ViaAqua heaters. junk?

cgib831 · 10/15/2007, 07:53 PM

I bought a 300watt via aqua stainless heater in january. used it a couple of times for water changes,and recently installed it on my 90g. worked for about 2 weeks and then just died. Im Po'd. has anyone used these before? If i can badger the company or drsforsters into giving me a new one, is it worth it, or is it just gonna die again. I know its not expensive, but in 12 years i have never had a heater fail. and this is the only one that claims to be "indestructable."

Percula9 · 10/15/2007, 09:04 PM

Via Aqua does not make a quality product. Buy a Ebo- Jaeger, no problem. I have had mine for the last 3yrs and no problem. I also have a Hydor for my mini-reef and have had no problems. A busted heater can cost you a lot of money in livestock.

AZDesertRat · 10/15/2007, 10:17 PM

I have been using the Via Aqua Titanium for almost 4 years now without a hiccup. I would recommend it to anybody. Stainless steel is not saltwater safe, it has to be titanium.

HBtank · 10/15/2007, 11:21 PM

Assume any heater is "junk" and ALWAYS use an external controller. None of them have thermostats to stake your reef on.

I would consider the titanium to be safest in regards to actually breaking.. I personally use Ebo-jager and have never been all that concerned with actually shattering them.

cgib831 · 10/16/2007, 07:10 AM

i believe it is stainless steel. there is some sort of strange external corrosion on it. kinda looks like rust, but i dont think it is. at least it shouldnt be. just sucks, big pain in the... have all my wires under the tank run really nicely, now have to undo them. those bastards

AZDesertRat · 10/16/2007, 08:19 AM

Stainless is rust resistant not rust proof in salt water. Get a titanium, it won't rust.

Freed · 10/16/2007, 08:26 AM

My Via Aqua has been working fine for me for the last year or two. The dial and the actual temp don't match up but has been working fine. Might just be the exception and not the norm though.

BeanAnimal · 10/16/2007, 08:30 AM

You will find that many folks have had "good luck" with their heaters, no matter what brand. The problem is that it is LUCK. They are very prone to failure and must be backed up by a real temperature controller. A suggest RANCO or Johnson Controls. You can get a single stage RANCO for around $60 on eBay. Reef controllers like the Lighthouse, Aquacontroller, Proflux, etc are all also very good options. There is no excuse not to use one (a reliable temperature controller). The Won Bros, Finnex and other hobby controllers are a joke and no more reliable than the hobby heaters.

Freed · 10/16/2007, 08:50 AM

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, you had to say Johnson Controls didn't you Bean?

BeanAnimal · 10/16/2007, 08:59 AM

you lost me!

Freed · 10/16/2007, 09:00 AM

Hehe, I used to work at a JCI plant. They closed last year and 180 people lost their jobs.

BeanAnimal · 10/16/2007, 09:02 AM

Ahh sorry to hear that.

ccoral · 10/16/2007, 10:27 AM

stainless is for freshwater i believe. Titanium will last and I bean ranco controllers work very well.
I like of the option of extending the sensor probe with a RCA cable.

10/15/2007, 07:53 PM	#1
cgib831 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Westchester, NY Posts: 143	ViaAqua heaters. junk? I bought a 300watt via aqua stainless heater in january. used it a couple of times for water changes,and recently installed it on my 90g. worked for about 2 weeks and then just died. Im Po'd. has anyone used these before? If i can badger the company or drsforsters into giving me a new one, is it worth it, or is it just gonna die again. I know its not expensive, but in 12 years i have never had a heater fail. and this is the only one that claims to be "indestructable." __________________ I keep trying the same thing over and over, but it never works. Current Tank Info: 29g FOWLR, coming down soon. Recently purchased a 90g drilled. DIY stand and canopy.

10/16/2007, 07:10 AM	#5
cgib831 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Westchester, NY Posts: 143	i believe it is stainless steel. there is some sort of strange external corrosion on it. kinda looks like rust, but i dont think it is. at least it shouldnt be. just sucks, big pain in the... have all my wires under the tank run really nicely, now have to undo them. those bastards __________________ I keep trying the same thing over and over, but it never works. Current Tank Info: 29g FOWLR, coming down soon. Recently purchased a 90g drilled. DIY stand and canopy.

10/16/2007, 08:26 AM	#7
Freed It's what it's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 2' 45" N 85° 8' 43" W Posts: 7,579	My Via Aqua has been working fine for me for the last year or two. The dial and the actual temp don't match up but has been working fine. Might just be the exception and not the norm though. __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

10/16/2007, 08:50 AM	#9
Freed It's what it's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 2' 45" N 85° 8' 43" W Posts: 7,579	OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, you had to say Johnson Controls didn't you Bean? __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

10/16/2007, 09:00 AM	#11
Freed It's what it's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 2' 45" N 85° 8' 43" W Posts: 7,579	Hehe, I used to work at a JCI plant. They closed last year and 180 people lost their jobs. __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

10/15/2007, 09:04 PM	#2
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	Via Aqua does not make a quality product. Buy a Ebo- Jaeger, no problem. I have had mine for the last 3yrs and no problem. I also have a Hydor for my mini-reef and have had no problems. A busted heater can cost you a lot of money in livestock.

10/15/2007, 10:17 PM	#3
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	I have been using the Via Aqua Titanium for almost 4 years now without a hiccup. I would recommend it to anybody. Stainless steel is not saltwater safe, it has to be titanium.

10/15/2007, 11:21 PM	#4
HBtank Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 2,957	Assume any heater is "junk" and ALWAYS use an external controller. None of them have thermostats to stake your reef on. I would consider the titanium to be safest in regards to actually breaking.. I personally use Ebo-jager and have never been all that concerned with actually shattering them.

10/16/2007, 08:19 AM	#6
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Stainless is rust resistant not rust proof in salt water. Get a titanium, it won't rust.

10/16/2007, 08:30 AM	#8
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	You will find that many folks have had "good luck" with their heaters, no matter what brand. The problem is that it is LUCK. They are very prone to failure and must be backed up by a real temperature controller. A suggest RANCO or Johnson Controls. You can get a single stage RANCO for around $60 on eBay. Reef controllers like the Lighthouse, Aquacontroller, Proflux, etc are all also very good options. There is no excuse not to use one (a reliable temperature controller). The Won Bros, Finnex and other hobby controllers are a joke and no more reliable than the hobby heaters.

10/16/2007, 08:59 AM	#10
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	you lost me!

10/16/2007, 09:02 AM	#12
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	Ahh sorry to hear that.

10/16/2007, 10:27 AM	#13
ccoral Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 468	stainless is for freshwater i believe. Titanium will last and I bean ranco controllers work very well. I like of the option of extending the sensor probe with a RCA cable.