Best type of heater

[diggozo]

Now that our hot weather is moderating I have to buy a new 250 W heater for my 55 gallon tank. In MLFS I have seen a fully submergible metal heating tube that is controlled by a thermostat set up outside the tank.

The price for a standard glass heating tube with control knob on the top is the same as the metal one and so I was wondering if there was a particular advantage or better performance from one or the other.

[victimizati0n]

Ebo Jager are the best ones.

[Gunnie]

I purchased 2 ViaAqua stainless steel heaters about a year ago and really like them. They are fully submersible, and the temperature control is separate from the heater so you don't have to stick your hands in the water. I have broken many glass heaters in the past and really like the metal heaters.

[diggozo]

Thanks Victam' . . . but I don't really need a make as I have a choice of only two tubes . . one is glass - Atman, the other metal, can't remember the maker. I would like some input as to the best type . . fully submersible with out side thermostat or with the adjusting knob and thermostat in the tank.

[ArkyLady]

I'm not familiar with the kind that have a thermostat outside the tank, but definitely get one that's fully submersible. If they are both fully submersible, then this comment won't help ya much :D

[AquariumStarter]

Ebo Jager are the best ones.

Ditto. . .the most reliable heaters out there. Any expensive submersible heater will suffice, but I prefer the Ebo Jager heaters to any other.

[JSchmidt]

Generally, submersible heaters tend to be better than the hang-on-back-of-tank type, if no other reason than subermersible are less prone to crack from being exposed to air (either due to evaporation or water changes).

That being said, there is wide variation in quality of submersible heaters. Glass submersibles are more common and have been around around longer, but stainless steel and titanium submersible are also available now. I don't think one kind of submersible (glass vs. metal) is inherently better or worse. There are some very good glass heaters (e.g, Ebo Jagers and Tronics) and I suspect there are some very good metal heaters.

The interesting thing, at least for glass submersible, is that the price differential between the best and the worst isn't that great, especially for a piece of equipment so essential to healthy tropical fish.

Jim

[Redeyes]

i saw an interesting one on the net today - a heating cable. never seen it before. check it out - http://www.theaquariumshop.co.uk/ishop/1029/shopscr184.html

(i know it's a UK site, but you get the idea!)

comments, anyone? if it's any good i might get one for my tank before i start putting fish in it. i just like the idea of having one less box on the side of my tank.

[Otocinclus]

Redeyes - while in theory that heater looks like a good idea, I think its kind of risky to heat below the substrate.

I agree that ebo-jager's are the 'standard' of quality heaters, its all you ever read about. Unfortunately, none of my LFS's seem to stock them, so in the past I have settled for "Rena Cal" (http://www.aquariumpharm.com/heaters.html) submersible heaters. The 2 that I have in tanks right now have never had problems.

Recently, I picked up one of these for my new 10g project:
Catalina Titanium heater (http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/item6.htm)

"Unbreakable" titanium shell and automatic shut off. Thermostat is external, easier to adjust and less flack for the aquarium.

It looks to be a good idea, but honestly I dont know how it works because I havent used it yet (I have no central heat or air – it will be over a month before water in room temp is below 74o F.)

[deocder]

The heating cable is made to heat the substrate, not the water. Primarily for planted tanks. Although it will effectivly heat the water through convection currents, a submersible heater is still recommended to heat the water column.

I use and recommend ebo jager, however since you only have two options (glass or metal) I'd get metal because I've never tried one before.....but thats just me.

[AquariumStarter]

Yeah, the heating cable you linked too is probably best suited for planted aquariums, where the substrate should be slightly warmer than the surrounding water.

Stick the the submersible, its what most people use, and seems to be the best choice. I've never seen or used a metal one before, but the Ebo-Jager glass ones are great.

[anonapersona]

The most important thing is to to size correctly. I visit other forums where many people run many tanks, breeders, very serious hobbiests, and the run-of-the-mill obsessive sorts. What I read, when talk turns to heaters, is that they all fail. Titanium, Ebos, everyone fails.

The important thing is to monitor your tank frequently, and size the heater correctly. Two are best if you have the room, so one failing off or one failing on will not kill your fish before you are aware of it.