Aquarium heaters

jdjeff58 · 07/10/2008, 05:01 PM

Does anyone have any 'hot tips' on a top notch aquarium heater? By top notch I mean one that is resistant to breaking down and leaking electricity in the tank. I have had several brands of heater. I know they have a limited life span. But it seems the ones I've used up to this point, have all leaked. Some right out of the box (2 Jalle titanium) and one Hydor (which took a few months). My last bout with electrical leakage was from the Hydor 400W. The performance on this heater is pretty good, but it broke down with a measureable voltage in my tank of 24 VAC. I use a grounding probe which has kept me alive. But I'm not so sure my corals (LPS especially) can say the same....if they could only talk.

I just want a heater that won't eventually kill something or somebody. Any help will be appreciated.

peterpaul · 07/10/2008, 05:04 PM

I use Visi Them heaters and they work great for me

Playa-1 · 07/10/2008, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by peterpaul
I use Visi Them heaters and they work great for me

I also use the Visi Therm Stealth heaters. With Any heater I would use a controller or something like a Ranco Temp controller as a safe guard. You have too much money tied up in your tank to trust it to a heater. Also take your entire heat requirements and split it in two. So If you need 400 watts then get two 200 watt heaters. Put one in the display and one in the sump.
This method provides several safe guards for you. The smaller heaters would have a much more difficult time overheating the tank if one were to fail. The temp controller or tank controller cuts the power to the heaters if the temp rises too high. By having one of the heaters in the display then it provides some heat if your return pump were to quit working. Just food for thought.

The stealth heater has been very reliable. The temp setting is accurate. It's low profile. It's completely water proof and submersible. It's relatively inexpensive. It's won't shatter like a glass heater. At this point I wouldn't even consider a different type of heater.

jdjeff58 · 07/10/2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Playa-1
I also use the Visi Therm Stealth heaters. With Any heater I would use a controller or something like a Ranco Temp controller as a safe guard.

I use a Profilux controller and even with all those bells and whistles, it won't tell me if the heater decides to leak. It almost looks like checking for stray voltage needs to be part of my maintenance program. Of all the research I've done to get to this point, I've never researched the heaters for resistance to leakage. My mistake....one of many.

So far it looks like visi therm is getting the nod.

Fish_wiz2 · 07/10/2008, 06:11 PM

IMO ebo-jager is the best, quality and reliable german engineering i don't use mine on a controller and so far my temp is good but it is JMO good luck

snorvich · 07/10/2008, 06:21 PM

If you do not use a controller, you are putting a lot of faith in something the frequently breaks (the heater thermostat). I highly advocate using a Ranco controller or equivalent. You will sleep better.

chatyak · 07/10/2008, 08:10 PM

Couldn't you combat the heat of a heater which is "stuck" on by using fans on the water? Obviously this isn't the best course of action, but would a fan aimed at the surface combat a heater which won't turn off?

jdjeff58 · 07/10/2008, 09:23 PM

My thread has been thoroughly hijacked. I'm looking for heater brand names. Thank you.

fattyratrat · 07/10/2008, 09:28 PM

On the contrary to playa, i hate visi-therm's products. I have had no good experiences with them what so ever, they always flake out on me and either don't turn on or come on too much.

Playa-1 · 07/10/2008, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fattyratrat
On the contrary to playa, i hate visi-therm's products. I have had no good experiences with them what so ever, they always flake out on me and either don't turn on or come on too much.

I've got three and they work gr8.
Stealth FTW

Rysam · 07/11/2008, 12:15 AM

i have 2 stealth 250's and no complaints.

smalls383 · 07/11/2008, 01:51 AM

I bought a visi therm titanium with the fancy LED controller.....it was a POS...gave it less then 24 hours in my setup and it went back home to MD...the temp was off about 3.5 degrees and the heater unit was ok.....

I second the JAGER heater being good quality and if you can invest the funds a secondary controller is always good...

07/10/2008, 05:01 PM	#1
jdjeff58 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 327	Aquarium heaters Does anyone have any 'hot tips' on a top notch aquarium heater? By top notch I mean one that is resistant to breaking down and leaking electricity in the tank. I have had several brands of heater. I know they have a limited life span. But it seems the ones I've used up to this point, have all leaked. Some right out of the box (2 Jalle titanium) and one Hydor (which took a few months). My last bout with electrical leakage was from the Hydor 400W. The performance on this heater is pretty good, but it broke down with a measureable voltage in my tank of 24 VAC. I use a grounding probe which has kept me alive. But I'm not so sure my corals (LPS especially) can say the same....if they could only talk. I just want a heater that won't eventually kill something or somebody. Any help will be appreciated. __________________ "So this is how liberty dies....with thunderous applause." ~ Padme' ~ (Star Wars Episode III)

07/10/2008, 06:11 PM	#5
Fish_wiz2 Mangroves are kool. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 5,246	IMO ebo-jager is the best, quality and reliable german engineering i don't use mine on a controller and so far my temp is good but it is JMO good luck __________________ -The Wiz Current Tank Info: Elos Mini Seahorse Tank, 2500 gallon Koi pond

07/10/2008, 06:21 PM	#6
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	If you do not use a controller, you are putting a lot of faith in something the frequently breaks (the heater thermostat). I highly advocate using a Ranco controller or equivalent. You will sleep better. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

07/10/2008, 08:10 PM	#7
chatyak Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,090	Couldn't you combat the heat of a heater which is "stuck" on by using fans on the water? Obviously this isn't the best course of action, but would a fan aimed at the surface combat a heater which won't turn off? __________________ Fishville

07/10/2008, 09:23 PM	#8
jdjeff58 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 327	My thread has been thoroughly hijacked. I'm looking for heater brand names. Thank you. __________________ "So this is how liberty dies....with thunderous applause." ~ Padme' ~ (Star Wars Episode III)

07/10/2008, 05:04 PM	#2
peterpaul Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: N/A Posts: 73	I use Visi Them heaters and they work great for me

07/10/2008, 09:28 PM	#9
fattyratrat Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 278	On the contrary to playa, i hate visi-therm's products. I have had no good experiences with them what so ever, they always flake out on me and either don't turn on or come on too much.

07/11/2008, 12:15 AM	#11
Rysam Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: paradise california Posts: 1,000	i have 2 stealth 250's and no complaints. __________________ Josh “Seek advice but use your own common sense” Yiddish Proverb quote “Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.” Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 135 reef

07/11/2008, 01:51 AM	#12
smalls383 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga, CA Posts: 483	I bought a visi therm titanium with the fancy LED controller.....it was a POS...gave it less then 24 hours in my setup and it went back home to MD...the temp was off about 3.5 degrees and the heater unit was ok..... I second the JAGER heater being good quality and if you can invest the funds a secondary controller is always good...