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Hey Mods - this is aimed at as large of an audience as I can get. I would prefer not to post in the Tech Forum as audience is much more limited. Thanks.

Copy and paste the questions and place your answers below please. Thanks for participating.

There may be followup questions so check back.
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HEATERS

-What brand/model of heater do you like and why?

-Do you replace your heater at an interval (like yearly) whether it is broke or not? Or, do you wait for it to show signs of failing.

-Are there brands, types or models that have caused you grief? If so, how? Explain what occurred (failed on or failed off; shattered, etc.).

-Setting aside cost, what heater do you feel is the most reliable and lasts the longest.

-What is the longest, any heater lasted or is lasting for you?

Please discuss any other heater issues here

I have a Titanium Pro 150 in my 20 long that is going on 2 years without a problem. I'm wondering how long it will last and whether I should consider replacing after a specified time. Like, how long should any heater last?

http://www.wonbrothers.com/product/heater/lcdheater.htm

Last edited by Cory_Di at 17-Jan-2005 23:22

Last edited by Cory_Di at 17-Jan-2005 23:23

Last edited by Cory_Di at 18-Jan-2005 09:39

I just posted a similar post.I had a 250 watt titanium tube from vi-aqua and it quit working on me. I had it placed horizontaly about 1.5 inches off the bottom (or top of gravel) in a 50 gal. tank. I liked the fact that the temp could be set without getting wet.

-What brand/model of heater do you like and why?
-Setting aside cost, what heater do you feel is the most reliable and lasts the longest.

I only buy Visi-Therm deluxe heaters now. The temperature scale is very easy to read in both °F and °C. They are fully-submersible, easy to set with a no-slip knob, and I've found them to be very accurate in maintaining a steady temp. I also feel they're very reasonably priced.

-Do you replace your heater at an interval (like yearly) whether it is broke or not? Or, do you wait for it to show signs of failing.

I would only replace a heater if it showed signs of not working properly.

-Are there brands, types or models that have caused you grief? If so, how? Explain what occurred (failed on or failed off; shattered, etc.).

I've never had heaters shatter or fail-off, I have had them fail-on though. There are some where I've had trouble with the suction or attachment parts, others that were difficult to adjust the temp. Mostly little, annoying things and I honestly can't remember what brands they were. Other than looking into a titanium heater for my new tank I'll stick with my favorite.


~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean

-What brand/model of heater do you like and why?
My absolute favorite is Ebo Jager because it is the most dependable heater on the market in my mind.

-Do you replace your heater at an interval (like yearly) whether it is broke or not? Or, do you wait for it to show signs of failing.
I replace them if they are broke.

-Are there brands, types or models that have caused you grief? If so, how? Explain what occurred (failed on or failed off; shattered, etc.).
Whisper caused me grief! The piece of crap has this black junk covering the glass of the heater and it started chipping of during water changes! Thats why I got the Ebo Jager I have now.

-Setting aside cost, what heater do you feel is the most reliable and lasts the longest.
Ebo Jager

Please discuss any other heater issues here
I just wish I could find a heater small enough for about a gallon of water...

-What brand/model of heater do you like and why? - Ebo Jager, very reliable.

-Do you replace your heater at an interval (like yearly) whether it is broke or not? Or, do you wait for it to show signs of failing. - I only replace when it's broken or not working well.

-Setting aside cost, what heater do you feel is the most reliable and lasts the longest. - Ebo Jager.

-What is the longest, any heater lasted or is lasting for you? - Ebo Jager, up to now, 5 years.



http://www.deathbydyeing.org/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

What brand/model of heater do you like and why?
Visitherm

-Do you replace your heater at an interval (like yearly) whether it is broke or not? Or, do you wait for it to show signs of failing.
nah - you gotta be kidding

-Are there brands, types or models that have caused you grief? If so, how? Explain what occurred (failed on or failed off; shattered, etc.).
Juwel - nearly cooked my fishies and gave me a nasty burn when I took it out the tank

-Setting aside cost, what heater do you feel is the most reliable and lasts the longest.
ebo-jaeger from what I've heard

-What is the longest, any heater lasted or is lasting for you?
umm - 3 years

Last edited by tiny_clanger at 18-Jan-2005 12:57

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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

HEATERS

-What brand/model of heater do you like and why?
Jager. A VERY reliable brand, well-built heaters (I've dropped them and had them not break, etc), and the cheapest I've found, believe it or not.

-Do you replace your heater at an interval (like yearly) whether it is broke or not? Or, do you wait for it to show signs of failing.
My heaters migrate so much that I seem to replace them all the time. 50 watts I think I must replace almost yearly because they're so often terribly made (but I haven't owned a 50 watt Jager yet ... should do!). The largest ones are much safer, so I don't see myself replacing them within five years unless there's a problem.

-Are there brands, types or models that have caused you grief? If so, how? Explain what occurred (failed on or failed off; shattered, etc.).
Types/models: 75 watts or lower, any brand. They've shattered, failed on, failed off, gotten air in and become buoyant then shattered in cold air, burnt me - everything. I'm starting to get to the point where I'd rather have a too-big, trustworthy heater on a small tank than a small, dangerous one. After all, if a 100 watt heater only has to turn on for an hour a day or so to keep a 10 gal heated and a 50 watt would be on most of the day, which one's really more likely to fry my fish?
Also, I categorically refuse to buy any heater that lacks a clear thermostat. If there's just a "higher" and "lower" - forget it. Absolutely useless.

-Setting aside cost, what heater do you feel is the most reliable and lasts the longest.
Jager, still. The fact that they're cheap (online) is something I discovered long after I fell in love. They're just safe! Also, the brand that doesn't use glass has always appealed to me though I've never bought one. Looks like a great heater, but that's where I do draw the line with cost.

-What is the longest, any heater lasted or is lasting for you?
250 watt, so far about five years.

-Please discuss any other heater issues here:
I think we've covered my complaints.

Last edited by LittleMousling at 18-Jan-2005 13:17

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

What brand/model of heater do you like and why?

I use AquaONe which is what my lfs gave to me. I find they are very reliable but sometimes if you ahve them off for a very long time thye automaticly go on even if the tank is the right temp. Someone has said to me that tronics are a really good heater.

Do you replace your heater at an interval (like yearly) whether it is broke or not? Or, do you wait for it to show signs of failing.

I don't replace my heater unless it starts failing, which it hasn't.

Are there brands, types or models that have caused you grief? If so, how? Explain what occurred (failed on or failed off; shattered, etc.).

I have not had any problems apart from the one above which does not harm the fish(temp never goes over 27c.) I have been told they need covers so teh fish don't burn themselves and so it can't shatter, but I haven't had any problems like that either.

Setting aside cost, what heater do you feel is the most reliable and lasts the longest.

I have only tried 1 type but I think this time I will go with tronic even though they are expencive bwecause people seem to say they are really reliable.

What is the longest, any heater lasted or is lasting for you?

Well I have only had one and it is lasting about 6 months so far.

And they also don't get hot to touch.

HEATERS

-What brand/model of heater do you like and why?
My favourite heater that i own is my Pro-heat tatanium heater. I like it because its "unbreakable" and the heat sensor is separate so i can place it where i feel is most accuarate in the tank.

-Do you replace your heater at an interval (like yearly) whether it is broke or not? Or, do you wait for it to show signs of failing.
Ive only replaced a heater that was failing.

-Are there brands, types or models that have caused you grief? If so, how? Explain what occurred (failed on or failed off; shattered, etc.).
In a 10 gallon planted tank i had a Hagen Radiant heater. The heater broke and my temperature dropped severly. The fish in the tank all got ich and i lost my 2 ottos. I have sinse bought a beter heater for this tank.

-Setting aside cost, what heater do you feel is the most reliable and lasts the longest.
I havent owned enough heaters for long enough to nkow this. But the Pro-heat tatanium heater that i now have seems to work great.

-What is the longest, any heater lasted or is lasting for you?
Ive had my cheap heater in my 20 gallon community tank that came with a wallmart kit. It has always kept steady temperature and worked good for me. Im not saying this is a good high quality heater but for me it has worked well.

Please discuss any other heater issues here

EDIT: got a brand name wrong

Last edited by steve711 at 18-Jan-2005 16:40

wat way is the better way to have a heater positioned vertically or horizontaly

IMO Amico...horizontally, b/c the heat seems to distribute more even

HEATERS

-What brand/model of heater do you like and why?

Okay I've got a couple favorites. Ebo-Jager, and Tronic, and I also have Visitherm (I think...is that the Marineland one?) and an AGA heater believe it or not...

-Do you replace your heater at an interval (like yearly) whether it is broke or not? Or, do you wait for it to show signs of failing.

The latter, but the smart thing would be to replace it yearly. Or maybe every 2 years...

-Are there brands, types or models that have caused you grief? If so, how? Explain what occurred (failed on or failed off; shattered, etc.).

Yes...Hagen I think. Well, really any heater that doesn't have an exact temperature dial causes me troubles, but the Hagen one I had shattered, and just wasn't reliable, seemed to take a long time to heat the tank up, even though it was the correct wattage, just not efficient I guess. *shrugs* I'm kinda glad it broke.

-Setting aside cost, what heater do you feel is the most reliable and lasts the longest.

I think this is kind of repetitive, but I'd say Ebo-Jager or Tronic Submersible, for the reasons stated above and below.

-What is the longest, any heater lasted or is lasting for you?

IME- Ebo-Jagers, but I haven't had a problem with a Tronic Submersible yet, it's just been longer with the Ebo.


Ebo-Jager is what I have for my SW tank, so I def. trust it. I've seen one last over 5 years.



Last edited by Ferretfish at 18-Jan-2005 16:47

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

-What brand/model of heater do you like and why?

I like the Marineland ones. Very accurate to temp and reliable. I also have a Sacem "Winner" heater (50w). I never heard of it before. But, it works very well and was only $3.99 at my LFS.

-Do you replace your heater at an interval (like yearly) whether it is broke or not? Or, do you wait for it to show signs of failing.

Only if it's broke.

-Are there brands, types or models that have caused you grief? If so, how? Explain what occurred (failed on or failed off; shattered, etc.).

Hagan shattered in water, for no reason.

-Setting aside cost, what heater do you feel is the most reliable and lasts the longest.

Marineland.

-What is the longest, any heater lasted or is lasting for you?

Marineland has been in the tank for a year and has shown no signs of temp. wavering. The sacems are lasting too.