Best 500-800 watt aquarium heaters for large aquariums 100+ gallons

Updated: March 19, 2022 - By: - Categories: Equipment

If you have an extra-large aquarium, it is hard to find a reliable and durable aquarium heater that could maintain a constant temperature inside the tank. That’s why we took it upon ourselves to use our experience and review some of the best 500-800 watt aquarium heaters that you can use for a 100/120/150-gallon fish tank. If you have larger tanks, just use more than one heater.

Best 500-watt heaters for 100+ gallon aquariums

Model Our rating Wattage For tanks Temperature range Features
AquaTop Titanium Heater w/Controller editor's ratingAquaTop Titanium Heater w/Controller #ad 500 Watt (100-500W available) up to 150 gallons 68-92°F, adjustable external controller, thermometer probe
Hygger Titanium Tube Heater with Controller editor's ratingHygger Titanium Tube Heater with Controller #ad 500W (50-500W available) 60 – 120 gallons 32-104°F, ±0.5°C error, adjustable LED digital display controller, thermometer, Celsius or Fahrenheit reading
Hygger Glass Aquarium Heater with Controller editor's ratingHygger Glass Aquarium Heater with Controller #ad 800W (500W available) 80-190 Gal 59-93°F, ±1°F external digital controller, dual temp display, running-dry shut-off, °F or °C choice
AQQA Aquarium Heater with External LCD Controller editor's ratingAQQA Aquarium Heater with External LCD Controller #ad 800W (100-800W available) 80-220 Gal 68-93°F (20-34°C), ±1°F dual temp LED display, °F & °C switch, external controller, out of water protection
Orlushy Submersible Aquarium Heater editor's ratingOrlushy Submersible Glass Aquarium Heater #ad 500W (100-500W available) 40 – 75 Gal 68-89°F, ±1°F, adjustable include a digital thermometer
TINTOR Aquarium Heater 1200W with LED Digital Controller editor's ratingTINTOR Aquarium Heater 1200W with LED Digital Controller #ad 1200 watts (800W available) 150-300 Gal 68-93°F, ±1°F dual temp LED display, fault detection, external controller, out of water protection
Finnex Deluxe Titanium Tube Heater editor's ratingFinnex Deluxe Titanium Tube Heater #ad 800 Watts (300/500W available) 140 – 265 Gal 0-99°F, ±2°F, adjustable external controller
SeaELF Titanium Heater 500W editor's rating500-Watt Titanium Heater #ad 500W 60 – 90 gallons 68-94°F, ±2°F (20-34°C, ±1°C) built-in thermometer, inline controller, running dry protection

500-watt heater reviews

AquaTop Titanium Heater With Controller

Looking for a powerful heater for your 150-gallon aquarium? Look no more because this AquaTop 500W Titanium Heater with Controller will meet your needs. The TH-C500 is one of the best among Aquatop’s TH-C series of submersible titanium heaters.

It’s about 12 inches long and is designed for large freshwater and saltwater aquariums. It comes with an external controller and thermometer probe too. On the controller is a green power light that lets you know the heater is on and a red light indicating that the heater is doing its job. Set it and leave it, this heater will shut down on its own once the water has reached the ideal temperature.

Hygger Titanium Tube Heater for Saltwater/ Freshwater

The Hygger Saltwater Tank Titanium Tube Heater emerges as one of the best aquarium heaters in its class. It’s easy to see why this heater ranks highly among aquarists and experts alike from its collection of features.

Hygger Titanium Tube Heater with ControllerHygger Titanium Tube Heater with Controller #ad

This powerful heater has an output of 500 watts, perfect for 60 to 120-gallon aquariums. It comes with an external controller that is easy to use. The controller comes with three buttons to set the desired temperature.

The up button allows you to increase the temperature while the down button decreases. Once you select your preferred temperature, press ‘Set.’ The display will blink three times, then return to the current water temperature indicating the heater is set.

The controller has a dual LCD that displays the current and set temperatures of the water in Fahrenheit and Celsius.

The heater has a probe thermometer that monitors the water temperature and controls the thermostat accordingly. With this heater, you can enjoy the comfort of a heater with a strong and shatterproof build and works for saltwater and freshwater aquariums.

Hygger Glass Aquarium Heater Upgraded with Digital Controller

The Hygger glass aquarium heater has so many wonderful features you can’t skip. It comes with dual glass heating tubes for fast and more evenly distributing heating. They are surrounded by a stylish plastic cover to protect your fish.

The entire heater unit is controlled by the external digital display controller. On the controller, there is a button for you to set your desired temperature. The heater is built with an intelligent thermometer module that monitors the tank’s temperature and shows it on the digital display. So, you will see both the set and current temperatures on the digital-display controller.

Moreover, its dual safety design automatically shuts off the heater when it is out of the water. It also has an overheat protection that turns the heater off when the water reaches the set temperature.

AQQA Aquarium Heater with External LCD Controller

The AQQA Aquarium Heater with External LCD Controller is arguably the most feature-rich item on our list. What you have here is an 800W heater made of heat-resistant quartz glass that’s both waterproof and explosion-proof.

Dual temperature displaysDual temperature displays #ad

It features a dual temperature display screen that shows the current temperature and the set temperature. It comes with a red light indicator that stays on to let you know your heater is working properly. Once the desired temperature is reached, the heater will automatically stop working and a blue light indicator will turn on. It will also display an “E1” error message in case the heater is not fully submerged in water.

With a temperature accuracy of ±1°F, the heater will automatically turn on again when there’s a discrepancy of even just one degree in the water temperature. Suitable for freshwater and saltwater tanks, this heater from AQQA is easy to install, durable, and filled with features that will make life easier for you as an aquarist.

Orlushy Submersible Glass Aquarium Heater 500-watt

When you can’t compromise on quality and durability, titanium heaters are the best. But that means a higher price tag. When you have a tight budget and want a decent heater capable of maintaining a constant temperature for your fish, then a glass heater like the Orlushy Submersible Aquarium Heater is an excellent choice.

They have a sturdy build and often feature shatterproof glass, which means your fish are safe. This particular one is also a 500W heater best used in 40 to 75-gallon tanks. It is an adjustable heater with a temperature range of between 68°F to 89°F.

You can adjust the temperature using the dial at the top of the heater. Unfortunately, that means getting your hands wet, but that shouldn’t be hard. All you need to do is turn the dial to the corresponding heat reading indicated at the top of the heater.

The heater has a digital thermometer that monitors the water temperatures and switches the thermostat on and off. Considering the heater has an error of +/- 1°F, it’s safe to say the thermometer and thermostat in this model are quite efficient.

TINTOR Aquarium Heater 1200W with LED Digital Controller

This TINTOR Aquarium Heater is the answer to your problem if you’re looking for a high-quality, steady heat source for your aquarium for large tanks up to 300 gallons in capacity. It features an external smart thermostat that lets you set your preferred temperature and monitor the water temperature conveniently.

Fault self-check codeFault self-check code #ad

The temperature range of this heater is between 68 and 93°F with an accuracy of ±1°F. It also comes with a power-off memory function, so that when there’s a power outage, the heater will automatically store your settings and use them once the power is restored.

This heater guarantees 100% safety as it automatically shuts down when it is removed from the water. It will also prompt you by flashing a light in case anything goes wrong with the heater. It comes with an LED digital display too, so that you can easily and conveniently check the temperature inside your fish tank.

Finally, with constant temperature protection, you can rest assured that water temperature is maintained at the ideal level, keeping your fish and other tank inhabitants safe and secure.

Finnex Deluxe Titanium Tube Heater 800-watt

The Finnex Deluxe Titanium Tube Heater is another impressive performer on this list. Although it is rated 800 watts, it works for tanks of up to 265 gallons, which is quite remarkable. It is also one of the heaters on the market that delicately balances performance, features, and price.

It is a highly adjustable heater with a temperature range of 0°F – 99°F with a versatile external controller that you can use to set your preferred temperature. At first glance, the controller looks complicated, it’s actually easy to use.

After dipping the heater in the water and capturing the current water temperature, press the ‘Set’ button, then use the up and down dials to set your desired temperature. Once complete, press ‘Set’ again, and the heater is good to go.

With the Finnex Deluxe Titanium Tube Heater, you don’t have to worry about repeating the setting process. It has a memory function that restores the setting in case of a power outage.

Titanium Heater 500W

This titanium heater is a blend of simplicity and convenience. It’s not overly flashy but has all the features you need from the right heater without exaggerating the price. It is rated 500 watts like the other heaters we have reviewed.

What stands out with this model is the heating rod, which is made from a titanium alloy and has an upgraded heating wire. It’s an adjustable heater with a temperature of between 68 °F to 94°F. You don’t have to worry about getting your hands wet when setting the temperature because it has an easy-to-use external controller.

To set the temperature, set up your aquarium and submerge the heater. Let it sit for about 20 minutes to acclimatize, then plug it into the power source. Press the ‘Set’ button on the external controller and adjust the temperature to your desire. The heater has an LCD where you can check the temperature you have selected, then confirm, and the heater will do the rest.

Despite being a budget-friendly heater, it’s quite efficient and accurate with an error of +/- 1°F, which is quite impressive, especially considering that it also comes with a feature protecting itself from running-dry and damages.

Bottom line

We hope from the above list you can find a 500-watt heater that will work for your tank and meet your expectations. Each of the options is well designed and comes with the necessary safety features like overheat protection and auto-shutoff.

We enjoy keeping fish, and have for many years. We are trying to promote the hobby as much as possible. We want to see many others succeed in their fish keeping efforts and are committed to sharing our knowledge when we can.

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