fish tank size. In this Hygger Aquarium Heater review, we take a closer look at the features and capabilities of the heater that set it apart from its peers on the market.

Specifications

Watts
200W
Aquarium capacity
15 - 30 gal.
Temperature range
61 - 90℉
Accuracy
±1℉
Heater tube length
10.5 inch
Warranty
3 years

Review

The Hygger 200W Digital Quartz Aquarium Heater is a submersible heater. Here are the features of this famous aquarium heater in detail. The features are everything a fishkeeper would need from an aquarium heater.

Overall Performance

Hygger Aquarium Heater Review - Is It Worth the Money?
The Hygger aquarium heater works well for 30-gallon tanks, and is suitable for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums

The Hygger Aquarium Heater is designed for medium size fish tanks, and it offers fast heating for 15-30 gallon aquariums. It is suitable for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Inside its box is 1 quartz heater, 1 thermometer, and 1 IC temperature controller. Its cables are conveniently long for indoor use, and its controller has a memory feature that ensures it goes back to its settings in case of a power outage.

The heater is incredibly easy to use. All you have to do after installing it is press the button on the controller severally until the temperature you want is displayed on the screen. Wait for the LED to flash 3 times before it permanently displays the set temperature. You will know the water is heating if there’s a red light on the left side of the heater, and a green light on the right indicates the water is not heating.

Overall, the 200-watt Hygger Aquarium Heater is one of the best aquarium heaters you can get for your medium-sized fish tank. Its unique features like the memory function on the controller set it apart from others within its range.

Wattage and Aquarium Capacity

For efficiency, it is important to get the right size of a heater Trusted Source Fish Tank Heater Tips for Cold Weather With colder weather moving in, it’s a good time to make sure your fish aquarium heater is in good condition and working properly. With the exception of certain cold water species, aquarium fish need warm water. www.aqueon.com for your aquarium capacity. The right size simply translates to the heater’s ability to raise the water temperature to the set point. There are 3 primary factors that will influence your choice of an aquarium heater wattage, and they include: your fish tank size, room temperature, and the ideal temperature setpoint for your fish.

Experts recommend doing simple math to know the wattage you need. To get a suitable heater wattage, you can multiply your fish tank’s gallon number by your desired temperature rise in degrees F. For example, if you have a 10-gallon tank, and your set temperature requirement above room temperature is 15 degrees, then the suitable wattage is 150.

By all means, avoid going for an undersized heater as it will have to stay on throughout, struggling to reach the set temperature. This overstresses the heater and reduces its lifespan. The 200-watt Hygger Aquarium Heater is ideal for 15 to 30 gallon fish tanks.

Temperature Control and Consistency

The Hygger Aquarium Heater comes with a separate temperature controller that makes using it a tad easier. The controller allows you to effortlessly control the temperature without taking out the heater. What’s more, the heater has a wide range of temperature with a -/+ 0.5 degrees control accuracy.

As for consistency, the heater can easily hold a consistent temperature throughout the day. It may falter and be above a degree higher than the set temperature when it’s hot, especially in the afternoon or if there is sunlight hitting the fish tank directly. Compared to others within its range, the Hygger Aquarium Heater does pretty well when it comes to consistency.

Build Quality

Hygger Aquarium Heater Review - Is It Worth the Money?
The heater set comes with a control unit, a heater unit and a temperature probe

The Hygger Aquarium Heater is made up of 3 main parts, a control unit, a heating unit and a temperature probe. The control unit is a small plastic box with a large digital temperature reading. It has a single button for setting the temperature and a keyhole slot for attaching the suction cups. It is not meant to be submerged.

The heating unit is a glass cylinder covered by a thick plastic heater guard. It is much smaller than that of most competing heaters. It plugs into the control unit with a 3-prong plug and must always be used with a control unit, otherwise, it will stay on continuously and overheat the fish tank.

The temperature probe is wired directly into the control unit.

It boasts a rugged titanium build. This rules out the fragility that comes with glass and ceramic heaters. Titanium can be used in both freshwater and saltwater, so corrosion is out of the question. Moreover, the heater’s heating element is covered with a tough plastic heater guard but the tube inside it is made of glass. The guard protects it from accidental bumps that can shatter it, thus increasing its longevity.

Installation

Installing the Hygger Aquarium Heater is easy but compared to other heaters it is a bit tedious. You have to suction cup the temperature probe, control unit and the heating unit. The temperature probe and the heating unit are a breeze but suctioning the super-heavy control unit to the outside of the glass is the main challenge.

The suction cup isn’t strong enough to hold the control unit in place. It stays on for a few days then starts to fall off continuously. You can work around this by sticking a thumbtack on the side of the wooden tank stand then hanging the control unit from it. It is steadier than the suction cups and the thumbtack remains invisible.

The heater is horizontally placed and with the suction cups, you can mount it anywhere on the tank.

Pro-tip: during installation, ensure the thermometer is as far away from the heater as possible. The water circulation in the tank should also be far.

Sensors

The Hygger Aquarium Heater has sensors for safety purposes. It has the auto-shut-off feature that ensures it goes off when the water heats up to the set temperature. This prevents overheating that could cause harm to the fish. Do note that the heater does not have a sensor that will shut it off when it is removed from the water but is still plugged in.

The light indicators will help you know if the heater is heating the water or not. The red light means the water is getting heated and the green light means the heater has stopped working.

Dimensions and Weight

The 200-watt Hygger Aquarium Heater has an incredibly compact and lightweight build that is super-easy to handle. It fits neatly into a small 15 to 30 gallon aquarium and maximizes visibility. It doesn’t take up much space in the tank.

Warranty

The manufacturer offers a 1-year warranty for this product. In case you encounter any manufacturing defects you can contact the seller immediately for replacement or free repair.

Price

The Hygger Aquarium Heater is reasonably priced, coming in at 49.99 dollars as at now (Jan 2022). It compares favorably with its peers pricewise. With all the features it has, the heater offers excellent value for money at its price point.

Heater Guard

Hygger Aquarium Heater Review - Is It Worth the Money?
The plastic guard prevents your fish from getting burned

The heating unit of the Hygger Aquarium Heater is encased in a thick plastic heater guard that prevents the fish from getting burned when they contact it. If your fish dart between the tank’s glass and the heater, they could possibly get burns bad enough to kill them. The heater guard is therefore a fantastic safety feature.

Safety Precautions

An aquarium heater is a very sensitive equipment and if not operated with cautiousness can cause real damage. Here are some safety tips:

  • Keep the heater fully immersed- Don’t start the heater unless the heating unit is fully submerged in water. If it runs dry, it can overheat and get burnt.
  • Don’t burry the heater under gravel or rocks- gravel doesn’t transfer heat as fast as water does, so the heater may overheat and get damaged.
  • Keep the water in continuous circulation to help with uniform heat distribution. It prevents localized overheating of the water.
  • Only use the dedicated controller to avoid malfunction.
  • Cooldown the heater before maintenance for your own safety.
  • Avoid placing the temperature probe too near the heating rod as it may fail to sense the true water temperature.
PROS

CONS

  • Easy to install and use
  • Precise temperature adjustment
  • Safe and easy to use external controller
  • Efficient for small and medium-size fish tanks
  • Versatile use for freshwater and saltwater aquariums
  • Durable titanium temperature probe
  • Easy to reposition with suction cups
  • Convenient extended power cable
  • Affordable
  • Not the best for an acrylic fish tank
  • The thermostat cannot be immersed in water

Hygger 200W vs Hygger 300W vs Hygger 500W

The Hygger 200W is pretty similar to its 300W and 500W counterparts. There are only 2 differences between them: their length, and their power capacity. The 200W heater is 6.3 inches long and is best suited for 15 to 30 gallons aquariums, the 300W heater rod is 7.7 inches long and is best suited for 30-60 gallons fish tanks and the 500W heater is 10.5 inches long and is suitable for 60-120 gallon fish tanks.

Conclusion

Our Hygger Aquarium Heater Review clearly shows that the heater is the ultimate option for people with small to medium size aquariums. It will keep your fish warm and cozy and you don’t have to break the bank for it. Hygger recommends using the heater with a pump that circulates water for the best results. If you place it near the water discharge point, the warm water distribution will be much better.

If you’re interested in other products of this reputable brand, visit Hygger Online Store.

References

1.
Fish Tank Heater Tips for Cold Weather
With colder weather moving in, it’s a good time to make sure your fish aquarium heater is in good condition and working properly. With the exception of certain cold water species, aquarium fish need warm water.
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