Ebo-jager users read

[ROLLIN]

I got this heater about a month ago but just put it in a tank tonight. I filled the tank and then put the thermometer in, it read about 76. When I put the heater in, it wouldnt come on until the dial was to at least 79. Then I tried some different temperatures. Sometimes it would come on at 80, 81, etc then if I moved the dial and the moved it back to the temp I just tried, the light stays off. Im thinking this is a screwy heater. Right now its set at 79 so I'll wait till tomorrow and see what the temperature is. If the temperature stays constant, what would you do, keep it or try to exchange it? I want to keep it if possible because I need to move a fish from one of my other tanks.

[ChilDawg]

That doesn't seem right...aren't Ebo-Jagers the benchmark of reliability? I'd try exchanging it and see what happens with another one from the same brand.

[ROLLIN]

This is one of those "blue top" models, I read alot of complaints online about them after I ordered it. I hope bigals will still take it back.....

[scott]

I read some complaints too but I have never really had a problem with any of mine (currently five). All of the complaints that I read were from australia and I believe were do to a resealing issue for a different power supply. Search this forum I know there were posts.

[ROLLIN]

There was posts about it, I was the one who started the thread.

[dethjam316]

yea, i posted to that thread...i bought a 150W bluetop model and used to it to set up a 29g tank for my father...originally, i thought it was a calibration problem, because it was around 74 when i had it set at 80. so i turned it up to 83, figured i'd see if it was true.

however, i have now judged the thing a complete piece of junk and removed it from the tank. last time i visited home, the tank temp was 72. until i can get a real replacement, i have a cheap $6 100W hagen product that is actually working. at least the tank temp is 79 now, finally...

a 150W shouldn't struggle to raise the temp from 68 to 79 in a 29g...

[ROLLIN]

Just got off the phone with sylvia from bigals, she told me to send the heater in and she will test it. If its defective (which it most certainly is), I will get bigals credit, if she doesnt find it to be defective, shes sending it back to me.

[rus]

how long did you have it in the water before you tried to set it. heaters need to adjust to the water temp in your tank before you turn them on. when changing the setting allow at least a few hours after changing to check the tank temp.

[Tyler718]

Originally posted by rus
how long did you have it in the water before you tried to set it. heaters need to adjust to the water temp in your tank before you turn them on. when changing the setting allow at least a few hours after changing to check the tank temp.

I have an Ebo-Jabber that did the same thing in my 60g. What rus posted fixed the problem. The temp of the tank now matches what is on the thermometer. Haven't had a problem since.

Dave

[cpr4cpu]

you should never throw a heater in and turn it on. Of course it won't work right.
The ceramic and heating elements should always be given time to acclimate to the tank before plugging it in. As for settings, I will set mine to 79, wait a day then plug it in. Now I have 80 every day, all the time.

[ChilDawg]

The directions almost always say at least 15 minutes of acclimitization time, but I usually go above and beyond that if the tank temperature isn't too low.

[ROLLIN]

The heater was in the tank for about 20 minutes before I plugged it in.

[ChilDawg]

I just wanted to make sure that people saw that, but I'm glad to know that you did wait for the whole amount of time.

[ROLLIN]

Well I just put the heater in my biggest bucket in a cooler than average room, I'll wait until tomorrow to plug it in. The bucket is only 5 or 6 gallons but the room is cool so it should work out. The main problem is like I said in my first post, if it come on at 79, then if I turned it up and then back to 79 the light will go off. I dont see how leaving it for a day unplugged will fix this.

[rus]

the t-stats have a very large differential so that would be normal. they are made to be set then left alone for long time. also the temp in the bucket may not be correct unless you have some water movement via a powerhead or air stone.

[ROLLIN]

I took the heater out of the bucket and put it in my 20 gallon tall about 2 hours ago because I dont have any extra pumps or a powerhead for the bucket. I set the temperature a few degrees higher on the heater than what the thermometer reads (right now this tank doesnt have a heater except for the one I just put in). I'll plug it in tomorrow.

[Heady]

Don't turn it on. Like I said, water & electricity don't mix!

[ChilDawg]

Heady, that was a different thread, where the heater was actually broken and the heating element was exposed to the water.

[Tyler718]

ROLLIN,
What was the final outcome? Did it work? Don't leave us in suspense.:)

Dave

[ROLLIN]

I waited over night, plugged in yesterday morning. The heater is set at 78 and the water has been 75 for about 24 hours or so. The temperature hasnt moved a bit from 75, which is good. I need to get a digital thermometer somewhere, we all know cheap little glass thermometers arent the most reliable, the water could be about 77 or 78, Id say the thermometer is off a bit since in the lfs they all have a different temperature. If the heater holds the temperature steady for the next few days, then Im keeping it. Thanks rus.


*Edited to add: In an earlier post in this thread, I said I set the heater a few degrees higher than what the tank water was. The water was warmed from the incandescent hood, but I shut the light off when I plugged the heater in, so I know the heater is the one doing the constant heating. Just wanted to clarify that.

[ROLLIN]

It is quite cool outside (and inside) today, alot cooler than yesterday and the thermometer still reads 75. In all of my other tanks with cheaper heaters, the temperature has went down a bit.

[Tyler718]

Originally posted by ROLLIN
It is quite cool outside (and inside) today, alot cooler than yesterday and the thermometer still reads 75. In all of my other tanks with cheaper heaters, the temperature has went down a bit.

That sounds like a good thing to me. My Ebo-Jaber keeps my tank temp constant like that. That is why I really like this heater over my others.

Dave

[ROLLIN]

The temperature has went up one degree since last night, I unplugged the heater to do a water change so I assume this is the reason why. Im getting annoyed with the suction cups, Ive had to stick the heater back on the glass literally about 15 times this morning.

[ROLLIN]

Just went to see if the heater was still attached, it wasnt. Im calling bigals again and telling them I want a new one for sure.

[ROLLIN]

Just got off the phone with sylvia from bigals again. The end result is that I get a free 150 watt tronic heater sent to me, and I dont even have to send the ebo-jager back. Money is tight here, we basically just have enough to pay the bills with little left over. I explained that I didnt want to spend $10 or so to send the heater back if it was just going to get sent back to me (if it worked right for them). Even though we dont have alot, I try to buy good equipment for my fish (when I can, which isnt often), theres no sense in buying cheap equipment if its just going to break. I have to build my own stands or use things such as coffee tables for smaller tanks. Ive only got one new tank in my life and all the other ones I have were given to me. Right now only one of my tanks have a hood. Im not joking when I say money is tight. Some of you might wonder how we have the internet if we're on such a budget. We do it with cheap internet and by managing our money very well. Every cent counts.

Edited to add: Some of you probably dont care, but here is our financial situation. Before my father died last december, we did quite alright (well, better than now anyway), he was getting old, got pensions etc. After he died, it was just me and mom left here. She is getting older as well and doesnt work. I want to work but I have no way to travel because I dont have my liscense (neither does my mother, I dont know why she never got them, shes had all these years to do it), and my mother gave our car to one of my brothers because he didnt have one (I wish she would have given it to me, I'll have my liscense soon enough hopefully). Im trying too find a way to travel, but its hard because I live in a very small area. Well I think this explains it enough.

[ROLLIN]

They sent the heater out wednesday, and I got it today. I wish they were that fast everytime. :)

[rus]

Originally posted by ROLLIN
They sent the heater out wednesday, and I got it today. I wish they were that fast everytime. :)
awesome. i'm glad they got it straightned out for you without problems.