Electronic heaters not infalible

[Dick]

What a day! I really set the jinx lose by thinking how great it was
to have everything working so well: motorhome, fish tanks, computer,
etc. That really invited disaster. On Sundays I backup important
files to a third "Backup" computer. I starts automatic downloads at 5
AM and usually is finished by 10 AM. About 9 AM I notice errors
appearing in the download program. Turns out the hard drive assigned
to receive the backups failed. Fortunately, I had a 17 GB hard drive
tested and formatted, so after an hour I was ready to refill the
replacement.

I was elated to have escaped so easily when I noticed the Living Room
10 gallon tank was tracking room temperature, not the set tank
temperature. Try as I might, nothing would coax the heater to come
on. Again, I went to the garage and its backup components and
retrieved a 100 watt electronic heater.

I had tempted the Gods by revealing my pleasure in all working well
and the Gods laughed. Yuk!

I decided to test the 100 watt heater in a 2 gallon bucket. My cold
tap water is coming out about 79 degrees, so I tossed in a few
handfuls of ice and got the temperature down to 73F. I am amazed
considering the lengthy thread about heater size. It took over an
hour to bring the water from 73F to 77F with the 100 watt heater. Two
gallons of water, 4F degrees rise, one hour. This is the heater I
will put into a 10 gallon tank.

Fortunately, I keep my house about 76F, in the winter about 74F.
Still I am so surprised that a 100 watt heater is so slow bringing
about a 4F degree rise.

The real lesson is to not tempt the powers controlling luck. Their
sense of humor is very challenging! <g>

dick

[Gill Passman]

"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> What a day! I really set the jinx lose by thinking how great it was
> to have everything working so well: motorhome, fish tanks, computer,
> etc. That really invited disaster. On Sundays I backup important
> files to a third "Backup" computer. I starts automatic downloads at 5
> AM and usually is finished by 10 AM. About 9 AM I notice errors
> appearing in the download program. Turns out the hard drive assigned
> to receive the backups failed. Fortunately, I had a 17 GB hard drive
> tested and formatted, so after an hour I was ready to refill the
> replacement.
>
> I was elated to have escaped so easily when I noticed the Living Room
> 10 gallon tank was tracking room temperature, not the set tank
> temperature. Try as I might, nothing would coax the heater to come
> on. Again, I went to the garage and its backup components and
> retrieved a 100 watt electronic heater.
>
> I had tempted the Gods by revealing my pleasure in all working well
> and the Gods laughed. Yuk!
>
> I decided to test the 100 watt heater in a 2 gallon bucket. My cold
> tap water is coming out about 79 degrees, so I tossed in a few
> handfuls of ice and got the temperature down to 73F. I am amazed
> considering the lengthy thread about heater size. It took over an
> hour to bring the water from 73F to 77F with the 100 watt heater. Two
> gallons of water, 4F degrees rise, one hour. This is the heater I
> will put into a 10 gallon tank.
>
> Fortunately, I keep my house about 76F, in the winter about 74F.
> Still I am so surprised that a 100 watt heater is so slow bringing
> about a 4F degree rise.
>
> The real lesson is to not tempt the powers controlling luck. Their
> sense of humor is very challenging! <g>
>
> dick

Well, the heater gods haven't exactly been smiling on me over the last few
weeks either :-(

We are at least starting to get down to near normal temps now...at long
last.

I always find everytime I think all is well something happens and it all
goes "pear shaped" again....we call it "sods law" over here - lol

Hope you get it all sorted
Gill

[Dick]

On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 22:04:18 +0100, "Gill Passman"
<gillspamattaylorpassmanspam.co.uk> wrote:

>
>"Dick" > wrote in message
...
>> What a day! I really set the jinx lose by thinking how great it was
>> to have everything working so well: motorhome, fish tanks, computer,
>> etc. That really invited disaster. On Sundays I backup important
>> files to a third "Backup" computer. I starts automatic downloads at 5
>> AM and usually is finished by 10 AM. About 9 AM I notice errors
>> appearing in the download program. Turns out the hard drive assigned
>> to receive the backups failed. Fortunately, I had a 17 GB hard drive
>> tested and formatted, so after an hour I was ready to refill the
>> replacement.
>>
>> I was elated to have escaped so easily when I noticed the Living Room
>> 10 gallon tank was tracking room temperature, not the set tank
>> temperature. Try as I might, nothing would coax the heater to come
>> on. Again, I went to the garage and its backup components and
>> retrieved a 100 watt electronic heater.
>>
>> I had tempted the Gods by revealing my pleasure in all working well
>> and the Gods laughed. Yuk!
>>
>> I decided to test the 100 watt heater in a 2 gallon bucket. My cold
>> tap water is coming out about 79 degrees, so I tossed in a few
>> handfuls of ice and got the temperature down to 73F. I am amazed
>> considering the lengthy thread about heater size. It took over an
>> hour to bring the water from 73F to 77F with the 100 watt heater. Two
>> gallons of water, 4F degrees rise, one hour. This is the heater I
>> will put into a 10 gallon tank.
>>
>> Fortunately, I keep my house about 76F, in the winter about 74F.
>> Still I am so surprised that a 100 watt heater is so slow bringing
>> about a 4F degree rise.
>>
>> The real lesson is to not tempt the powers controlling luck. Their
>> sense of humor is very challenging! <g>
>>
>> dick
>
>Well, the heater gods haven't exactly been smiling on me over the last few
>weeks either :-(
>
>We are at least starting to get down to near normal temps now...at long
>last.
>
>I always find everytime I think all is well something happens and it all
>goes "pear shaped" again....we call it "sods law" over here - lol
>
>Hope you get it all sorted
>Gill
>
Hi Gill,

I got a heater in the tank, but am still moving the temperature
control to get to 78f. Move and wait. <g>

Bad things happen in threes, right? I figured the two being pretty
bad, maybe there wouldn't be a third. "Wrong!" Started doing dishes
only to find no hot water. Found the pilot not lit. While lighting
the pilot, I smelled gas. Probed around with the starter gadget and
found I could add an extra flame outside the main gas supply. Good
thing to discover and fixed with a tightened nut.

I sure am glad yesterday is gone! <g>

If my saying "man is a problem solving animal, take away his problems
and you take away his reason for living" is true, I lived a
"meaningful life yesterday. Yours is always "meaningful" it appears!
<g>

dick

[lgb]

In article >,
says...
> Probed around with the starter gadget and
> found I could add an extra flame outside the main gas supply
>
You've got to be kidding!

Or are you contesting for the Darwin Awards?

--
BNSF = Build Now, Seep Forever

[George Pontis]

In article >,
says...
Go
> I decided to test the 100 watt heater in a 2 gallon bucket. My cold
> tap water is coming out about 79 degrees, so I tossed in a few
> handfuls of ice and got the temperature down to 73F. I am amazed
> considering the lengthy thread about heater size. It took over an
> hour to bring the water from 73F to 77F with the 100 watt heater. Two
> gallons of water, 4F degrees rise, one hour. This is the heater I
> will put into a 10 gallon tank.

If you put any heater near vertical in a bucket of water it will take a long time
to heat it. This is because the water near the coils warms quickly, then rises
around the heater's thermostat. This causes the heater to shut off prematurely.
Check the indicator light to verify this. With circulation from a powerhead or
other pump I think you would have seen much better performance. (More than just
contribution from the 10-25W heat load from the PH itself) Alternatively, set the
heater horizontally.

Similar logic applies when locating a heater in the aquarium. If it works with the
tank decor, an excellent configuration is horizontal heater mounting with the end
of the heater bulb near a filter inlet.

[Dick]

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 08:46:03 -0700, lgb > wrote:

>In article >,
says...
>> Probed around with the starter gadget and
>> found I could add an extra flame outside the main gas supply
>>
>You've got to be kidding!
>
>Or are you contesting for the Darwin Awards?

Dumb, right?

But, I had the starter in my hand, and I would have to get a spray
bottle and put some soap water in it, then come back to the water
heater....well, the heater is outside! <g>

Yeah, dumb!

dick

[Dick]

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 11:48:43 -0700, George Pontis
> wrote:

>In article >,
>says...
> Go
>> I decided to test the 100 watt heater in a 2 gallon bucket. My cold
>> tap water is coming out about 79 degrees, so I tossed in a few
>> handfuls of ice and got the temperature down to 73F. I am amazed
>> considering the lengthy thread about heater size. It took over an
>> hour to bring the water from 73F to 77F with the 100 watt heater. Two
>> gallons of water, 4F degrees rise, one hour. This is the heater I
>> will put into a 10 gallon tank.
>
>If you put any heater near vertical in a bucket of water it will take a long time
>to heat it. This is because the water near the coils warms quickly, then rises
>around the heater's thermostat. This causes the heater to shut off prematurely.
>Check the indicator light to verify this. With circulation from a powerhead or
>other pump I think you would have seen much better performance. (More than just
>contribution from the 10-25W heat load from the PH itself) Alternatively, set the
>heater horizontally.
>
>Similar logic applies when locating a heater in the aquarium. If it works with the
>tank decor, an excellent configuration is horizontal heater mounting with the end
>of the heater bulb near a filter inlet.

Never the less, most people, myself included, put their heaters in a
vertical position, thus the time to heat the bucket is no different
than for a fish tank with the heater vertical. So, beware of rapid
ambient temperatures in the room. Lower wattage heaters may not keep
up.

I was just surprised. I had a150 watt heater that went bad and
replaced it with 100 watts following thoughts expressed in the group
last winter. (I keep backups for lots of things since I have no LFS),
now I will have to reconsider watt per gallon again when and if I need
to restock (I bought two 100 watt heaters as I have 3 ten gallon
tanks,so I still have one left).

dick

[George Pontis]

In article >,
says...

>
> Never the less, most people, myself included, put their heaters in a
> vertical position, thus the time to heat the bucket is no different
> than for a fish tank with the heater vertical.

Vertical is OK if the heater is in an area of good water circulation. Again,
positioning it near a filter intake works well. The circulation of water due to
the filter in the aquarium is much better than the circulation of water in the
bucket, so I think that it is different. A drop of malachite green makes it easy
to visualize the currents in the tank.

> So, beware of rapid ambient temperatures in the room. Lower wattage heaters may not keep
> up.

Higher power heaters will not keep up as well as you expect when the problem is
self-heating. They will just turn on for a shorter period of time, so on average
you only get a fraction of the heat output that it is capable of delivering. To
put a number to it, my guess is that a good 50W heater with thorough circulation
around it would heat up a 10G tank faster than a 100W heater in stagnant water.

The most revealing test is to just observe the light on the heater when it is
trying to warm the tank by a few degrees. If it is cycling on and off and only on
for half the time, then you are only getting half the heating that it could
provide. I tried this with my favorite inexpensive heater, the Hagen Tronic.
Placed in an area of good circulation it goes on 100% until the temp is right on
what the dial says. Mounted vertically away from good flow, it takes a long time
to warm the tank and the regulation is poor.

[NetMax]

"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 22:04:18 +0100, "Gill Passman"
> <gillspamattaylorpassmanspam.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Dick" > wrote in message
<snip>

> Found the pilot not lit. While lighting
> the pilot, I smelled gas. Probed around with the starter gadget and
> found I could add an extra flame outside the main gas supply. Good
> thing to discover and fixed with a tightened nut.

This speaks to the varied definition of a 'wimp' ;~)

You're a braver man than I in this event (some would add more adjectives
to braver, but that's not the point).
--
www.NetMax.tk

> I sure am glad yesterday is gone! <g>
>
> If my saying "man is a problem solving animal, take away his problems
> and you take away his reason for living" is true, I lived a
> "meaningful life yesterday. Yours is always "meaningful" it appears!
> <g>
>
> dick

[Gill Passman]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
> "Dick" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 22:04:18 +0100, "Gill Passman"
> > <gillspamattaylorpassmanspam.co.uk> wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>"Dick" > wrote in message
> <snip>
>
> > Found the pilot not lit. While lighting
> > the pilot, I smelled gas. Probed around with the starter gadget and
> > found I could add an extra flame outside the main gas supply. Good
> > thing to discover and fixed with a tightened nut.
>
> This speaks to the varied definition of a 'wimp' ;~)
>
> You're a braver man than I in this event (some would add more adjectives
> to braver, but that's not the point).
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>
> > I sure am glad yesterday is gone! <g>
> >
> > If my saying "man is a problem solving animal, take away his problems
> > and you take away his reason for living" is true, I lived a
> > "meaningful life yesterday. Yours is always "meaningful" it appears!
> > <g>
> >
> > dick
>
>
I had a boiler problem...I called someone in...wimp or sensible? And yes, I
changed my life today but not by fixing the boiler.....

Gill

[bassett]

I,ve read this thread,, It's Rocket Science. The factors involved, defy all
forms of logic, But the question remains, do with have the heater
positioned, with the little suckers, vertical, horizontal, 45 degree, 33
degrees. or are they like mine, They just sort of hang there, mixed up in
the weed, because the little suckers, refuse to suck.There's one Heater,
that's got the end of the heater stuck in 2 inches of gravel. Does that
constitute under gravel heating.
But at the end of the day, regardless of how good or bad the heater is, it
should only need to heat one [1 ] degree to bring the water back up to
temperature.
bassett



"Gill Passman" <gillspamattaylorpassmanspam.co.uk> wrote in message
.. .
>
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "Dick" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 22:04:18 +0100, "Gill Passman"
>> > <gillspamattaylorpassmanspam.co.uk> wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >>"Dick" > wrote in message
>> <snip>
>>
>> > Found the pilot not lit. While lighting
>> > the pilot, I smelled gas. Probed around with the starter gadget and
>> > found I could add an extra flame outside the main gas supply. Good
>> > thing to discover and fixed with a tightened nut.
>>
>> This speaks to the varied definition of a 'wimp' ;~)
>>
>> You're a braver man than I in this event (some would add more adjectives
>> to braver, but that's not the point).
>> --
>> www.NetMax.tk
>>
>> > I sure am glad yesterday is gone! <g>
>> >
>> > If my saying "man is a problem solving animal, take away his problems
>> > and you take away his reason for living" is true, I lived a
>> > "meaningful life yesterday. Yours is always "meaningful" it appears!
>> > <g>
>> >
>> > dick
>>
>>
> I had a boiler problem...I called someone in...wimp or sensible? And yes,
> I
> changed my life today but not by fixing the boiler.....
>
> Gill
>
>

[Dick]

On Tue, 14 Jun 2005 19:09:30 -0400, "NetMax"
> wrote:

>"Dick" > wrote in message
...
>> On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 22:04:18 +0100, "Gill Passman"
>> <gillspamattaylorpassmanspam.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>"Dick" > wrote in message
><snip>
>
>> Found the pilot not lit. While lighting
>> the pilot, I smelled gas. Probed around with the starter gadget and
>> found I could add an extra flame outside the main gas supply. Good
>> thing to discover and fixed with a tightened nut.
>
>This speaks to the varied definition of a 'wimp' ;~)
>
>You're a braver man than I in this event (some would add more adjectives
>to braver, but that's not the point).

Something about "fools rush in where angels fear to go" seems
appropriate.

A follow up, yesterday I thought I still smelled gas. I got out the
spray bottle with soapy water and sprayed all the connections. I
found some slow leaking junctions the fire test failed to detect, so I
do suggest less "bravery" and more caution as well as better testing.

dick

[Dick]

On Wed, 15 Jun 2005 00:57:12 +0100, "Gill Passman"
<gillspamattaylorpassmanspam.co.uk> wrote:

>
>"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
>> "Dick" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 22:04:18 +0100, "Gill Passman"
>> > <gillspamattaylorpassmanspam.co.uk> wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >>"Dick" > wrote in message
>> <snip>
>>
>> > Found the pilot not lit. While lighting
>> > the pilot, I smelled gas. Probed around with the starter gadget and
>> > found I could add an extra flame outside the main gas supply. Good
>> > thing to discover and fixed with a tightened nut.
>>
>> This speaks to the varied definition of a 'wimp' ;~)
>>
>> You're a braver man than I in this event (some would add more adjectives
>> to braver, but that's not the point).
>> --
>> www.NetMax.tk
>>
>> > I sure am glad yesterday is gone! <g>
>> >
>> > If my saying "man is a problem solving animal, take away his problems
>> > and you take away his reason for living" is true, I lived a
>> > "meaningful life yesterday. Yours is always "meaningful" it appears!
>> > <g>
>> >
>> > dick
>>
>>
>I had a boiler problem...I called someone in...wimp or sensible? And yes, I
>changed my life today but not by fixing the boiler.....
>
>Gill
>
How do you resist the urge to "I can do it myself" mantra? Something
broke is something to fix even if I approach it with my negatives.

dick

[Dick]

On Tue, 14 Jun 2005 10:09:29 -0700, George Pontis
> wrote:

>In article >,
>says...
>
>>
>> Never the less, most people, myself included, put their heaters in a
>> vertical position, thus the time to heat the bucket is no different
>> than for a fish tank with the heater vertical.
>
>Vertical is OK if the heater is in an area of good water circulation. Again,
>positioning it near a filter intake works well. The circulation of water due to
>the filter in the aquarium is much better than the circulation of water in the
>bucket, so I think that it is different. A drop of malachite green makes it easy
>to visualize the currents in the tank.

I too believe in the value of good water circulation for other
reasons.
>
>> So, beware of rapid ambient temperatures in the room. Lower wattage heaters may not keep
>> up.
>
>Higher power heaters will not keep up as well as you expect when the problem is
>self-heating. They will just turn on for a shorter period of time, so on average
>you only get a fraction of the heat output that it is capable of delivering. To
>put a number to it, my guess is that a good 50W heater with thorough circulation
>around it would heat up a 10G tank faster than a 100W heater in stagnant water.

I disagree with your reasoning. The high watts "allow" the tank water
to be heated faster. If the heater does not reach potential output, I
call that good. The extra reserve is there if the ambient room
temperature should drop rapidly. Just the act of adding heat moves
the water by convection. However, active efforts to move water by
power filters or bubblers will make the tank temperature more
consistent. Even bottom tank temperature will be cooler than the top.
Not only does heat rise, but the tank lights are adding heat to the
top. Then there is the problem of what water is controlling the
temperature? Single bulb heaters have the thermostat located directly
above the heating unit, so the cycling is all very local leaving the
tank sides and bottom cooler. I have sensing probes and put them near
the side of the tanks so the water near the heater is hotter than the
sides.

Nothing is perfect, but good water circulation is helpful in my
opinion.

>
>The most revealing test is to just observe the light on the heater when it is
>trying to warm the tank by a few degrees. If it is cycling on and off and only on
>for half the time, then you are only getting half the heating that it could
>provide. I tried this with my favorite inexpensive heater, the Hagen Tronic.
>Placed in an area of good circulation it goes on 100% until the temp is right on
>what the dial says. Mounted vertically away from good flow, it takes a long time
>to warm the tank and the regulation is poor.

There are some details missing in this discussion. I presume the
Hagen Tronic has a separate sensor probe. Where are you placing it
relative to the horizontal heater? What is the outside temperature?
I would hope the heater is not having to adjust for a few degrees. My
digital thermometers show no more than a few tenths of a degree
variation measured at the side middle of the tanks. What is the heater
length and what is the tank length? In a small tank with a heater
occupying most of the tank length heating could be pretty consistent,
however a long tank where the heater length is just a fraction of the
tank length temperatures are going to vary. Where are you sensing the
water temperature relative to the heater sensor and the heater, also
where is it relative to the tank top? Tank water is not consistent,
some areas warmer than others. Fortunately, the fish can choose their
own comfort zone.

I think you make a good argument for a horizontal placement and for
circulating the tank water. Most of us reach a practical compromise
and let the fish choose their own comfort zones. They seem to be
pretty forgiving.

dick

[Ecnerwal]

In article >,
Dick > wrote:

> ...when I noticed the Living Room
> 10 gallon tank was tracking room temperature, not the set tank
> temperature. Try as I might, nothing would coax the heater to come
> on. Again, I went to the garage and its backup components and
> retrieved a 100 watt electronic heater.

The average mechanical-thermostat aquarium heater is junk. So is the
average electronic-thermostat aquarium heater. So are most of the more
expensive ones you buy in the hopes that price tag equals quality. If
anybody makes a good one, I haven't seen it yet.

[[email protected]]

On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 00:00:09 GMT, Ecnerwal
> wrote:

>In article >,
> Dick > wrote:
>
>> ...when I noticed the Living Room
>> 10 gallon tank was tracking room temperature, not the set tank
>> temperature. Try as I might, nothing would coax the heater to come
>> on. Again, I went to the garage and its backup components and
>> retrieved a 100 watt electronic heater.
>
>The average mechanical-thermostat aquarium heater is junk. So is the
>average electronic-thermostat aquarium heater. So are most of the more
>expensive ones you buy in the hopes that price tag equals quality. If
>anybody makes a good one, I haven't seen it yet.


Dunno, I got a Won Brothers titanium heater with the digital display
and remote probe for the temp and it works famously. My temperature on
my 55 gallon tank never varies on the low side by more than a degree -
the only time the temp has really varied yet is when we have had a few
hot days and it went up a couple of degrees.

---scott

[Dick]

On Wed, 15 Jun 2005 19:33:36 +1000, "bassett"
> wrote:

>I,ve read this thread,, It's Rocket Science. The factors involved, defy all
>forms of logic, But the question remains, do with have the heater
>positioned, with the little suckers, vertical, horizontal, 45 degree, 33
>degrees. or are they like mine, They just sort of hang there, mixed up in
>the weed, because the little suckers, refuse to suck.There's one Heater,
>that's got the end of the heater stuck in 2 inches of gravel. Does that
>constitute under gravel heating.
> But at the end of the day, regardless of how good or bad the heater is, it
>should only need to heat one [1 ] degree to bring the water back up to
>temperature.
> bassett
>
>
>
Well stated Bassett. The more I think about the variables, the more I
think it isn't worth thinking about. Getting those suckers to stay
stuck is a losing game. I have gone to tying a tie wrap around the
tops to keep them out of the water. I am not ready to trust the water
safeness of the stainless heaters. I am not sure how one can keep
them in place, the wires are so stiff.

As to distribution of heat: In my 75 gallon tank, I have one 250
watt mounted vertically (with tie wrap). It is the self contained
version, thus no need to discuss horizontal mount. The tank is 48
inches wide and 20 inches tall. I got curious about the heat
distribution yesterday. (it is a laugh to consider heating in the
summer. The A/C absorbs heat and the tanks generate heat, a very
expensive battle) Anyway, I measured the temperature with a digital
probe and was surprised to find not 1 degree of variance from the
temperature at the heater itself. Next winter I will check again when
there is a greater difference between the rooms' ambient and the
tanks.

dick
>"Gill Passman" <gillspamattaylorpassmanspam.co.uk> wrote in message
.. .
>>
>> "NetMax" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> "Dick" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>> > On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 22:04:18 +0100, "Gill Passman"
>>> > <gillspamattaylorpassmanspam.co.uk> wrote:
>>> >
>>> >>
>>> >>"Dick" > wrote in message
>>> <snip>
>>>
>>> > Found the pilot not lit. While lighting
>>> > the pilot, I smelled gas. Probed around with the starter gadget and
>>> > found I could add an extra flame outside the main gas supply. Good
>>> > thing to discover and fixed with a tightened nut.
>>>
>>> This speaks to the varied definition of a 'wimp' ;~)
>>>
>>> You're a braver man than I in this event (some would add more adjectives
>>> to braver, but that's not the point).
>>> --
>>> www.NetMax.tk
>>>
>>> > I sure am glad yesterday is gone! <g>
>>> >
>>> > If my saying "man is a problem solving animal, take away his problems
>>> > and you take away his reason for living" is true, I lived a
>>> > "meaningful life yesterday. Yours is always "meaningful" it appears!
>>> > <g>
>>> >
>>> > dick
>>>
>>>
>> I had a boiler problem...I called someone in...wimp or sensible? And yes,
>> I
>> changed my life today but not by fixing the boiler.....
>>
>> Gill
>>
>>
>

[Dick]

On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 00:00:09 GMT, Ecnerwal
> wrote:

>In article >,
> Dick > wrote:
>
>> ...when I noticed the Living Room
>> 10 gallon tank was tracking room temperature, not the set tank
>> temperature. Try as I might, nothing would coax the heater to come
>> on. Again, I went to the garage and its backup components and
>> retrieved a 100 watt electronic heater.
>
>The average mechanical-thermostat aquarium heater is junk. So is the
>average electronic-thermostat aquarium heater. So are most of the more
>expensive ones you buy in the hopes that price tag equals quality. If
>anybody makes a good one, I haven't seen it yet.


When the choice is junk versus junk, may the best junk win. I am not
so critical. I have 5 tanks and have had problems with only 2 heaters
in 2 1/2 years. Not a great record, but not serious "junk" either.
One was a mechanical thermostat, the other electronic.

One advantage of the self contained mechancal heaters is there is only
one wire to fool with.

Enough, my head is reeling. So much theory and it is summer, who
needs heaters (except to feed the A/C)?

dick

[Dick]

On Wed, 15 Jun 2005 22:47:34 -0400, wrote:

>On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 00:00:09 GMT, Ecnerwal
> wrote:
>
>>In article >,
>> Dick > wrote:
>>
>>> ...when I noticed the Living Room
>>> 10 gallon tank was tracking room temperature, not the set tank
>>> temperature. Try as I might, nothing would coax the heater to come
>>> on. Again, I went to the garage and its backup components and
>>> retrieved a 100 watt electronic heater.
>>
>>The average mechanical-thermostat aquarium heater is junk. So is the
>>average electronic-thermostat aquarium heater. So are most of the more
>>expensive ones you buy in the hopes that price tag equals quality. If
>>anybody makes a good one, I haven't seen it yet.
>
>
>Dunno, I got a Won Brothers titanium heater with the digital display
>and remote probe for the temp and it works famously. My temperature on
>my 55 gallon tank never varies on the low side by more than a degree -
>the only time the temp has really varied yet is when we have had a few
>hot days and it went up a couple of degrees.
>
>---scott

I agree with you Scott. We have beat this one to death. I have a
couple of Won heaters as well as some mechanical heaters. I think
they do equally well. I monitor my 5 tanks with digital thermometers
and the probes are away from the heaters so I am not measuring changes
at the heater itself. I find the temperatures are constant within one
tenth of a degree. Of course my house is heated, so the room
temperatures, though they vary, are fairly constant.

dick