Ok people, I'm setting up a 180gal RR w/ 75 gal sump. So what is the best heater you can get ??? I've read all of the reviews at Cichlid Forum, and it seems that all of them have bad experiences. I had planned on running 2 in the sump. So far I have pretty much decided to go with the Visi-therm Stealths. LMK what you think. Thanks for the input, Curt.
Best Heater ????
- Thread starter Curtis1
- Start date
Aquarist007
New member
the stealth is great in that it is not glass--I've had glass ones break in the sump
IMO two heaters are better then one---in case one fails.
Guygettnby
Well-known member
visatherm stealth is the way to go. i have had a glass heater explode in my sump before and have since gone with all stealth heaters in my tanks since then. it is also a good idea to have 2 heaters instead of one.
THE ROOK
New member
If your using a controller then I'd run a titanium unit with remote dial. I prefer to keep the electronics as far from the water as possible. You can run a single 500 watt unit but only if running on a controller (Ranco, ACjr, etc). I set mine just above the controller temp as a failsafe.
If no controller, them definitely run a couple of smaller (100-150 watt) stealths. Large heaters do much more damage from sticking on & overheating the tank.
If no controller, them definitely run a couple of smaller (100-150 watt) stealths. Large heaters do much more damage from sticking on & overheating the tank.
Imzadi
New member
Good point, Rook.
That happened to me, many moons ago. I bought a heater that was a little larger than I needed, and then I heard about the thought of a back up... so I got another one... the new one tripped and stuck on, and was enough power to cook the tank...
Lesson learned, and long before I had Salt. I would be devistated if I wiped out my salty... a handfull of Goldfish was bad enough.
That happened to me, many moons ago. I bought a heater that was a little larger than I needed, and then I heard about the thought of a back up... so I got another one... the new one tripped and stuck on, and was enough power to cook the tank...
Lesson learned, and long before I had Salt. I would be devistated if I wiped out my salty... a handfull of Goldfish was bad enough.
detroit_fan
New member
I only use jager heaters, but i would never use any heater without a temp controller like a ranco.
Peter Eichler
New member
I used to feel the same way, until I had two of the three I've bought in the last 5 years fail on me. The quality seems to be way down and they will get water in them if you ignore the water line.
water lines
water lines
The most recently available Jagers have no water lines and indicate that they are fully submersible. They are identical to the Jagers that have been sitting on your dealer's shelf for a year or two, with the submerge limit line. I think this line was put there for some technical legalistic reason. In any case, I have semi-antique Jagers from back in the 80s that proclaimed that they were fully submersible, and they were, unless you wacked them too hard, let them run dry, or did something equally foolish. I no longer use my old Jagers, but I recently lent two for temporary use in isolation tanks. They worked perfectly, after sitting in a box in my garage for years
No heater is perfect or infallible, so I use multiples, set to about 85F, attached to a Ranco set at a lower temp. I check the Ranco controllers regularly, using lab grade thermometers. Most commercial aquarium heaters are junk, designed to impress the credulous. Jagers are about the best of the lot, in my experience.
It all depends on how much you have invested, and what your risk tolerance is.
water lines
The most recently available Jagers have no water lines and indicate that they are fully submersible. They are identical to the Jagers that have been sitting on your dealer's shelf for a year or two, with the submerge limit line. I think this line was put there for some technical legalistic reason. In any case, I have semi-antique Jagers from back in the 80s that proclaimed that they were fully submersible, and they were, unless you wacked them too hard, let them run dry, or did something equally foolish. I no longer use my old Jagers, but I recently lent two for temporary use in isolation tanks. They worked perfectly, after sitting in a box in my garage for years
No heater is perfect or infallible, so I use multiples, set to about 85F, attached to a Ranco set at a lower temp. I check the Ranco controllers regularly, using lab grade thermometers. Most commercial aquarium heaters are junk, designed to impress the credulous. Jagers are about the best of the lot, in my experience.
It all depends on how much you have invested, and what your risk tolerance is.
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