visitherm stealth or deluxe heaters? in market for new heaters after my 2 just died!

S

sushiray

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Jan 14, 2009
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new windsor, ny
my visitherm deluxe 300w blew 2days ago & 200w blew yesterday in my 72gal discus tank.

water seemed to get inside them. when I removed the 200w with a plastic travel bag, it cracked in 1/2 & water spilled out. when I removed the 300w I noticed water build up/condensation near the top.

tank temp is down to 70 so had to remove my 20gal came with tank starter set up heater to the discus tank for now & leaving both tanks' lights on.

so I went to www.kensfish.com to order more deluxes.

but I've read in many other threads that the stealths have had so many mechanical probs - a lot of buyers had defective units.

but the newer stealth pros some are having no probs.

so I may call ken to chg to the stealths if many of you are doing ok with them.

but would like some more feedback b-4 I call ken in the morning to chg my order.

thks all!
 
I have 11 tanks and the stealth are my favorite. I've never had a problem with them, and I am way too clumsey to have glass- I would break them all the time. The stealth are my #1 choice.
 
Now have 60 tanks and all run heaters. So far out of (4) older Stealths I've had one fail and one keeps whatever temperature it feels like keeping. Bought a couple dozen Guardians a year or so back and they've been bullet proof. Ugly as sin, but solid. The only glass that I still run are about 10-12 Jagers and they are also rock solid. Not metal, but I've never broken one. Also bought some of the newer Chinese "titaniums", but the jury's still out on them and their controllers, (the only thing titanium about them is probably about 1% of the metal as an alloy - that stuff's way too expensive to be any significant amount of a $30-$40 heater tube)

The Red Chinese glass ones are another story. Out of (12) 250w. & (10) 150w. Via Aqua and Pro Heat glass submersibles, all but (6) developed leaks before I could replace them over the first year of use. They were also misery on a stick to adjust (usually w/ cinched forceps) Have a couple of Hydors and Hagans also but they don't hold very good temp. Too much swing from high to low and miserable to get the right temp. set.

If I were starting over, I think I'd buy all Jager's. They're tough enough but not as fugly as the metal alternatives, although I'm more interested in function than form since most of my tanks are not "show" tanks.
 
I meant jaegers NOT jebo, the old ebo jaegers had thick glass, don't know about eheim jaegers. I used to love stealths but I've had 2 fail recently, I still have several plus some old visi deluxes
 
Well, I found the visitherm deluxes held temps very accurately but both failed me. Ordered new visi deluxes & one pro from kens, hope have better success. Thks all. Happy new fish year!
 
Wow this post made me get out the flash light this morn to check and all 4 tanks 2 Visi-therm and 2 Stealth are working fine. Most impressive is the one 400W Visi-therm in my 244 tank which keeps the tank temp at a constant 78F even though the house temp is 65F (I like it cool).

I think one key is once set never remove or tamper with the main heater and just add backup heaters to raise the temp to above 80 if medicating the tank is necessary. I also have my heaters below the water change level so they don't have to be moved or get damaged by water change when left on and the loss of water stresses the glass and seal from excessive heat. I also have 1 outflow from 1 filter always blowing return water over the heater in the corner of the tank which keep the unit from building up heat and places less stress on the electronics.
 
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