submersible heaters

[lgb]

I've been looking at submersible heaters. I liked the Via Aqua titanium
one with the separate control, but after reading the reviews, the
love/hate ratio is about 50/50 so I'm scratching that one.

Everbody seems to like the VisiTherm Stealth, except for the bright red
button :-).

I may well go with that, but after browsing in the local fish stores,
I'm also impressed with the AllGlass and the Rena submersibles. I'd
like comments from any and all who've had experience with either one.

--
BNSF = Build Now, Seep Forever

[Billy]

"lgb" > wrote in message
...
> I've been looking at submersible heaters. I liked the Via Aqua
> titanium
> one with the separate control, but after reading the reviews, the
> love/hate ratio is about 50/50 so I'm scratching that one.
>


I've gone to Ebo-Jager in all tanks, fresh and marine. IMO, best mix
of cost vs. function.

billy

[Daniel Morrow]

"Billy" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> "lgb" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I've been looking at submersible heaters. I liked the Via Aqua
> > titanium
> > one with the separate control, but after reading the reviews, the
> > love/hate ratio is about 50/50 so I'm scratching that one.
> >
>
>
> I've gone to Ebo-Jager in all tanks,

I use exclusively ebo-jager in all of my tanks as well. They are great BUT I
will buy visitherm stealths in the future exclusively as it is much more
reliable seeming and I have heard that the current models of ebo-jagers are
being phased out by the company producing them. I recommend visitherm
stealths over all others, then the hydor submersibles, then the tronics,
then the renas, then all of the other generics (i.e. ebo-jagers, etc.). Good
luck and later!

fresh and marine. IMO, best mix
> of cost vs. function.
>
> billy
>
>

[CanadianCray]

EBO-JAGER all the way!!!!


"lgb" > wrote in message
...
> I've been looking at submersible heaters. I liked the Via Aqua titanium
> one with the separate control, but after reading the reviews, the
> love/hate ratio is about 50/50 so I'm scratching that one.
>
> Everbody seems to like the VisiTherm Stealth, except for the bright red
> button :-).
>
> I may well go with that, but after browsing in the local fish stores,
> I'm also impressed with the AllGlass and the Rena submersibles. I'd
> like comments from any and all who've had experience with either one.
>
> --
> BNSF = Build Now, Seep Forever

[tropical]

I tried the EBO-JAGER and found the calibration to be off and hard to
adjust and maintain the temperature. Plus, it is so visible and hard
to hide. It would pop out of its suction cup bracket.

I'm a VisiTherm Stealth fan,. I have two of them. One in the 55
gallon and one in a 29 gallon. That red button is a sore point but if
you adjust the height to where the black top is even with the water
surface you can't see it. The adjustable temperature dail is right
on. They are easy to hide. The one in the 55 gallon is mounted right
in the middle of the tank and you have to look for it to locate it.

My future 29 gallon will have a VisiTherm Sleath.



On Sun, 7 Aug 2005 19:50:52 -0400, "CanadianCray" >
wrote:

>EBO-JAGER all the way!!!!
>
>
>"lgb" > wrote in message
...
>> I've been looking at submersible heaters. I liked the Via Aqua titanium
>> one with the separate control, but after reading the reviews, the
>> love/hate ratio is about 50/50 so I'm scratching that one.
>>
>> Everbody seems to like the VisiTherm Stealth, except for the bright red
>> button :-).
>>
>> I may well go with that, but after browsing in the local fish stores,
>> I'm also impressed with the AllGlass and the Rena submersibles. I'd
>> like comments from any and all who've had experience with either one.
>>
>> --
>> BNSF = Build Now, Seep Forever
>

[Ross Vandegrift]

On 2005-08-07, lgb > wrote:
> I may well go with that, but after browsing in the local fish stores,
> I'm also impressed with the AllGlass and the Rena submersibles. I'd
> like comments from any and all who've had experience with either one.

I have the Marineland Dual Temperature one - it's an interesting idea.
Non-adjustable - you can pick two temperature (I think 74F and 80F).
The heater is specifically designed to maintain either one very
accurately.

It's kind of a grey/black color, so it doesn't hide too easily, and
during and Ich outbreak, I did wish I could've pushed the temperature a
little higher (actually ended up adding a second heater to take it to
82, ish). All in all, it's not bad, but I wouldn't buy it again.


--
Ross Vandegrift

"The good Christian should beware of mathematicians, and all those who
make empty prophecies. The danger already exists that the mathematicians
have made a covenant with the devil to darken the spirit and to confine
man in the bonds of Hell."
--St. Augustine, De Genesi ad Litteram, Book II, xviii, 37

[Derek W. Benson]

On Sun, 7 Aug 2005 14:10:40 -0700, lgb > wrote:

>I've been looking at submersible heaters. I liked the Via Aqua titanium
>one with the separate control, but after reading the reviews, the
>love/hate ratio is about 50/50 so I'm scratching that one.
>
>Everbody seems to like the VisiTherm Stealth, except for the bright red
>button :-).
>
>I may well go with that, but after browsing in the local fish stores,
>I'm also impressed with the AllGlass and the Rena submersibles. I'd
>like comments from any and all who've had experience with either one.

I use Rena heaters. I don't have any trouble with them and the ones I
have have lasted forever.

-Derek

[NetMax]

"Derek W. Benson" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 7 Aug 2005 14:10:40 -0700, lgb > wrote:
>
>>I've been looking at submersible heaters. I liked the Via Aqua
>>titanium
>>one with the separate control, but after reading the reviews, the
>>love/hate ratio is about 50/50 so I'm scratching that one.
>>
>>Everbody seems to like the VisiTherm Stealth, except for the bright
>>red
>>button :-).
>>
>>I may well go with that, but after browsing in the local fish stores,
>>I'm also impressed with the AllGlass and the Rena submersibles. I'd
>>like comments from any and all who've had experience with either one.
>
> I use Rena heaters. I don't have any trouble with them and the ones I
> have have lasted forever.
>
> -Derek

I bought a Rena when they first came out because the specs were great,
and took 2 back as defective and kept the 3rd as it was only grossly
offset in temperature (but tracked well). I've since bought Rena again
and they are fine now, so it was growing pains for a new product. I've
used Thermals (ok, nothing special), and Tronics (very nice). I'm very
happy to see more competition on the market now.

Note that Rena is an analog heater and some of the others (ie: Tronics)
are digital, so that's not an even comparison. When analog contacts
can't be serviced (as in a submersible), you're better off with a digital
heater (though the new analog contacts are much much better than the old
HOB heaters like Radiants). jmo
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Mr. Zee]

I had bad luck with the Jager heater too and will never but one again. I
only had it for 6 months but within the last month I've hadto keep it at 90
degrees for the real temp to be 80. More importantly it fluctuates 5
degrees or more at times. For a heater that is supposed to be the best, it
aint!

[lgb]

In article >,
says...
> Note that Rena is an analog heater and some of the others (ie: Tronics)
> are digital, so that's not an even comparison. When analog contacts
> can't be serviced (as in a submersible), you're better off with a digital
> heater (though the new analog contacts are much much better than the old
> HOB heaters like Radiants). jmo
>
I don't know if the Stealth or AllGlass are digital or not. It wasn't
obvious in the online ads I read. I'll look again, but if someone knows
for sure, please post. I'll look at the Tronics.

--
BNSF = Build Now, Seep Forever

[Guido]

lgb wrote:
> I've been looking at submersible heaters. I liked the Via Aqua titanium
> one with the separate control, but after reading the reviews, the
> love/hate ratio is about 50/50 so I'm scratching that one.
>
> Everbody seems to like the VisiTherm Stealth, except for the bright red
> button :-).
>
> I may well go with that, but after browsing in the local fish stores,
> I'm also impressed with the AllGlass and the Rena submersibles. I'd
> like comments from any and all who've had experience with either one.
>
I saw this topic title and thought, "Gee, I bet those Russian sailors
could've used a submersible heater this week..."

[Daniel Morrow]

"Mr. Zee" > wrote in message
nk.net...
> I had bad luck with the Jager heater too and will never but one again. I
> only had it for 6 months but within the last month I've hadto keep it at
90
> degrees for the real temp to be 80. More importantly it fluctuates 5
> degrees or more at times. For a heater that is supposed to be the best,
it
> aint!
>
>

What you experienced is what I experienced too - all of it. I often wonder
if I should unplug all of my ebo-jager heaters on hot days to keep the
temperature reasonable. Fortunately I have high temperature fish so it
doesn't appear to be necessary. Keep in mind that some heaters including the
ebo-jagers might only have that proper accuracy of temperature when they are
properly sized for the particular tank as mine might all be misbehaving
because all of my heaters are oversized (and in some cases overkill). You
can think of it this way = the heater turns on when the temperature drops
and when the temperature then gets normal the heater shuts off but because
it is oversized the heat continues to be released even when the heater is
shut off and the temperature gets too high and takes longer to turn on as
the thermostat is internal and still registers at the high temperature and
so doesn't turn on at the proper time. This all seems to confuse the
thermostat. Lesson newbies would care to not learn - buy the proper (not
oversized or overkill) sized heater for the tank it will be used in. As a
further reference to sort of base my findings on fact check out that fish
place's paper catalog and turn to the heater section. There you will find
that according to that fish place's recommendation you shouldn't buy a big
heater for a small tank, I.e. the large heaters list as null in the charts
for smaller tanks. Good luck and later!

[lgb]

In article >,
says...
> You
> can think of it this way = the heater turns on when the temperature drops
> and when the temperature then gets normal the heater shuts off but because
> it is oversized the heat continues to be released even when the heater is
> shut off and the temperature gets too high and takes longer to turn on as
> the thermostat is internal and still registers at the high temperature and
> so doesn't turn on at the proper time. This all seems to confuse the
> thermostat. Lesson newbies would care to not learn - buy the proper (not
> oversized or overkill) sized heater for the tank it will be used in.
>
Of course, "proper" is in the eye of the beholder. A lot of folks say 5
watts per gallon. Baensch says 2-3. I follow his recommendation. If
my tanks were in an unheated basement, I'd go with the 5.

--
BNSF = Build Now, Seep Forever

[Daniel Morrow]

"Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Mr. Zee" > wrote in message
> nk.net...
> > I had bad luck with the Jager heater too and will never but one again. I
> > only had it for 6 months but within the last month I've hadto keep it
at
> 90
> > degrees for the real temp to be 80. More importantly it fluctuates 5
> > degrees or more at times. For a heater that is supposed to be the best,
> it
> > aint!
> >
> >
>
> What you experienced is what I experienced too - all of it. I often wonder
> if I should unplug all of my ebo-jager heaters on hot days to keep the
> temperature reasonable. Fortunately I have high temperature fish so it
> doesn't appear to be necessary. Keep in mind that some heaters including
the
> ebo-jagers might only have that proper accuracy of temperature when they
are
> properly sized for the particular tank as mine might all be misbehaving
> because all of my heaters are oversized (and in some cases overkill). You
> can think of it this way = the heater turns on when the temperature drops
> and when the temperature then gets normal the heater shuts off but because
> it is oversized the heat continues to be released even when the heater is
> shut off and the temperature gets too high and takes longer to turn on as
> the thermostat is internal and still registers at the high temperature and
> so doesn't turn on at the proper time. This all seems to confuse the
> thermostat. Lesson newbies would care to not learn - buy the proper (not
> oversized or overkill) sized heater for the tank it will be used in. As a
> further reference to sort of base my findings on fact check out that fish
> place's paper catalog and turn to the heater section. There you will find
> that according to that fish place's recommendation you shouldn't buy a big
> heater for a small tank, I.e. the large heaters list as null in the charts
> for smaller tanks. Good luck and later!
>
>

In my latest catalog it lists the ebo-jager 250 watt heater for 90 gallon
tanks and up, the 75 watt heater for 15-20 gallon tanks but apparently not
for 10 gallon tanks. Maybe I am reading too much into the charts but it
really seems to me that overkill with an aquarium heater can be
disadvantageous (and not necessarily just financially). Compare the charts
for yourself. Just thought I would expand upon my previous post - later.