Can anyone recommend a good reliable submersible heater?

[DavidY]

So far I have not been able to find a decent reliable submersible heater for my 120g reef. I've tried both of the Pro Heat Titanium heaters and they consistently fail as soon as the warranty period is up (1yr). They would be the perfect heater if they only worked! :evil:

The last heater I ordered was a 250W Ebo Jaeger only to find out when it arrived that it was not fully submersible. The water level in my main tank can vary by as much as an inch so the heater has been submerged off and on. Haven't gotten shocked yet, but I don't consider it to be reliable for my purpose at all.

So, any good experiences for a long lasting, accurate, reliable, submersible salt-water aquarium heater?

 

[Len]

According to people's experience, Ebos are actually fully submersible despite what's printed on their instructions. I believe they list their heaters as partially submersible for European (CE?)regulations (similar to our UL).

Visitherms have worked fine for me. Then again, Pro Heats work for me as well

 

[donfishy]

usually Ebo-Jagers are good, and I have had the same submersible one from them for over 10 years with no troubles

another good one IMO is the Visi-Therm I have used these for years also with no troubles

 

[paneubert]

I have heard reliable reports that the Ebo Jaeger is in fact submersible. They just have to say it isn't because of where it is manufactured and the safety standards or something. I am looking for where I read that..........

 

[Unarce]

Ever since Ebo-Jager was bought by Eheim, their heaters have had quality issues. I'm a big fan of Visi-Therms. My last two were the Stealth models.

 

[DavidY]

Thanks for the clarification on the Ebo's, that puts me a little more at ease. I used to use Visi-therms on my freshwater setups. I had forgotten about them. Thanks again, everyone, for the suggestions.

 

[DavidY]

Thanks for the clarification on the Ebo's, that puts me a little more at ease. I used to use Visi-therms on my freshwater setups. I had forgotten about them. Thanks again, everyone, for the suggestions.

 

[SnowManSnow]

personally I wouldn't have one that wasnt titanium. I love mine.. and it has an external thermostat. I forget what brand it is though

B

 

[DavidY]

Does your titanium heater look like this?

The Won Brother's heaters are pieces of garbage IMO. I've gone through several of them and I only have one that still works. The expensive ones with digital readouts are totally useless. It consistently reads the water temp at over 180 degrees even tho it's only 78! Therefore it never turns on. Started doing that a couple of weeks after the warranty ran out! I've heard some people that had no problems, but a lot of others who had them go bad. The LFS nearby won't even carry them anymore. Bad quality control.

 

[Unarce]

I've talked with a couple of store-owners that refuse to carry the steel and titanium heaters. Too many complaints about failure and corrosion :?

 

[Anonymous]

If you need to heat your water up, you don't have enough pumps and lights.

:wink:

 

[paneubert]

If you need to heat your water up, you don't have enough pumps and lights.

:wink:

Hahahaha, exactly.

 

[dnorton1978]

I dont use a heater. My temp stays around 80 during the day with lights on. At night I turn off my fans, and the tank stays right around 80. I keep my house temp around 74 degrees at all time. During the winter months, in Florida(which isn;t mong) i may get a little something, becasue our house get s into the high 60's.

Anyone else run without a heater??

 

[ChrisRD]

Although I've used several of the brands mentioned and not had any major problems, I don't trust the built-in thermostats on these things. I prefer to run them with a Ranco temp controller.

 

[Anonymous]

Another vote on visitherms (and their cousins, the stealth models).

Just FYI, I'd say stay away from the Hydor Theo heaters - I used one not long ago who's temp controller went out of whack by over 10 degrees within a measly month of operation.