undergravel heaters

I was looking at undergravel heater cables the other day and was wondering how many plants really need them?
Are there any NA natives you shouldn't try if you don't have them?

Thanks

I was looking at undergravel heater cables the other day and was wondering how many plants really need them?
Are there any NA natives you shouldn't try if you don't have them?

Thanks

I'll go out on a limb and say that no plants need them. This is actually a pretty stout limb to be on these days, as substrate heating seems to be out of fashion even amongst those planted aquarium keepers who try to solve every problem with technology.

The upswing to these heaters is that they heat the water evenly, keep the heater coil hidden from view, and have come down in price quite a bit in the last 5 years or so. The downside is that they cost money and electricity to heat your aquarium, which might not be ideal if you're keeping native fish.

If you have money to spend and want to grow a variety of submersed plants, you might consider pressurized CO2. It's not necessary either, of course, but it has a noticeable effect on growth.

I think they are rather unnecessary. You also have to install them before you start, so they can go under the gravel (unless they are they are on the outside of the tank, but that is difficult to set up as well, for space/electrical reasons) The thought is that they stimulate the root system, hence stimulating the plant. Substrate heating is widely used in greenhouses for production from cuttings, where it is extremely effictive. But really not needed in a hobby tank. Even a swank hobby tank.