Heater time for Reef... Opinion on brands ?

richardinphx · 11/02/2011, 03:19 PM

Well I never thought I would see this day. My tank is approx 8 years old and just changed it from T5HO 48" to LED (from RapidLED). This is the first time in years that the chiller has not kicked on even a single time in a whole day.

I must say I am happy but now my water temperature is actually starting to fall. Its 78.3 and falling a fraction every day - has been maintained in the past at 79.5-81.0

Anyone want to recommend a good dependable heater for a Bowfront 48" X 18" X 24". I have never used a heater on an aquarium!

Hmmm, what's a good wintertime water temp ? I read somewhere (I think) recently where somebody was running wintertime a couple of degrees cooler than summer... does this really matter ?

dublo8 · 11/02/2011, 03:55 PM

I like the hydor Theo heaters personally. stay away from the marineland stealth heaters.

Sent from my who cares they all do it now.

evsalty · 11/02/2011, 03:57 PM

I prefer Jager.

lucidvtec · 11/02/2011, 04:03 PM

i have jager's as well.... Quinn from AA believes they are super relieble thats why i bought mine..never had an issue....i even have a 15yr old 300watt and it still works!!

Garage1217 · 11/02/2011, 06:06 PM

Set the heaters to 75F and if your using a controller, shut them off at 76F. At those dimensions, I assume a 90G so a pair of 150W heaters, preferably Jagers would be the hot ticket.

NaClH20NMYVEIN · 11/02/2011, 06:20 PM

I just got 2 of these for my tank. I like that they are not glass so I don’t have to worry about a rock falling on them. They also do not adjust so a controller is a must but since they are either off or on there is no question about the set point. If your using a jager or any other heater with a built in thermometer and a controller there is more room for error. If the set point is 76 on the controller and 76 on the heater but their thermometers don’t match your controller could be supplying power but the heater is still telling itself to be off. I would say a good bet is a quality heater like a jager, a better option is a quality heater like a jager and a controller, and your best option is a controller and a heater with only an on and off with no thermometer built in. Hope that helps. http://www.marinedepot.com/Won_Broth...FIHTTH-vi.html

Garage1217 · 11/02/2011, 06:25 PM

^ won bros heaters definitely do not have that good of a reliability rating. Read about failures on multiple forums. Just be careful is all I am saying.

DrBegalke · 11/02/2011, 09:39 PM

I like Finnex heaters.

NaClH20NMYVEIN · 11/02/2011, 09:41 PM

Thanks, I will keep an eye on them. I usually tend to buy the more expensive equipment that will last a long time but MD had these 500W heater for about $40 so it was hard to pass up. I have them set to come on one at a time so if one fails the next one will turn on 2/10 of a degree lower. I should be pretty safe that way. Heaters always scare me though!

bigjdotcom01 · 11/03/2011, 09:13 AM

I have a 300W Finnex titanium heater in my 40g breeder. I keep my temp at 79F....very reliable.

JMCAquarium · 11/03/2011, 05:59 PM

Jager with a simple controler

bugs713 · 11/03/2011, 06:11 PM

I had a 250w Jager thermostat stick several years ago and cooked a 90g full of my prized FW Discus; haven't used a heater since! Jager never did respond then to my letters (Pre internet time) asking them why this could happen. Maybe they are better now than back then (1990), but they have not received any of my business since!
IS there a heater system that has some kind of safety mechanisms that will prevent this from happening? Is heater/controller the way to go or is there still a marked danger due to faulty thermostats in all brands??
Simply using 2 or 3 lower watt heaters instead of 1 high watt still doesn't cut it for me. Is this hobby seriously lacking this quality in regards to water temp control?!
Wow,its been 21 years since my disaster and I'm still PO!
Sorry!

NaClH20NMYVEIN · 11/03/2011, 07:58 PM

A few smaller heaters is the way to go IMO. If you only have 1 heater that is the proper size and it sticks then you cook everything. If it goes out everything gets cold. If you have a few undersized heater if one sticks the tank will only get a touch warm, and if one gives out only a touch cold. I think this approach coupled with a controller is your best bet. Nothing will ever be 100% but this is pretty safe. I stagger my heaters, my first one come on at 77.7, second one on at 77.5 and the last one at 77.3 They turn off in the same manner. I feel this provides the most protection.

richardinphx · 11/04/2011, 12:58 PM

ooof

maybe I should put my t5's on during the winter and LED's on during the summer LOL heat the house and light the tank at the same time.. seriouslyl I'll have to run the damn heat pump now... LoL ...didnt have to winters before.

quagmire - out of one and into another

11/02/2011, 03:19 PM	#1
richardinphx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 149	Heater time for Reef... Opinion on brands ? Well I never thought I would see this day. My tank is approx 8 years old and just changed it from T5HO 48" to LED (from RapidLED). This is the first time in years that the chiller has not kicked on even a single time in a whole day. I must say I am happy but now my water temperature is actually starting to fall. Its 78.3 and falling a fraction every day - has been maintained in the past at 79.5-81.0 Anyone want to recommend a good dependable heater for a Bowfront 48" X 18" X 24". I have never used a heater on an aquarium! Hmmm, what's a good wintertime water temp ? I read somewhere (I think) recently where somebody was running wintertime a couple of degrees cooler than summer... does this really matter ?

11/02/2011, 03:55 PM	#2
dublo8 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Morgan Hill, Ca Posts: 3,225	I like the hydor Theo heaters personally. stay away from the marineland stealth heaters. Sent from my who cares they all do it now. __________________ 10g IM fusion. Zoa and SPS dominant, Apex monitored, Ai Prime, MP10, sicce return.

11/02/2011, 04:03 PM	#4
lucidvtec avid Reefer Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chandler Posts: 828	i have jager's as well.... Quinn from AA believes they are super relieble thats why i bought mine..never had an issue....i even have a 15yr old 300watt and it still works!! __________________ 10 gallon QT - taking a short break - coming soon a HUGE tank!! Lucid Contracting -HVAC - Service, Repairs and Installations - residental and commerical

11/02/2011, 06:06 PM	#5
Garage1217 GET OFF MY LAWN Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Globally Posts: 5,863	Set the heaters to 75F and if your using a controller, shut them off at 76F. At those dimensions, I assume a 90G so a pair of 150W heaters, preferably Jagers would be the hot ticket. __________________ No great genius has ever existed without some touch of madness ~ Aristotle If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it? ~ Albert Einstein I'm just as bent as ever. Hellishly so ~ Captain Jack Sparrow Current Tank Info: Systems and goodies by Lee-Mar / Coralvue / Neptune Systems / Jager / Spectrapure / Cree / Meanwell + more!

11/02/2011, 06:20 PM	#6
NaClH20NMYVEIN Red Dragons! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 5,897	I just got 2 of these for my tank. I like that they are not glass so I don’t have to worry about a rock falling on them. They also do not adjust so a controller is a must but since they are either off or on there is no question about the set point. If your using a jager or any other heater with a built in thermometer and a controller there is more room for error. If the set point is 76 on the controller and 76 on the heater but their thermometers don’t match your controller could be supplying power but the heater is still telling itself to be off. I would say a good bet is a quality heater like a jager, a better option is a quality heater like a jager and a controller, and your best option is a controller and a heater with only an on and off with no thermometer built in. Hope that helps. http://www.marinedepot.com/Won_Broth...FIHTTH-vi.html __________________ The planet needs a 50% water change. Current Tank Info: Pacific Ocean

11/02/2011, 03:57 PM	#3
evsalty hmmmmmm Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NW Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,531	I prefer Jager.

11/02/2011, 06:25 PM	#7
Garage1217 GET OFF MY LAWN Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Globally Posts: 5,863	^ won bros heaters definitely do not have that good of a reliability rating. Read about failures on multiple forums. Just be careful is all I am saying. __________________ No great genius has ever existed without some touch of madness ~ Aristotle If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it? ~ Albert Einstein I'm just as bent as ever. Hellishly so ~ Captain Jack Sparrow Current Tank Info: Systems and goodies by Lee-Mar / Coralvue / Neptune Systems / Jager / Spectrapure / Cree / Meanwell + more!

11/02/2011, 09:39 PM	#8
DrBegalke Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phoenix area, AZ Posts: 2,599	I like Finnex heaters. __________________ ~Jason Begalke Current Tank Info: Latest project: JBJ Cubey

11/02/2011, 09:41 PM	#9
NaClH20NMYVEIN Red Dragons! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 5,897	Thanks, I will keep an eye on them. I usually tend to buy the more expensive equipment that will last a long time but MD had these 500W heater for about $40 so it was hard to pass up. I have them set to come on one at a time so if one fails the next one will turn on 2/10 of a degree lower. I should be pretty safe that way. Heaters always scare me though! __________________ The planet needs a 50% water change. Current Tank Info: Pacific Ocean

11/03/2011, 09:13 AM	#10
bigjdotcom01 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Valley of the Sun Posts: 800	I have a 300W Finnex titanium heater in my 40g breeder. I keep my temp at 79F....very reliable.

11/03/2011, 05:59 PM	#11
JMCAquarium They are among us!! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 5,186	Jager with a simple controler __________________ “You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.” Gandhi Jonathan/JC Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon Angels,

11/03/2011, 06:11 PM	#12
bugs713 In-A-Gadda-Divita! Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Apache Junction, AZ - USA Posts: 2,345	I had a 250w Jager thermostat stick several years ago and cooked a 90g full of my prized FW Discus; haven't used a heater since! Jager never did respond then to my letters (Pre internet time) asking them why this could happen. Maybe they are better now than back then (1990), but they have not received any of my business since! IS there a heater system that has some kind of safety mechanisms that will prevent this from happening? Is heater/controller the way to go or is there still a marked danger due to faulty thermostats in all brands?? Simply using 2 or 3 lower watt heaters instead of 1 high watt still doesn't cut it for me. Is this hobby seriously lacking this quality in regards to water temp control?! Wow,its been 21 years since my disaster and I'm still PO! Sorry! __________________ O\|\|\|\|\|\|\|O

11/03/2011, 07:58 PM	#13
NaClH20NMYVEIN Red Dragons! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 5,897	A few smaller heaters is the way to go IMO. If you only have 1 heater that is the proper size and it sticks then you cook everything. If it goes out everything gets cold. If you have a few undersized heater if one sticks the tank will only get a touch warm, and if one gives out only a touch cold. I think this approach coupled with a controller is your best bet. Nothing will ever be 100% but this is pretty safe. I stagger my heaters, my first one come on at 77.7, second one on at 77.5 and the last one at 77.3 They turn off in the same manner. I feel this provides the most protection. __________________ The planet needs a 50% water change. Current Tank Info: Pacific Ocean

11/04/2011, 12:58 PM	#14
richardinphx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 149	ooof maybe I should put my t5's on during the winter and LED's on during the summer LOL heat the house and light the tank at the same time.. seriouslyl I'll have to run the damn heat pump now... LoL ...didnt have to winters before. quagmire - out of one and into another

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