Rena Smart Heater

[betta fish]

Hi all, I have a 50W Rena smart heater that appears to be playing up, I've had it for about 2 years now and have used it on and off within that time, to begin with it was perfect keeping temp and acting as it should, I live in a hard water area and noticed after a while that it got covered in white scale alot which seemed to affect it's operation in that it struggled to heat the water so I regularly had to clean it off with vinegar, I have turned it on again recently after not using it for a while now and it seems that the red light is constantly flashing as a regular slow flash not fast as it does if the tank is too warm, it has heated the tank to 28c as it is set for but it just won't stop flashing when before it would just heat up with the red light on static and then go off, if I turn the temp dial down the flashing light gradually gets dimmer until it goes off when it hits 22 degrees c, it's in a 40l tank with reasonable flow, although I have only used it as a regular heater and not placed any intake pipes into it or anything, does anyone who has this heater have any ideas? could the vinegar have done it?! I've ordered another heater just in case.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Sounds as if the heater is either too big for the tank? It heats up the water around it rather quickly then shuts off; but then turns on again because the water flow is moving the heat away.

Just my 2 cents.

-FHM

 

[kaivalagi]

I don't know what these heaters are like but at a guess it looks to me like the thermostat has gone, so the a small temperature change isn't having an affect like it should. I'm assuming the heater using a bi-metal strip, if so these do have a limited lifetime.

 

[betta fish]

That's just it, I don't think the heater is actually shutting off at all the red light is constantly flashing, though the temperature is stable at 28, I don't think it has a bi-metal strip as ordinary heaters do, it's virtually unbreakable and is made from a kind of black plastic not glass, it is also safe to touch and remove from the water when it's on.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Unplug it, then remove it.

-FHM

 

[Mikaila31]

Mine did that once "slow flashing light", except it wasn't heating the water. It was still under warrenty though and Rena replaced it.

If yours is still heating the water accurately , I personally would still use it. But that is something you need to determine for yourself. A faulty heater can short out or cook your fish in worst case scenarios. I certainly wouldn't use any suspected faulty equipment without a GFIC outlet, but that still isn't any guarantee.....

 

[betta fish]

I'll get rid when I get my other heater tomorrow as don't have a spare at the mo , been watching it closely and it has been very stable for the past 24 hours now, shame as paid alot for what I thought was a reliable heater that has had barely any use, where as a cheapo heater that I have had for longer in another tank is still going strong! thanks for all your help though guys

 

[kaivalagi]

Just looked up the heater, sounds like the safety warning sensor is broke, looks like you could live with that, I assume you have a thermonmeter in your tank

IMHO If you are replacing it and are using an external canister filter I would highly recommend a Hydor external filter...I have been using one since the start of December and it's great, no more heaters in the tank

 

[betta fish]

Just looked up the heater, sounds like the safety warning sensor is broke, looks like you could live with that, I assume you have a thermonmeter in your tank

IMHO If you are replacing it and are using an external canister filter I would highly recommend a Hydor external filter...I have been using one since the start of December and it's great, no more heaters in the tank

Hi, thank you, my other heater hasn't arrived yet and this one is still holding steady and still flashing I am watching it and have a thermometer in the tank, I don't have an external filter as this tank is only 40litres so it has a little hob one as I keep bettas in it.

 

[jonnyf84]

i've just changed my heaters to fluvals because the rena's kept breaking, the only reason i originally bought the rena's was because they are apparently un-breakable - yeah right.