Heater location question

[jinar]

Hi, so it's time for me to get a heater. Have heard about bad experiences with glass heaters breaking and roasting all the livestock. So trying to look for a titanium heater, but just read that they should not be used in an acrylic sump. Is this correct? If it is, where does everybody places the heater... And then what other options are safe ?
Thanks.

 

[oil_fan]

All of my heaters are in my sumps for my 2 tanks. Some heaters are made better than others. I'm not sure what titanium heaters are good but I believe most are crap from what I've heard. I'm sure there is one or 2 good brands out there but I don't know of them.

Oh and if you're reading on Dr. F&S' site, those are not reviews. They're tributes to the product. They don't post negative reviews....ever.

As for me, I have 2 heaters for each tank. That way if one goes out, then at least one will keep it going until I get home. Or if one gets stuck on, then the other won't work as hard and no over heating occurs. But that does increase the cost but I prefer the fail-safe strategy.

 

[jinar]

Oil_Fan;694619 wrote: All of my heaters are in my sumps for my 2 tanks. Some heaters are made better than others. I'm not sure what titanium heaters are good but I believe most are crap from what I've heard. I'm sure there is one or 2 good brands out there but I don't know of them.

Oh and if you're reading on Dr. F&S' site, those are not reviews. They're tributes to the product. They don't post negative reviews....ever.

As for me, I have 2 heaters for each tank. That way if one goes out, then at least one will keep it going until I get home. Or if one gets stuck on, then the other won't work as hard and no over heating occurs. But that does increase the cost but I prefer the fail-safe strategy.

What kind of heaters do you use? Are your sumps acrylic?

Edit: Any suggestion on which website to order from?

 

[jeffmuse]

I like to use 2 heaters and have a controller to manage the temperatures in the tank. The controller has its own independent temp probe, so even if you have one of your heaters go haywire the controller will shut it off and prevent a tank melt down.

 

[oil_fan]

Jinar;694621 wrote: What kind of heaters do you use? Are your sumps acrylic?

Edit: Any suggestion on which website to order from?

I have a couple different brands. Rena Smartheaters and I did have Marineland's Visiatherm but that was replaced under a recall with one of their higher end models (can't recall which one ATM).

As for my sumps, one is acrylic and the other is a 40 gallon breeder tank converted...glass of course.

And I'm not saying to not use Dr. F&S for ordering stuff from, I'm just saying don't trust their user "reviews". Take a look at them. Even on an item that has pages of reviews, not one will be fully negative or a serious bad experience. I mean pumps and anything mechanical in nature will fail. Heaters fail. Stuff arrives DOA. Yet not one "review" of this nature is on those pages. I do order from them as their prices are good and they ship fast.

Edit:

JeffMuse;694624 wrote: I like to use 2 heaters and have a controller to manage the temperatures in the tank. The controller has its own independent temp probe, so even if you have one of your heaters go haywire the controller will shut it off and prevent a tank melt down.

This is the ideal way to go about this!! Eventually I'll move to this kind of setup.

 

[irahmatulla]

I have a glass Jager heater, and it has not broken on me, ever. (long long lifetime) It has an adjustable thermostat on it. Not digital, but has worked well for me. It has seen some wear though. The only heater I ever had break was one that went too long without being fully submerged. I have always used glass heaters.

 

[kilo32]

I have 2 Finnex 300w titanium heaters in my acrylic sump controlled by an Apex Lite for my 155g tank. The only thing I'm not sure about is how would I know if one of them wasn't working. I'm thinking that instead of both heaters working part time one might be working full time but it might be difficult to notice.

 

[john26]

Eheim Jäger, a tried and trusted product. I personally would not use any other heater. But I'm not a fan of using heaters but sometimes in the winter months you just can't help it.

 

[grouper therapy]

I've used Titanium heaters for 5 years without any issues, in acrylic sumps. Some experience short heater life spans which I think is due to the constant on/off cycling that they have the heater doing to prevent half of a degree temp swing. I have mine setup to turn on after a 2 degree drop without any issues ever.

 

[jbadd99]

I use a JBJ titanium heater, but I keep it hidden in my overflow.

 

[sigshane]

jbadd99;694705 wrote: I use a JBJ titanium heater, but I keep it hidden in my overflow.

I was thinking of doing that, but was worried that if the overflow level ever dropped...

Well, I guess that's what the Durso is for.

Thanks for that suggestion - I'm gonna use that

Shane

 

[grouper therapy]

Make sure your heater is in the same location as the temp. sensor.

 

[jbadd99]

grouper therapy;694775 wrote: Make sure your heater is in the same location as the temp. sensor.

It is. Just a different partition.