Titanium heater reliable?

[nightlight]

I've bought one 100W, and one 200W titanium heater abroad where I do not know of if their design is safe.
They are without a thermostat (will use a probe for this).
The top connector is filled with some sort of silicone to make it liquid tight but there is still some silicone coming out of it that touches the titanium rod. Is this safe?

Can this type of silicone melt? How hot does a titanium rod become during normal usage?

The bottom rubber cap has no silicone glue coming out of it. Can I remove this to inspect the bottom or is it also glued?

Is there a risk that the titanium rod can leeches electricity into the tank?

Questions, questions, questions :hmm5: I hope somebody has more experience with these type of heaters and can shine a light on this.

Top (left), Connector (right)

Bottom rubber (left) Size compared to a 150W glass heater (right)

 

[beckbrass]

If it were me I'd just get a new heater that you know is built well. If you don't know for sure what it is I would not put it in my tank. And yes if it's not done correctly you can get electricity into your tank

 

[nightlight]

beckbrass thank you for your quick response! The heaters are samples for an aquaculture project. If they are good then they will be ordered in bulk.
The company that sells them told (of course) that they are of excellent quality. Apart from that I did not manage to find reviews about the quality of these products.
Sharing the experiences about any issues that occurred with the glue or due to the design of similar build heaters would therefore help.

Do you have a titanium heater that also have glue on the rod?

 

[Soulsanctu]

I have always used titanium heaters as I don't like the thought of the glass breaking for whatever reason. There was an episode of LA Fishguy where that happened and it tripped the fuse on the powerstrip and brought death and destruction to the tank. I have used the Via Aqua heaters, which do have a thermostat. I really dont think yours will get hot enough to melt the silicone, after all its sitting in water thats less that 80 degrees. Heaters are attached to the wall with plastic.

 

[pmrossetti]

Doesn't look very safe to me. Don't mess with electricity.

 

[RokleM]

In general terms, heaters are only as safe as the controller operating them (be in internal, external like Ranco/Apex, etc). That being said, yes titanium ones are pretty DURABLE.

However, that one has me concerned and looked rigged up. I personally wouldn't use it.

Heaters are critical to our systems in the aspect of when they fail, they can be VERY bad for both our livestock and OUR health if the appropriate precautions are not made. Not a spot to go cheap IMO.

 

[RokleM]

In general terms, heaters are only as safe as the controller operating them (be in internal, external like Ranco/Apex, etc). That being said, yes titanium ones are pretty DURABLE.

However, that one has me concerned and looked rigged up. I personally wouldn't use it.

Heaters are critical to our systems in the aspect of when they fail, they can be VERY bad for both our livestock and OUR health if the appropriate precautions are not made. Not a spot to go cheap IMO.

 

[studentdriver]

I highly recommend the Rena smart heaters.

 

[snorvich]

In general terms, heaters are only as safe as the controller operating them (be in internal, external like Ranco/Apex, etc). That being said, yes titanium ones are pretty DURABLE.

However, that one has me concerned and looked rigged up. I personally wouldn't use it.

Heaters are critical to our systems in the aspect of when they fail, they can be VERY bad for both our livestock and OUR health if the appropriate precautions are not made. Not a spot to go cheap IMO.

Exactly. In fact any heater should be run with a controller so you have two chances for safety. Heaters usually fail in the control mechanism and most often they fail in the on position.

 

[sirreal63]

I had a 250 watt version of that heater that I bought used in 2005, I was the third owner and it looked just like that. I replaced it in January of this year. It was the most durable and best heater I have ever used. I have no idea how old it really was, but I zero issues with it.