question about heaters

[gskidmor]

I tried posting in the equip. forums, but alas, here I am.

I think it's getting time to replace my Won brothers II heater since it's been acting a bit strange lately.

I've been looking at a couple of heaters, but I'm looking for redundancy this time around (I currently only have 1 titanium heater). I need titanium because of size and I would like 200w (if I go with 2), but 300w will also work

What do you guys use - for heater/controller and for redundancy issues.

 

[markviiisvt4]

2 200W ebo jagers hands down best heaters i've ever used.

 

[mike660r]

I've had issues with the thermostat control on the Ebo Jagers I've used. I thought they were our of business too. Currently I use Finnex titanium 300 watt heaters. I have two hooked to my AC3 and I also run a back up 300 watt on a Aqualogic temp controller.

 

[brad]

Plan on it failing - if possible:

-put the heater on a GFCI protected circuit
-not the same circuit as your main pump
-keep it in your sump and not your main tank
-plug it directly into the wall without an extension cord or surge protector.
-If it is isolated enough, it cannot hurt anything.

This advice is biased, since mine just caught on fire and exploded. No real damage was done, it just scared the @#$% out of me.

 

[dkh0331]

Ranco controller w/ two 500W Finnex titanium heaters.

 

[1628mna]

i have some little cheapy that i got from pet supplies plus. all the powerheads lighting and skimmer keep my heat up. this more or less keeps my tank from swinging temps. my temp stays between78-81.5 all the time.

 

[gskidmor]

mikeR - I was thinking of doing what it sounds like you're doing - I was going to get something like the aquamedic controller and hooking 2 finnex titanium heaters to it - so this won't be a problem?

I have a 200w ebo jager that I use to heat my change water and it never gets the temp close to what the thermostat on the top states, so I'm a bit worried, but in all honesty haven't treated this one that good. The thing is, my won brothers II has been downright abused in the 8 - 9 years that I've owned it and it's just starting to show signs of wear.

 

[gskidmor]

1628mna, I thought about that, but I had a cheapy nuke my first tank - I made no changes to it and one night I came home and the tank was at 90+ degrees, so I get worried doing that, especially seeing the amount I have invested in sps - I know wifey would probably give me a very hard time about restocking, seeing as she currently (semi-seriously) jokes I've spent more on my tank than her

 

[gskidmor]

brad - I have a friend who lives down the road from me have the same thing happen - it caught his house on fire. The fire dept was able to put it out spraying their hoses all over the house - guess what was the only thing to survive - his maroon clownfish pair! Even the damsel died

 

[lawdog]

I use one 200W and one 250W Ebo Jager on a Ranco Temp. Controller. Same setup going strong for at least 5 years. Set them and forget them. Once you get them dialed in I think they work flawless.

I am not sure about them being out of business though. So if they are the Finnex are not a bad alternative. But I love the Ebos. I would not 100% trust any heater without a Ranco Controller though... the Ranco makes it work.

 

[shawnz28]

Ebo Jager was purchased by Eheim a year or two ago.

 

[mike660r]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13636633#post13636633 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shawnz28
Ebo Jager was purchased by Eheim a year or two ago.

I know I tried to send a heater back a long time ago and it was returned undeliverable. Big business swallowed them up.

 

[gskidmor]

Has anyone had problems with Ranco - it looks like they were designed for the HVAC industry, so I'm curious about how accurate they are (if you're home/frig is a few degrees within what you want, who would really notice)?

 

[lawdog]

Never an issue with the Ranco.... I can adjust it to control between 1-5 degrees. I set the temp on the controller and adjust the thermo accordingly and it runs perfect.

If the power ever goes out you will have to reset the ranco as mine will default back to the 5 degree swing... but I keep it set to 1 degree.