what's the most reliable brand & type heater?

Ralph ATL · 12/19/2007, 07:19 PM

There seems to be an unusually large amount of issues with stuck on heaters lately. So what's the most reliable brand & type heater? Just looking for a 250 to 300 watt heater. I might also put it on a controller.

reefergeorge · 12/19/2007, 08:26 PM

Ranco is the way to go with some titanium tubes.

twon8 · 12/19/2007, 08:35 PM

i would go with 2 150 watters instead. that way if one heater sticks on or goes out you've got another to help out.

pjf · 12/19/2007, 08:40 PM

I have an Eheim Jager on a Medusa controller.

I've had two Jager heaters that stopped working but have been lucky enough not to have one stick in the ON position.

I'm not claiming that the Jager is more reliable but I like the fact that it can be recalibrated if it drifts. Once or twice a year, I calibrate my Jager heaters. The greatest drift that I've seen is 5 degrees. I have a titanium heater that drifted 4 degrees and it cannot be recalibrated. This titanium heater also has a "bouncing" thermostat (see review of Finnex).

You may want to get 2 or 3 heaters that total 2-3 watts per gallon. This will guard against a single heater failure.

reef / aholic · 12/19/2007, 09:30 PM

Visi-Therm Stealth Heater and Ranco - ETC Dual Stage Controller

jim2371 · 12/19/2007, 09:32 PM

My brand-new Stealth 200W heater stuck in the on position out of the box... tank to 87 before I realized what was happening (time for a controller!) Some of my corals will likely bleach in a couple more days. After discovering the issue I shut off the MH, and used a fan for quick cooling; did NOT add ice cubes or do anything drastic. Temp in the 30g Finnex came down to 79 within about 30 minutes. Replaced the 200W with two 100s... tank now stable at 80 at night, and 80-81 w/the MH. Some say not to use 2 smaller heaters, but it makes me feel more comfortable.

12/19/2007, 07:19 PM	#1
Ralph ATL Formerly mysterybox Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Flowery Branch, GA (North ATL) Posts: 1,842	what's the most reliable brand & type heater? There seems to be an unusually large amount of issues with stuck on heaters lately. So what's the most reliable brand & type heater? Just looking for a 250 to 300 watt heater. I might also put it on a controller. __________________ Ralph Scheriff

12/19/2007, 08:26 PM	#2
reefergeorge Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 4,222	Ranco is the way to go with some titanium tubes. __________________ $35-50 for a <1" frag of some stupid named thing that came from a colony you bought for $40-60 wholesale and chopped into 20-40 pieces? No thanks. "JasonH" Current Tank Info: 125 aggressive reef, DIY led lighting, swc cone skimmer, 33 gallon sump, posiden Ps3 return.

12/19/2007, 08:35 PM	#3
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	i would go with 2 150 watters instead. that way if one heater sticks on or goes out you've got another to help out. __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank

12/19/2007, 08:40 PM	#4
pjf Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,954	I have an Eheim Jager on a Medusa controller. I've had two Jager heaters that stopped working but have been lucky enough not to have one stick in the ON position. I'm not claiming that the Jager is more reliable but I like the fact that it can be recalibrated if it drifts. Once or twice a year, I calibrate my Jager heaters. The greatest drift that I've seen is 5 degrees. I have a titanium heater that drifted 4 degrees and it cannot be recalibrated. This titanium heater also has a "bouncing" thermostat (see review of Finnex). You may want to get 2 or 3 heaters that total 2-3 watts per gallon. This will guard against a single heater failure.

12/19/2007, 09:30 PM	#5
reef / aholic Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: houston \| texas Posts: 647	Visi-Therm Stealth Heater and Ranco - ETC Dual Stage Controller

12/19/2007, 09:32 PM	#6
jim2371 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Ulm, MN Posts: 10	My brand-new Stealth 200W heater stuck in the on position out of the box... tank to 87 before I realized what was happening (time for a controller!) Some of my corals will likely bleach in a couple more days. After discovering the issue I shut off the MH, and used a fan for quick cooling; did NOT add ice cubes or do anything drastic. Temp in the 30g Finnex came down to 79 within about 30 minutes. Replaced the 200W with two 100s... tank now stable at 80 at night, and 80-81 w/the MH. Some say not to use 2 smaller heaters, but it makes me feel more comfortable.