Do heaters wear out?

[sstraub5150]

I've had an Ebo Jager heater in my tank for about 4 or 5 years and I was fumbling around my tank the other day and the water seemed warm. So I bought a thermometer yesterday and the temp was at 88.</em> Luckily there is no fallout from this. I recalibtrated the thermostat on the heater but I get the feeling I may need a new one.

 

[coolsurf]

Heaters should be replaced every so often. Exact timetable, I am not sure but someone else might be able to recommend when.

 

[sstraub5150]

Assault;525917 wrote: recommend unplugging heater during summer months

I keep my house cold as a meat locker, I need it.

 

[coolsurf]

sstraub5150;525918 wrote: I keep my house cold as a meat locker, I need it.

Ha! I know whatcha' mean. Same here.

 

[elfloyd]

Me too... (Meat locker)

 

[drnecropolis]

Not a matter of "If" heaters wear out.. Its WHEN they wear out.. If everything is going great in your tank.. The heater will fail and cause heartache soon..

 

[sstraub5150]

I know my halide heats up my tank but I want it constant. I just bought a new Ebo Jager heater from the good folks at the Aviarium so we'll se how it works out. Thinking of setting it at 82, sound good?

 

[cr500_af]

82 is toward the upper end of reef tank temps. Some run them warmer, but they are the exception rather than the rule. If you set your heater to 82, what will your temp top out at? Too hot, I'd bet.

 

[sstraub5150]

cr500_af;525970 wrote: 82 is toward the upper end of reef tank temps. Some run them warmer, but they are the exception rather than the rule. If you set your heater to 82, what will your temp top out at? Too hot, I'd bet.

tops out around 84 with my lights on.

 

[smallblock]

Another good thing to do is instead of one big heater get two small heaters that way they can work together and if one of them sticks on it wont cause a nuke

 

[coolsurf]

Smallblock;525987 wrote: Another good thing to do is instead of one big heater get two small heaters that way they can work together and if one of them sticks on it wont cause a nuke

Very true. :yes:

 

[sstraub5150]

coolsurf;526018 wrote: Very true. :yes:

In a 24 gallon tank, space is a premium.

 

[weaglereefer]

Really, a Reefkeeper Lite is one of the better investments you can make for a small tank. Hook up the lights, heater, and fan if you need it, and you can keep the temp right where you want it. Before halides my RKL would keep my tank in a .3degree range, but now it's still only a degree at most, and only when the temps outside hit 90+.

Set your heater just above the set point, and have the RKL control the heater. If the channel for the RKL sticks on, the set point on the heater will keep you safe.

 

[pikapp168]

yes over time it is good to replace them after a while. they can lead to stray voltage etc that can harm your tank mates.

 

[smoothie]

I agree with the above. Controller and changing them every 2 years

 

[jef4y]

The cheapest of controllers will alleviate much of the risk in tank overheating. I set my heaters at ~80 and my controller at 79. If one fails the other will hopefully catch it.

And I'm in the same boat, err meat locker. My heater runs more in Atlanta summer than it did in WI winter! LOL

 

[tony_caliente]

you got your answer. I have a simple set-up but was contemplating a reef controller just for the temperature control function. On an inflation ajusted basis (30 years ago), I had $60 solid state heaters and $8 non-submersible Supreme's. I find them all to be a dice roll. JMO.

sstraub5150;525914 wrote: I've had an Ebo Jager heater in my tank for about 4 or 5 years and I was fumbling around my tank the other day and the water seemed warm. So I bought a thermometer yesterday and the temp was at 88.</em> Luckily there is no fallout from this. I recalibtrated the thermostat on the heater but I get the feeling I may need a new one.

 

[rbredding]

EVERYTHING that comes into contact with salt water wears out...

and most things that don't come into contact with salt water..