Heaters

[DonW]

Lets talk about heaters. Should you use a controller? Glass vs Titanium pros and cons. Brands to stay away from. Personal experiences with a partiular heater.

Thanks
Don

 

[NaH2O]

Don - I'm glad you brought this up, as I've been wondering the same thing. I've noted issues with my Won Pro titanium heaters....both the kind with the digital read (I think these are Won Pro II) out and the kind with just the dial. I had to use my wireless thermometer to help me set the temp. I have them turned way down (like 72ºF) and they'll come on at 78ºF (my tank doesn't normally drop that low). I now only use the digital read ones when making mix water - the temp always conflicted with what my thermometer said. I like titanium heaters, but I would like to find a brand that is a bit more reliable. I just purchased a wireless thermometer that will sound an alarm at too hot and too cold - you set the temp. You can have more than one sensor, too.

 

[jlehigh]

In 3 months I have had to throw away 4 300W Titanium heaters... 2 had caps and wiring MELT!! One just stopped period. I have one left that is still working.. One at a time I am going to glass which I have never seen fail. They are just slightly more difficult to sink up since the built in thermometers aren't precise.

These were different brands which I can't remember at the moment but will check when I am home next..

 

[mkpaulson]

I like the idea of two smaller heaters than one big one, if one of the small heaters fail and doesn't shut down it won't over keep tank as quick.

 

[NaH2O]

Good point, Mark. I also have 2 heaters in my tank. I just wish they were a little more accurate.

 

[DonW]

Is there a correct watts per gallon ratio?

Don

 

[mkpaulson]

I agree with you Nikki my glass rena is off by about five degrees, I just think that the small glass heaters can not have a very good thermostat ,I believe the only way to get really accurate within a few degrees is getting a medusa controller or aquacontroller, or something similar.

 

[mkpaulson]

Is there a correct watts per gallon ratio?

Don

I read some place 2 to 3 watts/per gallon

 

[mattseattle]

I just bought a Jalli titanium and it's crap. The thermostat is just not accurate. I've had to turn it up to 84 degrees to keep my tank at 80 and it still flucuates. Before this heater I had a CA heater which is essence is just the Jalli with a different label on it. I didn't know this before I bought the Jalli or else I would've chosen another brand.

I think the most accurate way to run a heater is to run a heater controller such as the OTTO heater controll which is only 30.00.

 

[Scooterman]

I went through several heaters, the WON Pro 11 will change even if you set it today, a week from now that setting will be different. I now have one of these, & for a year now after going through several brands I like this one the best.

Ebo-Jager

took their already superior heater and made it better. Ebo-Jager All New TS Series heaters are completely waterproof, submersible heaters perfect for freshwater or saltwater use. Heavy duty 2mm thick shock resistant Pyrex glass construction are twice as thick as most other heaters and far stronger. The tempearture is adjustable from 64°F and 94°F with an easy to adjust thermostat. Precision bistable thermostat with an impressive +/- 0.5° accuracy. Free from radio and TV interference. 6 foot double insulated power

I find it to hold the temp. very close as compared to any heater I ever used, without a controller that is.

 

[wrightme43]

I use a titianum to heat water change water and a ebo J. in all tanks I have and maintain. They seem to be very accurate and last a long time. Knock on wood I have never had one fail except through human error. Removing a hot heater from water and letting it sit on cold concrete. Dont do that they break. LOL Steve

 

[Elmo18]

Ebo-Jagers.... that's all I would use.

- Elmo

 

[Jeff]

Bad- Hagen tronic. Worked great for first two years so I bought 10 of them for all of my tanks. All died within 3years by leaking water inside.

Worst- Won Pro. I will never by a titanium heater again! Absolute crap. I bought 4 of them after a LFS guaranteed me that they were better than Ebo-Jagers. First failure went from 80 to 93, and still going, before I unplugged. Numbers 2 and 3 just stopped working after about 5 months. Number 4 I just use for heating changing water, and frankly I am a little concerned about the water.

The Best- Ebo-jagers. I have some of these heaters for 7+ years and they still do not vary more than about a half degree each way. I also keep discus in a small log cabin that’s only heat source is a wood pellet stove. That cabin is heated only a couple days of the week for a few hours when we go over to watch TV. The temperature in that room varies from about 47 to 74 and ebo-jagers are the only heater that I would even consider using over there.

The only problems with Ebo-jagers are that no one sells them around here so you have to mail order them. And they are huge compared to other heaters, 17" for a 250 watt.

 

[CarlaW]

Ebo-Jager
I use 3 of them in a 400 gallon system, 2 in the sump and 1 in the fuge.
Had a titanium in an Oscar tank once and they ate it. Got lucky and got it out before the fish fry thing happened!

 

[wrightme43]

They learned it from watching you charlie. LOL

 

[CarlaW]

wwwwwwhhhhhaaaaattttt ddddiiiiiddddd yyyyooooouuuuu sssssaaaaayyyyyy

 

[wrightme43]

Rotflmao LOL now thats funny.

 

[Zephrant]

I've had good luck with the Via Aqua titanium ones. I've got two 250 watt ones on my main system, a 300 in the water change sump, and a 50 for the little tank.

The 250s have been running for about two years, and have not moved a 1/2 degree yet. Not issues what-so-ever.

Zeph

 

[RockyHeap]

for my 135 gallon, most glass heaters are too long to fit in my sump.

dont put a heater in the main tank either.......My Sea Apple decided to crawl against a heater in an old tank, it croaked, expelled toxins, and I lost $400 in fish and livestock that night........sigh.......

I like the titanium heaters with the remote controler and seperate thermal couple probe.

Won Heaters, had a couple digital ones stick on and lost some SPS as water heat got over 85.......thats up upper limit before critters just start to melt or go into RTN.

Via Aqua I've had 3 of them, one died after ~90 days so I took it back and got another one no problems. I'd much rather have them "stick off" then "stick on"

Maybe a controller is a better way to go, but its still going to have either a mechanical relay or MOSFET solid state device to switch the heater on/off.

Good post, after ~10-15 heaters from different manufacturers over 15-20 years, I'm still in search of "the perfect heater".......small in size, good heat output, and accurate. Screw the cost, I want it to be bullet proof.

 

[gobie]

I Have To Say Id Go With An Ebo Jagger Min Has Never Failed Me. I Have Had It For 3+ Years Now. Nothing Out There Is Going To Be Dead Accurate. Most Will Overheat To An Extent Just Like An Oven Does. Besides When It Shuts Off The Coils, Glass Body, Or Whatever Heating Elements Will Still Be Hot. And This Is What Causes The Fluctuation In Heating. Always Use A Merc. Or Digital Thermomiter ( Lil Cheepy Red Ones Dont Work Well). Follow Your Thermometer. Set Low And Work Your Way Up Check Temp Before Lights Come On (usually At Its Coolest Point).dial It In Keep Checking It, Age Makes A Diffrence Heat Take Its Toll On Thermometer In Heater.