Heaters
- Thread starter Swatchguy
- Start date
Psionicdragon
New member
The Stealth is great. I think I use 4 at the moment. The heater is cover in a plastic shielding which prevents any cracks or damages to the heater.
I never heard of Tronic.
If you want to be cheap, can always use aquatraders heater. I use a couple of those. They aren't bad, but I use a grounding probe with them just incase of stray electricity.
I never heard of Tronic.
If you want to be cheap, can always use aquatraders heater. I use a couple of those. They aren't bad, but I use a grounding probe with them just incase of stray electricity.
Vincerama2
Active member
I like the "Visitherms". I think a "Tronic" has been in my freshwater tank for 8 years with no problems. An "Ebo Jager" has been keeping my nano warm for 3-4 years.
I did have a Visitherm that got cracked somehow, and I replaced it with another visitherm. I don't count physical damage as a fault of the heater.
V
I did have a Visitherm that got cracked somehow, and I replaced it with another visitherm. I don't count physical damage as a fault of the heater.
V
Not to hijak, but do the Visi-Therms still have those little glass tubes around the coils? That always sketched me out.
Tronics are no longer made, my understanding is that the thermostat reads from the H2O not the inside of the unit. I like the concept and they are solidly built, a local wholesaler still has a stash of them, their not cheap however.
Jagers get my vote for reliability, I still have an old green one lying around, ya know the one with the impossible to adjust weird rubber "condom over stick" (for lack of a better term, sorry if that's too graphic) it still works 20+ years after I got it.
Tronics are no longer made, my understanding is that the thermostat reads from the H2O not the inside of the unit. I like the concept and they are solidly built, a local wholesaler still has a stash of them, their not cheap however.
Jagers get my vote for reliability, I still have an old green one lying around, ya know the one with the impossible to adjust weird rubber "condom over stick" (for lack of a better term, sorry if that's too graphic) it still works 20+ years after I got it.
joecos
New member
I use the Pro Heat brand - digital titanium heaters. Had it since day 1, about 4 years old now and have had no problems.
http://www.championlighting.com/home.php?cat=393
http://www.championlighting.com/home.php?cat=393
Al G Blenny
New member
I worked in LFSs for over 10 years and I know which ones get lots of returns and which ones don't. Like other already said the Jager is the least likely and the Tronic is also a good one. I saw lots of returns on the visi-therms.
Vincerama2
Active member
Really? Well, like I said, my visitherm was the only one that broke, though I don't know it it was just from me moving stuff around (the heater is in the sump next to the skimmer, skimmer pump, tank drain, etc).
Oh, and I was mistaken, I actually replaced the busted visitherm with
"All Glass Aquarium Submersible Aquarium Heater" it says "NEW! Breakthrough Technology!" I think it was on sale when I discovered the busted visitherm in my tank (just before my flight home at Christmas!) It says "Made in Italy by Hydor" on the back of the box.
It seems to work OK. Like most heaters, even if I set it at 77, the temp setting is off a few degrees and required manual tweaking ... which takes quite some time considering how long it takes to heat that much water to some stable temp...and accounting for the lights being on or off!
Do you guys thing a SINGLE 300W heater is better? Or two 150s?
Cost aside, I was thinking that with two 150s, if one failed, you still had one working overtime to keep the water from going dead cold. And if one goes on the fritz and "gets stuck on" then the other's thermostat will shut itself off and you have a single 150W heater constantly on. (Assuming you have such a volume of water that a 300W would be the correct size). I'm sure the two heaters might make each other turn on and off, but if you spaced them far enough apart, that might not be such a huge deal.
Just a thought.
V
Oh, and I was mistaken, I actually replaced the busted visitherm with
"All Glass Aquarium Submersible Aquarium Heater" it says "NEW! Breakthrough Technology!" I think it was on sale when I discovered the busted visitherm in my tank (just before my flight home at Christmas!) It says "Made in Italy by Hydor" on the back of the box.
It seems to work OK. Like most heaters, even if I set it at 77, the temp setting is off a few degrees and required manual tweaking ... which takes quite some time considering how long it takes to heat that much water to some stable temp...and accounting for the lights being on or off!
Do you guys thing a SINGLE 300W heater is better? Or two 150s?
Cost aside, I was thinking that with two 150s, if one failed, you still had one working overtime to keep the water from going dead cold. And if one goes on the fritz and "gets stuck on" then the other's thermostat will shut itself off and you have a single 150W heater constantly on. (Assuming you have such a volume of water that a 300W would be the correct size). I'm sure the two heaters might make each other turn on and off, but if you spaced them far enough apart, that might not be such a huge deal.
Just a thought.
V
Litefoot Sr
New member
I've had a lot of heaters throughout the years. I think the ebo jager is the most dependable. The other brands are around the same price so don't throw good money away. Go for dependability.
fishnfst
New member
I've had the exact opposite problem as everyone else almost.. I haven't had a won digital last for more than 6 months. I purchased 12 of them last year when they were on sale I just kept replacing them after they would break until all 12 were expired.. None ever got stuck on they would just stop heating to a consistent temp. The tank would be nice and stable around 84 degrees for right up to 6 months then my fish would start to lethargic and stop eating. I'd look at the thermometer in teh tank and it would read like 72.. I'd check the heater under the stand and it wuold be getting crazy readings from 90 to72 to88 continuously cycling on and off never on long enough to heat the water above 72 degrees though.. Most of them went bad right around the tiem of the last heat wave..
I've had the same problems with the new Jaegers that are made by eheim.. The old Ebo Jaegers have always worked well for me..
The non digital won titanium heaters originally seemed to have problems but I've had some for about 2 years now with no problems.. THe heater that has the lasted the absolute longest for me are 2 300w otto's. I've had them for about 20yrs.. They are still going strong. My dad had used them for about 5-6 years prior to me taking them...
I can't seem to find them anymore.. I've purchased their temperature control units in the past and then just hooked them up to one of the won digital titanium heating tubes. I'd just cut the original won one off...
My only gripe with the stealth is its harder to adjust.. There is no indicator light to tell when it is on or off...
Still looking for a better heater.. If anyone find a better one let me know..
I've had the same problems with the new Jaegers that are made by eheim.. The old Ebo Jaegers have always worked well for me..
The non digital won titanium heaters originally seemed to have problems but I've had some for about 2 years now with no problems.. THe heater that has the lasted the absolute longest for me are 2 300w otto's. I've had them for about 20yrs.. They are still going strong. My dad had used them for about 5-6 years prior to me taking them...
I can't seem to find them anymore.. I've purchased their temperature control units in the past and then just hooked them up to one of the won digital titanium heating tubes. I'd just cut the original won one off...My only gripe with the stealth is its harder to adjust.. There is no indicator light to tell when it is on or off...
Still looking for a better heater.. If anyone find a better one let me know..
Lordhelmet
Active member
wish i saw this last night. i had a heater pop on me and stay on in my sump. i had just come home and was just heading out. i went to the LFS and got stealth. but i made a mistakeand got a 150 watt for a 55. oh well.
Lordhelmet
Active member
Ooo sorry to here that. everthing went fine for me, no losses.
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