POLL - Do you use a Heater or not?

[that Fish Guy]

Due to my concern over hearing so many stories of people nuking their aquarium and killing everything do to a bad heater I am considering not using a heater any more.

Please vote in the poll so I can see how many people are afraid like me.

 

[fjpod]

My tank is in the lower level of my house. We heat this area less at night. I could never make it without a heater. I have never had a heater go bad on me. (darn, I shouldn't have said that).

 

[Mranderson]

they make shatterproof heaters now. I need one in the winter. If ambient room temperature is fluctuating below par use it. i unplug mine in the summer. and my light heats it up enough.

 

[JMLewis]

The people who get there tanks nuked never invested in any type of controller. I have 2 x 250w heaters controlled by my Apex. Not much I have to worry about there. Apex set to turn on at 77.5 turn off at 78. On the actual heaters there set on 79. Redundancy redundancy redundancy...

 

[plasma327]

I run a heater. Finnex 300 watt with the Finnex controller.. Spend the money on a quality heater and controller. The possible cost of not doing so is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ alot of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$..

 

[EllieSuz]

Two titanium heaters with a controller to prevent overheating or temperature drops. And two fans in the summer operated by the same controller.

 

[Spyderturbo007]

I would recommend some type of controller. Think about all the money you have spent on your tank, only to trust it to a $30 heater.

 

[ajcanale]

+1 on controller. I would think that for many, if not most, a heating element is a necessity...

 

[drew2007]

+2 on controller. I have two 150w jager on my 75 with 20 gallon sump hooked to Reefkeeper. Worth every penny.

 

[williewilliams]

I run multiple heaters and all are non glass/shatterproof type heaters. Aqueon pro model. I have found that this works better as I tend to keep the room cold to deal with the heat from the MH lights. This works better for me than running my 1/3hp chiller. Way more consistant temps are achieved in my set up.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

I run a 300 watt heater on my rkl,I have worried about a heater sticking and nukeing my tank,not any more.

 

[psteeleb]

If I don't run 2 that are about 60% I'll undersize mine. Then I double control them.

 

[kriv4o]

I have to use one as temps in my house bounce too much. I use a Ranco controller.

 

[westreef]

I have a 300w titanium heater controlled by RKL. Love it.

 

[worm5406]

I have a 500w and a 500w. Set on an Apex controller.

Currently running at >74.8 and <75.4 (for those apex people it is not like that in programming... hahaha. It is reversed signs)

I was running a single 500w. It would take about 60 minutes to raise it 1 degree.

I put the second one in and it took it 30 minutes.

Since it is now on a .6 degree swing it runs smooth and is up in 20 minutes or less.

It takes about two hours to lower the temp.

 

[ReeferBatman]

Due to my concern over hearing so many stories of people nuking their aquarium and killing everything do to a bad heater I am considering not using a heater any more.

Please vote in the poll so I can see how many people are afraid like me.

In florida you might do fine.

Here in Massachusetts it's a bad idea!!!

 

[symon_say]

It depends on were you live, is you live in an area of extreme cold weather you need a heater, but if you're concern about the heater why not change then every year, they are cheap enough to be change yearly.

That will give you piece of mind, or you can just hook it to a controller.

 

[rsaha]

The people who get there tanks nuked never invested in any type of controller. I have 2 x 250w heaters controlled by my Apex. Not much I have to worry about there. Apex set to turn on at 77.5 turn off at 78. On the actual heaters there set on 79. Redundancy redundancy redundancy...

Exactly what I do. One heater alone cannot boil the tank so I would need both heaters to be stuck on and the controller, in my case an RKE to fail before catastrophe strikes. Even two underpowered heaters rather than one big heater goes a long way to mitigating the risk.

 

[borderreef]

I have a 300w titanium heater controlled by my rkl, but it is rarely needed. My tank is in the basement with the pellet stove, so I never need it in the winter. In the summer, the tank maintains a good temp, so I think it's come on maybe 3 or 4 times in two years.

 

[jdezek]

I can't see going without a heater. The temp would fluctuate too much and end up killing everything. Unless your house stays at one consistent temp year round without fluctuation, plus I keep my tank at about 79 deg. And my house is around 70-74 a little cold for fish and corals. I use reef keeper for my heater