Which heater

[Elmareefer]

So as I start accumulating my tank gear I’m looking at a wide range of heaters.
Initially I have 2 300w Amazon glass heaters. However I’m reading quite a bit about a separate control with titanium heaters.
My tank is 60 gallons and I’ll need to heat it about 15 degrees above ambient temp

Can folks give me a heater and controller combo recommendation? I think I’d like to run dual heaters in case 1 fails

 

[griss]

I’m a fan of the Finnex titanium heaters. Less breakage risk that glass and they generally have a non-internal control. Never hade issues with any of them.

Also, I would recommend two heaters so you have a backup in case one stops working.

 

[griss]

HEATERS

 

[GQuinn]

I have had good luck with the BRS titanium heaters and a Aqualogic controller

 

[Reefing102]

I’ve never run titanium heaters. I currently run IOAOI (but haven’t seen their larger heaters in a while) with an Inkbird Controller connected to my Apex. This gives triple redundancy as the heater has its own internal control, the Inkbird has its control and my apex can also shut it off based on its control. (The heater is set to 78 degrees, inkbird is set to shut off if temp exceeds 82 degrees, and apex is set to shut off at 84 degrees).

Note though there is plenty of posts out there of Inkbird controller failures.

Another temp controller that’s been strongly reccomended, though I have no experience, is Ranco (you do want to make sure you get the waterproofed temp probe though). Can’t say I’ve heard of many if any failures with them.

 

[wvned]

Eheim Jager. I use them 9 at a time. Occasionally one stops working. I just bought 6 more on sale. I plug them into my Hydros controller.

 

[ironwill723]

Eheim here as well. Never had a problem. I use with a Ranco temp controller.

 

[Uncle99]

Not a fan of the “contact points” heaters but provided it (or they) are on a heat controller, all will work fine.
A “cage” around the glass is a good option to protect the glass. If glass breaks, current enters the water. That can be catastrophic.

I use heaters with auto shutoff (outside of preset) and (if no water detected), running at 80 and my INKBIRD 306 dual probe at 78. The INKBIRD is the main controller. The heaters are backup.

So if the INKBIRD fails, the heaters will shutdown heat north of 80.
Heat can kill fast.

Broken glass can short into the water. Rare, but happens. Just ask Fragbox Corals.

My INKBIRD has run flawlessly for years, the dual probe is redundancy in case one probe dies, and the app and notification to my phone keeps me in the loop at all times regardless of where I am. The app shows current temp and charts temp at 15minutes intervals.

The app also gives me full control of the controller on my phone.