Good reliable heater?
- Thread starter jasonak
- Start date
IMO the only way to make a heater reliable is to put it on a controller.
In one form or another I've been running tanks for nearly twenty years and during that time I've had cheap heater and expenxive heaters. Some were OK, but not one I would call reliable. they can, will and do fail
Since adding a controller, I've found that a $20 heater can work better than an expensive brand
In one form or another I've been running tanks for nearly twenty years and during that time I've had cheap heater and expenxive heaters. Some were OK, but not one I would call reliable. they can, will and do fail
Since adding a controller, I've found that a $20 heater can work better than an expensive brand
michaeldaly
New member
Jaeger heaters are supposed to be very good. I have had a jaeger heater and a jebo in my tank for 2 years now, and neither one has caused any problems.
marcrunner
New member
I have had good luck with the stealth heaters. I do agree w/ Hop about using a controller. Many times, the temp is 2 degrees over the set temp, and there is the good old heater turning on and warming it up even more.
michaeldaly
New member
The controller is a just pretty much a thermostat, it allows more accurate control of the heater and the thermostat is outside the actaual heater so it will be more reliable.
bgiles11
New member
The best Heater is Metal halide lighting........lol. I don't thing there are any reliable heaters as he said. I don't use one. No reason too. My lights, and wife keep it warm enough. (she keeps heat on 24/7 in winter) that is why I only purchase livestock in summer. Cant afford in winter LOL. But I have heard controllers are more fail safe then any submersable heater.
pjf
Premium Member
LEDs and Calibration
LEDs and Calibration
To provide redundancy, I believe that a thermostatic heater should be combined with a temperature controller. I've had temperature probes accidentally knocked out of the tank and the thermostatic heater saved the tank.
The heaters that I am using are the Eheim Jager and the Fluval Tronic. I have verified the accuracy of both of them with a laboratory thermometer. The advantage of the Jager is that it can be calibrated. The Fluval cannot be calibrated but it has not required calibration yet. The advantage of the Fluval includes the rubber caps on both ends to prevent damage. Both the Jager and the Fluval have LEDs to indicate an on or off condition.
I do not recommend heaters without LED indicators because it is too hard to determine if it is working. Without the LED, you cannot calibrate the heater. I do not recommend the Finnex. I have the HMT-300 model and it turns on and off several times near the set point even if the temperature is steadily rising or dropping.
LEDs and Calibration
To provide redundancy, I believe that a thermostatic heater should be combined with a temperature controller. I've had temperature probes accidentally knocked out of the tank and the thermostatic heater saved the tank.
The heaters that I am using are the Eheim Jager and the Fluval Tronic. I have verified the accuracy of both of them with a laboratory thermometer. The advantage of the Jager is that it can be calibrated. The Fluval cannot be calibrated but it has not required calibration yet. The advantage of the Fluval includes the rubber caps on both ends to prevent damage. Both the Jager and the Fluval have LEDs to indicate an on or off condition.
I do not recommend heaters without LED indicators because it is too hard to determine if it is working. Without the LED, you cannot calibrate the heater. I do not recommend the Finnex. I have the HMT-300 model and it turns on and off several times near the set point even if the temperature is steadily rising or dropping.
db_triggerfish
Premium Member
Using any brand heater without a controller is a risk. I purchased 3 different brands last winter in south florida ( i only need it a couple days a year on those days that it goes down to high 40's low 50's not many) and all three were set to 76 degrees and all three stuck and rose to 84 degrees. Used AGA same as Hydor, Stealth, and Visi-Therm Deluxe Heater. I liked the Visi-Therm Deluxe the best. In the early 90's i had a fish room in new jersey with mostly Jaeger without many problems, and atleast one Visi-therm.
whatcaneyedo
Member
I've been having issues here as well. I tried the Aqua Medic Biotherm Controller Monitor with a 250W and a 500W Titanium heater. The 250W couldnt manage my whole 120 gal tank and the 500W doesnt warm up anymore... for the whole month I used it maybe it never did. So now I'm trying to get a replacement or refund. So their controller monitor seems to work fine but I dont know what to say about the heaters.
Thanks for all the replys
I found the ranco controller,i then found it on ebay for half price,but you have to wire in your own plug,and he said that the probe it came with was not water proof and that i needed to get a titanium probe if i wanted salt or stainless for fresh.
Has anyone bought from ebay or wired these? is it hard? I wired my garage,but im no electrtion.Do i need the tiatnium or will stainless work? All the metal on my boats stainless and its not rusting.
thanks
I found the ranco controller,i then found it on ebay for half price,but you have to wire in your own plug,and he said that the probe it came with was not water proof and that i needed to get a titanium probe if i wanted salt or stainless for fresh.
Has anyone bought from ebay or wired these? is it hard? I wired my garage,but im no electrtion.Do i need the tiatnium or will stainless work? All the metal on my boats stainless and its not rusting.
thanks
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