Catfish Problem and Heter Problem

Folks, thanks for listening: 55 gal, Soft water pH 6.8, planted. 5
cardinals, 10 Black Neon tetras, 2 1" SAE, 1 Clown Pelco (Which I never see)
and one pair German blue Rams. 0 Ammonia, Nitrites, 5ppm Nitrates. (I've
tried keeping freshwater shrimp in the tank but they all disappear w/in a
day or so.)

Up 'till a few days ago my little Corydoras Julii would move all over
the aquarium, searching out food. (The tank has been established for about
5 months.) Now, he sits in the back not moving much. He seems fine, the
dorsal din is up and his gills are moving, but he doesn't come out much
anymore. Sometime I have to hunt to find him in the planted tank. Anyone
else seen this behavior? The only thing I've changed is that I've added a
Reva XP2 canister filter to the tank in combination to my Marineland 350
Biowheel. It really sets up a current! I was a bit worried about how much
flow the tank was getting but the neon's actually seem to like the current:
They school over to the inlet valve and 'ride the current'. By the way,
would this be too much current for discus, which I'm planning down the
road? I understand they prefer still water. But it sure keeps the tank
clean!

Also I purchased a Jager heater 5 months ago and it kept the water w/in
2 degrees of what I had set it at: 82F. Now it won't go over 80F even if I
have the dial maxed out. (I've checked the temp with two thermo's.) Dog of
a heater?

Thanks for any advise/help/comments. Please excuse this run on post!

In article t,
says...

Also I purchased a Jager heater 5 months ago and it kept the water w/in
2 degrees of what I had set it at: 82F. Now it won't go over 80F even if I
have the dial maxed out. (I've checked the temp with two thermo's.) Dog of
a heater?



Probably not a bad unit, certainly E-J makes quality heaters. A common problem
with all one piece submersible heaters is that the heating end of the tube can
warm up the water around the top or thermostat end of tube. Then the heater shuts
off prematurely, before the water in the aquarium has reached the setpoint. Two
things that you can do to reduce the impact of this a 1) mount the heater
horizontally and low, or 2) mount the heater next to a filter inlet or outlet that
will provide good circulation around it.

Since you have just added a filter I am guessing that you might have moved the
heater or possibly repositioned it. You might try horizontal mounting if you are
not already doing so. Just turn the dial back to a reasonable position in case
this fixes the problem. If the EJ does not perform as well as it used to, when
mounted horizontally, then I would suspect a bad unit.

I recently set up a new tank with an Hydor In-line heater. These things plumb into
the line between the tank and a canister filter or return pump. The self-heating
problem of submersibles is not a challenge with these, and it is pleasing to
eliminate the heater from the display area of the aquarium. Cost was higher
though, over $40 for a 300W heater. It was worth it for me, in that application.

George

Thanks very much!
"George Pontis" wrote in message
t...
In article t,

says...

Also I purchased a Jager heater 5 months ago and it kept the water
w/in
2 degrees of what I had set it at: 82F. Now it won't go over 80F even
if I
have the dial maxed out. (I've checked the temp with two thermo's.) Dog
of
a heater?



Probably not a bad unit, certainly E-J makes quality heaters. A common
problem
with all one piece submersible heaters is that the heating end of the tube
can
warm up the water around the top or thermostat end of tube. Then the
heater shuts
off prematurely, before the water in the aquarium has reached the
setpoint. Two
things that you can do to reduce the impact of this a 1) mount the
heater
horizontally and low, or 2) mount the heater next to a filter inlet or
outlet that
will provide good circulation around it.

Since you have just added a filter I am guessing that you might have moved
the
heater or possibly repositioned it. You might try horizontal mounting if
you are
not already doing so. Just turn the dial back to a reasonable position in
case
this fixes the problem. If the EJ does not perform as well as it used to,
when
mounted horizontally, then I would suspect a bad unit.

I recently set up a new tank with an Hydor In-line heater. These things
plumb into
the line between the tank and a canister filter or return pump. The
self-heating
problem of submersibles is not a challenge with these, and it is pleasing
to
eliminate the heater from the display area of the aquarium. Cost was
higher
though, over $40 for a 300W heater. It was worth it for me, in that
application.

George

Ebo used to make good heaters (the green ones were the best around).

But it you have one of the blue ones - keep and eye on it ,just as a precaution.
I've learned the hard way "they just don't make em like they used to" is true with ebos :'(

Yea, I got one of the blue ones... Time to get another heather NOT Ebo...
"admin" wrote in message
. ..
Ebo used to make good heaters (the green ones were the best around).

But it you have one of the blue ones - keep and eye on it ,just as a
precaution.
I've learned the hard way "they just don't make em like they used to" is
true with ebos :'(