another heater failure… why I run 2 per tank, and like ones that display the tank temperature…

[Magnum Man23 137]

so I don’t run 2 heaters to make sure each side is “just the right temperature”, I do it, because of the high failure rates of modern heaters… and i like the units that display the tank temperature, and I put the controllers in obvious spots, as I find reading the digital displays, easier than most thermometers… this one is especially important, as these tanks are in an unheated entry way into the house, and they are responsible for providing heat in that room…

in my whole hobby history, I did have on heater fail in the on mode ( decades ago ) all the newer ones seem to have safe guards, on the high side… this one failed on the high side, but the safe guard turned it off, and sounded an alarm… I came home to the beeping aquarium…

 

[Back in the fold1 10]

What , are you buying cheap heaters ? I’ve never had a heater go bad . Ever . Buy good German made Eheim’s .

 

[ThreeFishNight]

Same I never had a heater fail. In 15 years

 

[gimme301]

I've had enough fail that I won't run any without an inkbird. Only one didn't fail "on" and cook everything. I agree the Eheims are best but man they're so long! And they don't have the display, which I've come to really appreciate too.

 

[GaryE22 137]

My old eheims never failed until they died and the temps dropped. My newer ones are as untrustworthy as any other brand. They seem to become unadjustible, sticking at one heat and ignoring their dials. If it's the right temperature, great. If not, they're garbage.

I suspect a pattern though. Tank heaters seem to fail in colder rooms in colder climates, in Spring and Fall. The more they have to work, the less long they work for. They fear change.

I have some fluvals that have remained good for more than five years of intermittent use. I pull them out for breeding tanks but don't use them all the time, and they've held up.

 

[Magnum Man23 137]

I have a suspicion that any new item, is not as good, as when they were at their best, no matter weather a filter, or heater, or light, no matter what the brand, throw in non fish stuff like washers and dryers, refrigerators, and TV’s, and furnaces… and I’m sorry, but I’m highly skeptical of anyone that tells me their brand of Koolaid is best… especially when they tell me their item has worked for 20 years… that was 20 yeas ago, there’s no guarantee that a new one will last as long… yes, there are better brands than others, but nothing lasts for ever, or even for a long time anymore…

a “preppers” mantra…. “one is none” it matters not what you are talking about… say’s the guy who went 5 days without a furnace through the coldest week of the winter… we need back up plans for anything vital… having 2 heaters is a good back up plan, and even then, they could both fail at close to the same time, though that has never happened to me yet…

 

[GaryE22 137]

The technology is better, but so are the means of extracting money from your pocket. A lot of things seem engineered to fail, with no right or means of repair. That's just the commercial model we support. Companies talk green, but landfills make the money flow to them, and that's all that matters.

 

[raylove1]

I replace mine every 4 - 5 years as a matter of routine. I've never had a failure so even if the newer ones don't last as long as the older ones, they still seem to be good for that period.
I usually buy decent branded products but bought my first Ehiem about 5 or 6 years ago and that's the only heater I've ever had a problem with. It couldn't keep an even temperature; it fluctuated by about 10 degrees F. I checked online reviews and at that time it seems it was a common issue so I returned it. Because I needed an instant replacement I was forced to buy a cheap and cheerful unknown brand from a local pet store - that worked fine until I replaced it after 5 years. I no longer buy anything fancy - so long as it's from a reputable store I just go for a basic unit and assume a 5 yr lifespan.

 

[Papa]

I just returned a cheapo that filled with water after a few weeks of use. Scary.

 

[TwoTankAmin17]

Heaters, no matter what brand, are the least reliable piece of equipmemt we use in our tanks. My very first heater was an Ebo Jäger, It still works today after 25 years. However, I have other Ebos fail. Eheim bought the Ebo Jäger brand and the are now called Eheim Jäger.

After having two different brand heaters get stuck full one and wipe out most of one tank and all of my original L236 breeder fish and about 25 of their offspring, I have used a digital controller on my more important tanks, Having 20 tanks made it impractical to buy controllers for them all. The controllers display the tank temp. Unfortunately that brand and model (which is in C) are impossible to find any more and I tried an Inkbird and did not like it. I either returned it or gave it away, I do not remember.

When the Aquatop brand firs came out kensfish had them dirt cheap and I loaded up. They have worked as well as any other brand I have tried especially when a controller is involved. After a while the Aquatop pricing went up and is no longer a great deal.

I did try a really cheap brand and it was not great. As long as it was placed vertically, it worked OK. But I always place me heaters horizontally. That cheap brand would not come back on that way once it reached the set temp and went off. I have a box of them that all work upright I have on shelf somewhere. A lot of my tanks were for pleco breeding a grow-out and thus were shallow. Plus I have 20 long and a 15 tank both of which are also too shallow for those heaters. I do have a 29 gal. with 2 heaters one of which had ti be placed on the end glass. That one is at a 45 degree angle as it wont fit horizontally due to it's length.

Sometime I wish they made wood burning heaters for tanks

 

[bgarthe23 40]

I am super pleased and, am currently running, 15 Finnex HMX Titanium Heaters. They are not glass, accurate, reliable to date, have an inline external temp control, are encased in a protective casing to prevent burns and breakage, and have been my go to heaters for many years. I’m sure there are other good ones, but I had to share my happiness with what I use.

 

[TwoTankAmin17]

Depending on the wattage (50w-800w) the Finnex Titanium heaters can cost from about $40 to well over $100 each depending on the model and wattage. I do not own any of these. Most of my heaters are in the 100 to 400w. range. The most reliables brand I have are the Hydor ETH inlines. I have these for use with my canister filters. They only come in 200 or 300 watts. They offer them in two different hose diameters. I still have two in use today but had 3 before I began taking down tanks.

One did finally quit after running continuously for close to 20 years. They cost me less than the Finnex titanium.