What Heaters are You Running?

[Ace Storman]

I have 1 Finnex 500W Titanium heater, with electronic temp control head. I use it as a complete standalone setup, but plug the head into my apex power bar. I set the outlet so that it will turn off should the water temp rise above 2 degrees. Just a bit of a safety feature.

[Frogger]

I have a Finnex controller and it runs 6 degrees off right out of the box. It is great at controlling the temperature steady but don't trust the reading. I currently have it set at 84 degrees. I keep all my tanks at 78. I use a Vee Gee digital thermometer to check the precise temperature in all my tanks twice a week. I have done this after I had false readings from glass thermometers and fried a bunch of acropora and killed some fish (lack of O2).

[FishyFishy!]

Originally Posted by Frogger

I have a Finnex controller and it runs 6 degrees off right out of the box. It is great at controlling the temperature steady but don't trust the reading. I currently have it set at 84 degrees. I keep all my tanks at 78. I use a Vee Gee digital thermometer to check the precise temperature in all my tanks twice a week. I have done this after I had false readings from glass thermometers and fried a bunch of acropora and killed some fish (lack of O2).

This is why you can never really trust anything out of the box to be honest. I will always go with the titanium element with an external control source.

BRS Investigates actually just had a great video about this. They investigated a bunch of different options. Their best option was the Aquacontroller with a titanium element. You should check it out, it was a good watch.

[gmann]

was running 2 x 500 W heaters on a DA controller on big tank

now running aqueon preset heater on frag tank with thermometer for reference check

[babnika]

4x300w eheim controlled by apex. old school but I haven't found anything better

[DKoKoMan]

Maybe the Aquatop one I had just happened to blow out early. Sounds like titanium heaters is the preferred method. I may have to look in to the Finnex if my other Aquatop goes as I don’t want to replace these every year. I will say these stay pretty consistent but I’m doubting the longevity.

[gregzz4]

I have 3 Eheim Jager heaters in my sump which are 7 years old. They are 200watts each and I just finished cleaning and testing them. They test just fine.
I bought them new and they have never been submerged past the minimum/maximun line.
I tested them tonight and all are working just fine.

Key to keeping them new is to never submerge them past the min/max line on the head.

I keep my heaters vertical in my sump

[straightrazorguy]

Originally Posted by babnika

4x300w eheim controlled by apex. old school but I haven't found anything better

+ 1 here. I don't use 4 of them, but I use 3 Eheims controlled by Apex as well.

[mseepman]

I've been running the same Ebo 300w pair for 6 years. I have 2 backups still in the box and one that is stuck on that I'm not sure why I've kept other than to throw into my water change station every now and then if I'm in a hurry to get new water ready. I have a 100g salt storage barrel and a 100g fresh barrel so it comes in handy every now and then.
The EBO's have been really good.