heater is too hot

[Chuck Norris]

a while ago i bought a 100 watt topfin heater for my 20 gallon cichlid tank and it gets way to hot. i have the temp knob turned to the lowest setting and it heats the tank to about 90 degrees ferenheight. This heater is rated for 20 gallons so i dont think 100 watts is too much. Does it have a faulty thermostat? is there anyway i can fix this?

 

[Dangerdoll]

I would bring it back and get a new one, Chuck. There's no way to fix it...

 

[dabaers]

I had this happen with 3 topfins, returned, got another , same problems until I finally changed to stealths. Cheaper , even with shipping at bigalsonline.com.

 

[icecubez189]

try taking it back and get store credit for it. use that money to buy yourself a reliable and well built heater, like the Marineland Visi-Therm Stealth.

 

[Rbishop]

Yep, visi-therm stealth.

 

[mostlycichlids]

marineland neptune heaters are great too and affordable for a smaller tank

 

[ataylor]

I've had the same problem with a Topfin heater (runs too hot) and had a second one burn out after about 2 months. Stay away from that brand..

 

[Chuck Norris]

Ok thanks guys. i spose you get what you pay for when it comes to this stuff.

 

[portabuddy]

a 25w-50w is a better size for a 20 a 100watt is way too big thats why its rumming too hot, a smaller heater rinning longer is better then a bigger heater shutting on and off all the time. and boiling the water

 

[fballguy]

I use a 50 watt top fin on my 20 with no problems, its rated for 10 gallons, so I can see how a 100 watt can be a problem. Eventually I will get a different one, but for right now, if it ain't broke, why fix it?