Heater Advice

[ccolt1]

What is the best heater to use in a 55gal? Back years agao when I first did saltwater I used a Jebojager heater. I am just getting back into the hobby after 6yrs and would like to have some advice on a heater. Thanks!!!....I will be doing a reef tank with a sump if it matters.

 

[bradbmbj]

I would still go with the Ebo Jager, also consider using a Ranco controller, they only cost about $75.00 prewired. It can save you a lot more than that in the long run.

 

[ccolt1]

Are they good controllers? So all you have to do is plug in the heater and and use the thermostat on the controller or do I use the one on the heater to? Thanks!

 

[fireman676]

You use the controllers thermostat. Also you might want to consider using more than one heater. This way they work less and if one fails you have a backup.

 

[zenzence]

Ebo Jager nice to have controller as well

 

[snorvich]

If you want to sleep well, get the ranco controller. Heaters often fail in the control mechanism, almost always in the on position. Or you can later write a thread: "Disaster, my heater fried my tank"

 

[bradbmbj]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14686362#post14686362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ccolt1
Are they good controllers? So all you have to do is plug in the heater and and use the thermostat on the controller or do I use the one on the heater to? Thanks!

You will want to use the thermostat on the controller to regulate the heat, just set the thermostat on the heater about one degree higher than the controller. Here is a link, http://www.rancoetc.com/etc-prewired-c-38.html?osCsid=a83323b298f714b1d946d451e3faef68 there is also one that comes not wired, but by the time you buy everything needed to wire it up yourself you would be better off buying the prewired. Dont ask me how I know

 

[Mike31154]

I'm in the multiple, smaller heater camp. Two 100 watt stealth heaters should do the trick for you. If one fails in the "ON" position it shouldn't fry your tank by the time you realize there's a problem. The stealth heaters have a plastic outer casing vice the conventional glass heaters so there's less chance of accidental breakage that way.

Even a Ranco controller can fail and no matter how robust, it's a single point of failure. With two smaller heaters you have some redundancy.

To be honest I have no personal experience with Ranco controllers but most newer aquarium heaters have electronic switching vice the older bimetallic switches to turn them on and off. I'm sure a Ranco controller uses a relay of some sort as well, whether electronic or mechanical and none are completely failure proof.