Aquarium Heaters?

[Waverider]

Ok, so are these aquarium heaters pieces of junk? I noticed that my fish seemed lathargic and checked my themo, and it read 67 degrees. I cranked the heater but as I felt it....I felt no warmth coming off of it!! The light is on and it has been on since last night with no improvements.

Do these things just die on you??? I not touched it since I have installed the aquarium, so I doubt it was anything I did.

Any help or suggestions to get it to work? Is this common???

[Hannys_Papa]

What kind of heater is it ?
And yes it seems common - they just die on you.

[Waverider]

Marineland Neptune??
and that is a bummer.... recommend any better brands? Can I just do warm water changes till I can get a new heater?

[Hannys_Papa]

I am positively impressed with the performance of my visitherm stealth heaters. I bought them for their anti-shatter design and auto shut off (when out of water) - but they are right on the temperature all the time and (knock on wood) seem very reliable.

I also see more and more people posting how happy they are with them (on this forum and others).

EDIT: Here is a link showing the product: http://www.bigalsonline.com/search/?type=catalog&method=all&collection=sitebuilder%2Fcatalog3-1&keywords1=visitherm+stealth

[Hannys_Papa]

.... Can I just do warm water changes till I can get a new heater?

Sure - but depending on the size of your tank it might not hold the temperature for long. Of course you could insulate the tank or wrap it in blankets etc untill the problem is solved.
Just make sure you bring up the temperature slowly.

[Waverider]

Right on! Thanks brother!

Screw it, I am on my way out to get a new heater now. Screw blankets!! :dance2:

[Pufferpoison]

visi therm stealth heaters for me, although i do have a few marineland dual temps and a few theo's but my fav is the stealth :thm:

[Roan Art]

Visi Therms are made by Marineland, guys ;)

Roan

[Waverider]

K, Just got my visitherm stealth heater and I can tell it was better made. When I removed my old heater it rattled.....kinda like a burned out light bulb does. Are the heater elements in these really touchy?

[Waverider]

I think my fish were at about 68 for 3-4 days. Is that harmful at all? Will they pep up once the water warms up? I am a little worried about my Panda Cories.

[fishlore101]

In my 20 gallon I have an Aquaculture heater. I love it. I have had it for years and it can crank out some heat still (knock on wood.) In my 10 gallon I have a Whisper heater and it sucks. I have it on high and the tank is still cool but it stays at a good temp. If I could have found another Aquaculture heater I would have boughten that instead.

[Hannys_Papa]

Visi Therms are made by Marineland, guys ;)

Roan

Yes - we know that - but it seems Big Als doesn't (or whoever creates their online merchandise database can't read). ;)

[joephys]

I have seen reccomendations that heaters should be replaced about once a year just to help reduce the risk of having the heater die, or get stuck on in your tank. Don't know if its a common practice or not.

[Hannys_Papa]

I think my fish were at about 68 for 3-4 days. Is that harmful at all? Will they pep up once the water warms up? I am a little worried about my Panda Cories.

I think the problem is - cold = stress. And as you probably know when fish are stressed they are susceptable to disease etc (because it weakends their immune system).
So its hard to say whats gonna happen - just watch them closely and bring them slowly back up to a decent temperature - maybe mid 70s within the next 12 hours and then slowly higher to wherever you used to have your temperature.

[Roan Art]

Yes - we know that - but it seems Big Als doesn't (or whoever creates their online merchandise database can't read). ;)
ROFL! Okay. Just sounded like you guys were trashing Marinland heaters and applauding Visi Therm. Thought it was funny :)

FWIW I love my Stealths. My husband is using them for his reef tank, too.

Roan

[justintoxicated]

My Hydor Theo seems to work well, I just ordered a larger stealth though..I do see my Theo Turn on when the temp in the tank is above the setting, but it does maintain teh correct setting at night when the room temp drops, is this normal?

My theo 50 watt is keeping my 20 gallon at the correct temperature though so I don't know that I will need my 100 watt stealth.

Do you really need to replace them once a year seems a bit excessive on something with a one year warranty.

[rosita]

Visitherm Stealth!!!!! I love mine, and will get one for the bigger tank, too!!!! :bowing:

[Waverider]

K, I got my tank up to 77.6 and all the fish are way more active.....except my panda cories :eek: Which really sucks because they are my favorite fish in the tank.

I have two and they both have become almost motionless in the last two days. They barely move and I know that cories are supposed to be extremely active.....

Do you guys think I have lost these fish??

[IceH2O]

Just bought the visitherm stealth, Petsmart hates me they had it at 36.99 and I brought in the online ad and got it for 20.99.

I wouldn't have bought a heater but my loach tank has ich and I need to raise the temp in it. Though I could have left it at 80 and had it take longer.

[mikesoverhere]

It could have been hit up against the glass or u forgot to unplug it on a water change.

[djmodifyd]

i have a tronic 200 watt heater in my 55 gallon.....its worked fine for as along as i have had it (total of about 4 months probably)........it holds the temperature within 1 degree of the setting.

[karen99]

I use a Penn-plax therma-flow heater. It was cheap when I got it and has lasted me about 10 years so far. I don't rememer how may watts it is, but it was intended for a 10 gallon tank. I used it for a 10 gallon tank for a few years, then a 20 gallon tank for a few years, and now a 29 gallon tank and it still manages to keep a suitable temperature.