Heater preference?

[MarAzul]

I'll need to get a new heater sometime in the next month and was wondering
if any of you had preferences or horror stories to share. :)

I'm partial to the submersible heaters.. Kinda eyeballing the Hagen Thermal
Compact (200W). Thoughts?

Mar
-------------------------------------
"Did you find the gun?"
"Yeah.. it was in Buffy's underwear drawer. She has nice things."
"Show me."
"Well, I didnt take 'em but there were thongs and regular underpants..."
"Show me then gun!"

-Andrew and The First
-Buffy the Vampire Slayer

[Chris Palma]

Hi.

I got sucked in by the advertising on the "guardian" heaters (by Penn
Plax, I think). These are all black and are not made of glass. They
claim to be unbreakable, so supposedly less likely to have a catastrophic
failure. I have no idea if it is true, but it sounded good, and was about
the same price as the other heaters I was considering.

It has a simple +/- knob instead of a temperature scale on it, but I
figured out reasonably quickly where to set it to keep my aquarium at 76.
I've only had it a few months, but it has performed as advertised so far.

I couldn't find a picture of one anywhere except on eBay -- here is one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46311&item=2395151158&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

--chris



On Fri, 16 Apr 2004, MarAzul wrote:

> I'll need to get a new heater sometime in the next month and was wondering
> if any of you had preferences or horror stories to share. :)
>
> I'm partial to the submersible heaters.. Kinda eyeballing the Hagen Thermal
> Compact (200W). Thoughts?
>
> Mar
> -------------------------------------
> "Did you find the gun?"
> "Yeah.. it was in Buffy's underwear drawer. She has nice things."
> "Show me."
> "Well, I didnt take 'em but there were thongs and regular underpants..."
> "Show me then gun!"
>
> -Andrew and The First
> -Buffy the Vampire Slayer
>
>
>

[Andy Hill]

"MarAzul" > wrote:
>I'll need to get a new heater sometime in the next month and was wondering
>if any of you had preferences or horror stories to share. :)
>
>I'm partial to the submersible heaters.. Kinda eyeballing the Hagen Thermal
>Compact (200W). Thoughts?
>
Not really a horror story, but my last heater (a Hagen submersible) slowly
developed internal condensation, until one day (about 3 years after I installed
it) it failed in the "on" position. I caught it before the temperature had
advanced much into the "red zone", so no real harm done.

So far (after about a year), I'm still happy with its replacement (a Visitherm).
Temperature regulation is very accurate, and setting the temp is a breeze (there
is a big "thermometer" on either side of the heater that moves when you turn the
top dial -- no staring at fiddly little numbers on the top of the heater.

As far as rep goes, Visitherms and Ebo-Jagers seem to be at the top of the heap,
although I haven't really heard anything bad about the Hagens, either.

[MarAzul]

Thanks Chris and Andy.. :)

Just found this one.. Skipped past it before because it didn't say
submersible. However, it does say waterproof in the description. (One hopes
in this case they mean the same thing)

http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/ebo%2cjager/Class//T1/F45+0102+0002/Itemdy00.aspx

Mar
-------------------------------------
"Did you find the gun?"
"Yeah.. it was in Buffy's underwear drawer. She has nice things."
"Show me."
"Well, I didnt take 'em but there were thongs and regular underpants..."
"Show me then gun!"

-Andrew and The First
-Buffy the Vampire Slayer

[PurityFailed]

>
>http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/ebo%2cjager/Class//T1/F45+0102+00
02/Itemdy00.aspx
>
>Mar

*gasp*

Could that little blue dot possibly be a power button or an emergency cut-off?
Oh that would be grand. My powerstrip is difficult to get to so every time I
do a water change I'm terrified that my heater's going to crack. What a neat
addition one of those would be....

Here's to Wishful Thinking,

Jessica
Guess who just added her first plant. ;)

[PurityFailed]

Neeeeevermind. ;)

"Waterproof with a low water level protector safety switch which prevents glass
breakage due to thermal shock."


Here's to getting some more sleep before posting!

Jessica



>>
>>http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/ebo%2cjager/Class//T1/F45+0102+00
>02/Itemdy00.aspx
>>
>>Mar
>
>*gasp*
>
>Could that little blue dot possibly be a power button or an emergency
>cut-off?
>Oh that would be grand. My powerstrip is difficult to get to so every time I
>do a water change I'm terrified that my heater's going to crack. What a neat
>addition one of those would be....



Guess who just added her first plant. ;)

[Andy Hill]

"MarAzul" > wrote:
>Just found this one.. Skipped past it before because it didn't say
>submersible. However, it does say waterproof in the description. (One hopes
>in this case they mean the same thing)
>
>http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/ebo%2cjager/Class//T1/F45+0102+0002/Itemdy00.aspx
>
>Mar
>
Yeah, that's a good heater, and *is* submersible. Another one to look at (if
you want a 200W) would be
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/visitherm/Class//T1/F45+0062+0024/Itemdy00.aspx
which is the big brother of the heater I'm currently running (as I've said
before, I really don't like the fiddly little numbers at the top of heaters like
the ebo, but it's a personal preference thing...they're still top-notch heaters.

[NetMax]

"Andy Hill" > wrote in message
...
> "MarAzul" > wrote:
> >Just found this one.. Skipped past it before because it didn't say
> >submersible. However, it does say waterproof in the description. (One
hopes
> >in this case they mean the same thing)
> >
>
>http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/ebo%2cjager/Class//T1/F45+0102+0
002/Itemdy00.aspx
> >
> >Mar
> >
> Yeah, that's a good heater, and *is* submersible. Another one to look
at (if
> you want a 200W) would be
>
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/visitherm/Class//T1/F45+0062+0024/Itemdy00.aspx
> which is the big brother of the heater I'm currently running (as I've
said
> before, I really don't like the fiddly little numbers at the top of
heaters like
> the ebo, but it's a personal preference thing...they're still top-notch
heaters.

I'm partial to submersibles with a digital thermostat. The basic problem
with the analog thermostats, is that they wear out, and inside a
submersible, they cannot be serviced. Some of the newer analog
thermostats have a modification or plating which is supposed to improve
this, but the technology on the digital thermostats has matured enough,
so that's where my money goes (when I have enough money ;~). The heaters
I mostly use at work are Hagen's Tronics. These also have an
overtemperature cut-off (which keeps them from overheating when forgetful
people like me forget to turn them off when draining water). Check the
specs of the heaters available to you locally. I imagine all the digital
thermostat models have similar features. Look for thick glass. My Rena
Top Light uses 2mm glass (unfortunately mine's an analog).

NetMax

[MarAzul]

"Andy Hill" > wrote in message
...
> Yeah, that's a good heater, and *is* submersible. Another one to look at
(if
> you want a 200W) would be
>
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/visitherm/Class//T1/F45+0062+0024/Itemdy00.aspx
> which is the big brother of the heater I'm currently running (as I've said
> before, I really don't like the fiddly little numbers at the top of
heaters like
> the ebo, but it's a personal preference thing...they're still top-notch
heaters.
>

Hmmm... I'm not crazy about the "fiddly little numbers" either. :) But I
have heard lots of great things about Ebo. ::sigh:: What to do...

Mar

[luminos]

I like the Hagen fully electronic heaters. For me, they have been reliable
and accurate.

"MarAzul" > wrote in message
news:dYVfc.10059$dZ1.2894@fed1read04...
> I'll need to get a new heater sometime in the next month and was wondering
> if any of you had preferences or horror stories to share. :)
>
> I'm partial to the submersible heaters.. Kinda eyeballing the Hagen
Thermal
> Compact (200W). Thoughts?
>
> Mar
> -------------------------------------
> "Did you find the gun?"
> "Yeah.. it was in Buffy's underwear drawer. She has nice things."
> "Show me."
> "Well, I didnt take 'em but there were thongs and regular underpants..."
> "Show me then gun!"
>
> -Andrew and The First
> -Buffy the Vampire Slayer
>
>

[luminos]

http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/F45/Class/Fish+Supplies+Heaters/T1/F45+0171+0038/Itemdy00.aspx

"luminos" > wrote in message
...
> I like the Hagen fully electronic heaters. For me, they have been
reliable
> and accurate.
>
> "MarAzul" > wrote in message
> news:dYVfc.10059$dZ1.2894@fed1read04...
> > I'll need to get a new heater sometime in the next month and was
wondering
> > if any of you had preferences or horror stories to share. :)
> >
> > I'm partial to the submersible heaters.. Kinda eyeballing the Hagen
> Thermal
> > Compact (200W). Thoughts?
> >
> > Mar
> > -------------------------------------
> > "Did you find the gun?"
> > "Yeah.. it was in Buffy's underwear drawer. She has nice things."
> > "Show me."
> > "Well, I didnt take 'em but there were thongs and regular underpants..."
> > "Show me then gun!"
> >
> > -Andrew and The First
> > -Buffy the Vampire Slayer
> >
> >
>
>

[Polarhound]

Chris Palma wrote:

> Hi.
>
> I got sucked in by the advertising on the "guardian" heaters (by Penn
> Plax, I think). These are all black and are not made of glass. They
> claim to be unbreakable, so supposedly less likely to have a catastrophic
> failure. I have no idea if it is true, but it sounded good, and was about
> the same price as the other heaters I was considering.

I know someone with a fish that could test that.. His 14" buttikoferi
likes to use 300w heaters as chew toys.

[E.Otter]

I have used Visitherm submersible heaters and I am very happy with them.
E.Otter

[Miss Anne Thrope]

I like my Pro Heat II better than any other heater I've used in the last
25 years. It was also the most expensive........by far.

[The Outcaste]

On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 17:23:13 -0600, Andy Hill >
bubbled forth the following:

>"MarAzul" > wrote:
>>Just found this one.. Skipped past it before because it didn't say
>>submersible. However, it does say waterproof in the description. (One hopes
>>in this case they mean the same thing)
>>
>>http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/ebo%2cjager/Class//T1/F45+0102+0002/Itemdy00.aspx
>>
>>Mar
>>
>Yeah, that's a good heater, and *is* submersible. Another one to look at (if
>you want a 200W) would be
>http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/visitherm/Class//T1/F45+0062+0024/Itemdy00.aspx
>which is the big brother of the heater I'm currently running (as I've said
>before, I really don't like the fiddly little numbers at the top of heaters like
>the ebo, but it's a personal preference thing...they're still top-notch heaters.

I have just one complaint with the visitherms -- the adjustment knob
is cone shaped. Once a little slime builds up, it's very hard to
change the temp without using both hands, as your fingers tend to slip
off the knob.

As changing temp is not a frequent occurrence, it's a small point.
--
Experience is the hardest kind of teacher. It gives you the test first, and the lesson afterward. - Anonymous

[MartinOsirus]

get a tronic or ebo-jager heater

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Heater preference?
>From: "E.Otter"
>Date: 4/17/2004 9:12 AM Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: . net>
>
>I have used Visitherm submersible heaters and I am very happy with them.
>E.Otter

Just out of curiostiy, how do you folks pronounce Visitherm?
The first part...the vis...do you say it like "is", or more like in the word
"visor" long or short "I"?
I've heard shop keepers say it both ways and am wondering which is correct.

[The Outcaste]

On 22 Apr 2004 15:46:53 GMT, (TYNK 7) bubbled forth the
following:

>>Subject: Re: Heater preference?
>>From: "E.Otter"
>>Date: 4/17/2004 9:12 AM Central Daylight Time
>>Message-id: . net>
>>
>>I have used Visitherm submersible heaters and I am very happy with them.
>>E.Otter
>
>Just out of curiostiy, how do you folks pronounce Visitherm?
>The first part...the vis...do you say it like "is", or more like in the word
>"visor" long or short "I"?
>I've heard shop keepers say it both ways and am wondering which is correct.

My guess is vis as in rhymes with is. I believe they formed the name
from a contraction of "visible thermometer"
--
Did you know that if you were to take the intestines from a 6 ft tall, 195 pound man, and lay them in a straight line, the man would die?

[Al]

I certainly have to agree with the knob issue.
It really makes a person wonder what idiot tested these things. They
couldn't have tested them wet. I discovered this issue long before
"slime" built up.

Besides that, I'm pleased with the heater. I find the temperature
indicator very accurate.


>I have just one complaint with the visitherms -- the adjustment knob
>is cone shaped. Once a little slime builds up, it's very hard to
>change the temp without using both hands, as your fingers tend to slip
>off the knob.
>
>As changing temp is not a frequent occurrence, it's a small point.

--
The letter 'Q' has been added to my otherwise valid email address for spam protection.
To email me please remove the 'Q'.

[Velvet]

TYNK 7 wrote:

>>Subject: Re: Heater preference?
>>From: "E.Otter"
>>Date: 4/17/2004 9:12 AM Central Daylight Time
>>Message-id: . net>
>>
>>I have used Visitherm submersible heaters and I am very happy with them.
>>E.Otter
>
>
> Just out of curiostiy, how do you folks pronounce Visitherm?
> The first part...the vis...do you say it like "is", or more like in the word
> "visor" long or short "I"?
> I've heard shop keepers say it both ways and am wondering which is correct.

Being in the uk, I pronounce it V-is-ie-therm - so is, and then short
'i'. As in 'visible'. Seemed to make sense, since it allows you to see
the temp you've set it to.

Velvet

[luminos]

"TYNK 7" > wrote in message
...
> >Subject: Re: Heater preference?
> >From: "E.Otter"
> >Date: 4/17/2004 9:12 AM Central Daylight Time
> >Message-id: . net>
> >
> >I have used Visitherm submersible heaters and I am very happy with them.
> >E.Otter
>
> Just out of curiostiy, how do you folks pronounce Visitherm?
> The first part...the vis...do you say it like "is", or more like in the
word
> "visor" long or short "I"?
> I've heard shop keepers say it both ways and am wondering which is
correct.

The main problem with these heaters are the rubber cup holders that
deteriorate to unusable very quickly.