heaters- which brands and types would you reccommend?

[new2tanks]

which heater do you prefer a submersible or non submersible and which brand is not too $$$ but very reliable for a 10g?

Thanks,
N.

[Hannys_Papa]

Do a forum search on Visitherm Stealth.

[YoFishboy]

I have been buying the Visitherm Stealth heaters lately as I replace older heaters - they are submersible with a plastic case, and they turn off automatically when they are out of the water - I get my supplies online - a 50watt would go for about 17 bucks. Sometimes an LFS will try to match the catalog prices, especially when you consider shipping cost too. I don't like to skimp on heaters - its worth a few extra bucks to get a good quality unit.

[fishieperson321]

A Whisper heater is usually cheap and reliable. An Acura heater made by Tetra is submersable and if you get a submersable, lay it in the back about 1 inch above the gravel so that you don't have to turn it off during a water change. Make sure you put it near a filter intake/output or near an airstone. This helps to distribute heat evenly. :devil:

[kyle3]

jagar and stealth

[tomdkat]

I have been buying the Visitherm Stealth heaters lately as I replace older heaters - they are submersible with a plastic case, and they turn off automatically when they are out of the water Cool, I'll think this heater out. :)

Peace...

[daveedka]

I have used visi-therm deluxe submersables for years. IF one of them ever fails, I'd like to try the stealth, but waiting for a visi-therm deluxe to fail seems like an act of futility to me. I have a couple that have passed the 14 year mark.
Dave

[cherrypie]

Been using Hagen submersible heaters for years, never had one fail so I always recommend them. Also have been using Sera submersible heaters for the last couple years and they've been good, although the indicator light stopped working on one of them.

[new2tanks]

thanks all for your great advice as usual.

i was looking at prices of some of the heaters you guys have mentioned at petsmart and iw onder why such a price difference between visi therm stealth submersible and visi therm delux aquarium heaters which are supposed to be submersible too.... .
Are the extra bucks worth it?

[mrgrudge]

I just got a Visitherm Stealth 50Watt for my 15 Gallon tank and it does a far better job of maintaining the temperature than my previous hang-on heater did.

[gagaliya]

I have used visi-therm deluxe submersables for years. IF one of them ever fails, I'd like to try the stealth, but waiting for a visi-therm deluxe to fail seems like an act of futility to me. I have a couple that have passed the 14 year mark.
Dave

vis-therm deluxe has some serious quality issues, the worst part is when they fail they are STUCK in the ON position. So it will fry your entire tank. I guess you have a good one. But quite a few people including myself has had the heater fail within just a month or two (it never turns off).

I have sinced switched for vis thermal stealth, and they rocked. If you are buying a new heater, look no further. Get stealth not deluxe

[daveedka]

guess you have a good one.

Try 16 heaters ranging from 50 watt to 300watt most of them are 150's and 200's from the days when I had 55g tanks. Of all 16 I have one that the indicator light has failed on, but the heater itself is still perfectly functional and the thermostat accurate (It halds tank temp perfectly well) The only thing I have ever seen that might be reason for my success verses other folks is that I fully submerse mine and leave them that way. Aside from that I have no idea why I have never had trouble, but Will not hide the fact that I think the visi-therm deluxe is as good as any heater out there.


was looking at prices of some of the heaters you guys have mentioned at petsmart and iw onder why such a price difference between visi therm stealth submersible and visi therm delux aquarium heaters which are supposed to be submersible too.... .
The visitherm Deluxe is a glass heater, so it is a higher risk for breakage and leaks, it also will crack if you pull it out of the water while unplugged, and do not let it cool before you put it back in the water. The stealth is an aluminum body, with a plastic coating. So in tank terms, vurtually indestructable. That would make it worth the money in my book. However, Looking at Big Al's online store, there is virtually no price difference in the two. You may want to check out Big al's before you buy one.
Dave

[new2tanks]

thanks all .
Dave i will definitely look at big Al's before i purchase.
(I dislike the one near my house coz they make me feel like small fry when it comes to fishy stuff...)

[YoFishboy]

In the 37 years I've had fish, only one has ever cooked - it was an ebo Jaeger that wasn't that old - I had been out all day, and when I got home, the temperature was well over 100 in the tank....par boiled all the fish including a pair of huge clown loaches - that loss still pisses me off to this day, more than any other fish loss I have had over the years, because it was equipment failure beyond my control. That's why I change out heaters from time to time and buy quality ones. If I pay $20 bucks or so for a good quality heater from the catalogs and replace it after 2-4 years, I've got my money's worth, about the equivelant of a candy bar per month, and replaced it with my peace of mind.

[Dragon Queen]

How do the Hydor's rate or the Rena's?

[justintoxicated]

only thign I don't like about my stealth is no indicator light, then again it blends into background wel.

The temp knob is really far off on my hydror theo like 8 deg. it's only 3-4 off on my visitherm,

Or i think it is, hard to say whenyour thermometers all give different readings...

[kveeti]

How do the Hydor's rate or the Rena's?

This is an interesting site for reading people's ratings on heaters:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/reviews/category_display.php?CatID=701

Note, even the really "good" heaters like Ebo Jagers have some bad reviews. In the past I would have given Ebo's a 10 but just recently had both my 100 watts fail on me. I replaced one with a Rena (the Excel, not the Basic) because it actually had the CSA rating to go under water. I like it but it's much too soon for me to actually give it any kind of recommendation.

I specifically didn't replace mine with the Stealth because of the no indicator light. I think that's fine (and I would try it) for a single heater as you can always check your thermometer. But when you have 2 heaters first set up I like to sit and watch by the indicator lights that they are both carrying the load equally, which doesn't necessarily mean they are both set up to the same temperature.

[new2tanks]

big al's has the 50w and 75w visi therm stealth heater for the same price here. would 75w be overkill (for my 10 gal)? ( i do live in canada with sometimes frigid temperatures)

[cherrypie]

big al's has the 50w and 75w visi therm stealth heater for the same price here. would 75w be overkill (for my 10 gal)? ( i do live in canada with sometimes frigid temperatures)

75watts would be fine and a good idea in your climate, I'd be tempted to go higher if it gets particularly cold in the room where you keep your fish.

[Justinw]

is submersible better then hang on back? Mine is a hang on back

[cherrypie]

is submersible better then hang on back? Mine is a hang on back

It comes down to personal preference mostly, some people like the hang on ones, personally I like the standard glass submersibles. As long as it works well for you I wouldn't worrry too much.

[pophead]

well I don't know about brands, but I always try to go for submersable. it's just less risky and less in the way.

[Gunnie]

I've had to replace a couple of my heaters in the last month and decided to try something different. I went along and bought 2 guardian heaters on a friend's website. I'd never heard of guardian, but liked the fact that they are not glass and fully submersible. They come pre-set at 76 degrees, but are adjustable, in fact, I had to adjust it once I had it in the tank for 24 hours. So far so good, and they are reasonably priced. I have had some bad experiences with the glass heaters (most of it my stupidity), so I am partial to the metal heaters.

Guardian Heaters (http://www.avidaquatics.com/store/index.php?cPath=31_36)