Heaters

[Jordan_Deus]

I bought two aquarium heaters, one from a trusted source (Jebo 200w heater) and one from an unknown manufacturer in China for next to nothing. I decided to buy the super cheap one to use when changing water (I'll place it in the bucket). The jebo one says to not place the suction cups on the heating part because they may melt. There's a cap on the bottom of the heater that can be taken off, it, like the suction cups, is made outta plastic. So should I remove it too? Here are some pictures:

Edit: The previously unknown manufacturer is actually "insten" is this a good manufacturer?

 

[fluttermoth]

Never heard of that manufacturer, sorry, but the cap should be okay as the heating element doesn't go right down to the end of the glass tube.

 

[Byron]

Agree. I have a question...are you using this bucket heater to heat cold water for a water change? If so, this is hard on the heater, and it may give out faster. Heaters are not intended to heat really cold water, but only to maintain a specific temperature if the ambient temperature is within say 10 degrees to start. And, is there some reason you cannot use a mix of hot/cold from the tap? This is much quicker and easier.

Byron.

 

[Jordan_Deus]

I can do a hot/cold mix from the tap but I understand hot water from the tap may have a relatively high amount of metals in it so I thought that might not be the best idea. Also I'm glad this heater only cost about 10 dollars because I did my research and the reviews said it busts easy or blows up easy. So oops. Good thing I bought the other one and that this one was cheap. If you say that warm water from the tap is safe then I shall use that.
Part of an actual Amazon review (facepalm): "Product works for about a month then either gets stuck on, won't turn on, or blows up in the tank causing me to loose thousands of dollars in fish."

 

[Byron]

I can do a hot/cold mix from the tap but I understand hot water from the tap may have a relatively high amount of metals in it so I thought that might not be the best idea. Also I'm glad this heater only cost about 10 dollars because I did my research and the reviews said it busts easy or blows up easy. So oops. Good thing I bought the other one and that this one was cheap. If you say that warm water from the tap is safe then I shall use that.
Part of an actual Amazon review (facepalm): "Product works for about a month then either gets stuck on, won't turn on, or blows up in the tank causing me to loose thousands of dollars in fish."

Unless you know you have a serious mineral issue with your water tank, there is no harm in using a mix of hot/cold from the tap. Most conditioners now detoxify heavy metals anyway, and this is probably sufficient. If you are on a private well with hardish water, that would be a different matter, but otherwise, I see no problems using hot/cold tap water.

Byron.

 

[Jordan_Deus]

Unless you know you have a serious mineral issue with your water tank, there is no harm in using a mix of hot/cold from the tap. Most conditioners now detoxify heavy metals anyway, and this is probably sufficient. If you are on a private well with hardish water, that would be a different matter, but otherwise, I see no problems using hot/cold tap water.

Byron.

Not on a well and I don't think our pipes have any issues as this is a brand new house. I guess I'll just use the hot/cold method.

Thanks