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Post by cashay on Apr 10, 2009 13:54:26 GMT -5
When I bought my 20 gallon, I didn't buy it new, But It had a heater with it, have been using it, but it kinda scares me, it is one with the dial on the top of it, But I believe it is broke, because I can turn it completely with out it stopping on any degree, Like I said I have been using it, and keeping an eye on my thermostat, which seems to be pretty warm, sitting at 85 degree's "30c" I have kept the lid open on the tank, because I'm afraid it will get to HOT, and hurt my fish, they don't seem to mind it, but If I do close the lid then open it I can feel the warmth from the water.. Unlike my 14 gallon. So I want to know what is a good heater to use, What brand? what does every one else prefer? or have?
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Post by brenda on Apr 10, 2009 14:18:41 GMT -5
I like the rena smartheaters.
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Post by cashay on Apr 10, 2009 14:23:41 GMT -5
Rena smart heater. thanks im going to look it up, If I decide on that one.. did you get it from Carl? or should I ask does he sell those?
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Post by Carl on Apr 10, 2009 15:31:21 GMT -5
The Rena is a good heater, as well the Hagen Tronic are excellent. As for the ones I sell, although I used to sell both when I had my LFS, I have cut back essential to one brand and the is the Via Aqua which as per my use was/is as accurate as the other two mentioned but is a better value. My biggest complaint with the Rena is not quality, but price (the Tronic is generally a slightly better price as well) The Ebo Jager is also excellent (as are others), however the company is terrible about returns when you do have a defective product which for this reason that although the Ebo Jager is a good product, I do NOT recommend it for the reason of the company not backing their product. Via Aqua/ Hydor HeatersCarl |
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Post by cashay on Apr 10, 2009 17:05:03 GMT -5
For a 20 galloon what would you recommend?
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Post by Carl on Apr 10, 2009 18:50:47 GMT -5
For a 20 galloon what would you recommend? It depends on your ambient temperature, but generally a 75 or 100 watt would be fine. The formula is: 25 watts for every 10 degrees of ambient temperature per 10 gallons you need to raise your aquarium temperature For more about this, see this article: Aquarium answers; HeatersCarl |
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Post by babygeige on Apr 11, 2009 10:10:36 GMT -5
I have Marineland Stealth heaters in all of my tanks. I really like them. They are very consistent.
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Post by bikeguy33 on Apr 11, 2009 20:47:29 GMT -5
lol.....i buy whatever is on sale in the size i need and keep an eye on temp for the first few weeks....but it does have to be submergable.so far batting 100....never cooked a fish
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Post by Carl on Apr 12, 2009 10:39:15 GMT -5
lol.....i buy whatever is on sale in the size i need and keep an eye on temp for the first few weeks....but it does have to be submersible.so far batting 100....never cooked a fish Not a bad philosophy Bill! I would vouch for accuracy though of many heaters, and that is where the poor quality ones often have issues, in being over priced. Not to confuse the before mentioned Marineland Stealth (which is accurate), the ML/Aquarium Systems Visitherm is terribly inaccurate from my usage. There are others that I would not recommend but memory fails me at the moment, however Bill's point is a good one IMO as I have found that most submersible heaters are quite comparable in quality, it comes down to price and how the company stands behind their product when the inevitable defective product needs to be returned which is why I now use the Via Aqua. Carl |
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Post by goldenpuon on Apr 12, 2009 11:11:53 GMT -5
I believe I have a Via Aqua heaters I got form Carl a while back. They are very reliable and very very easy to adjust. I haven't had a single problem since I got them. Compared to the more expensive heaters at Petsmart that sometimes aren't accurate in their temperature settings, Via Aqua is definitely a better brand.
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Post by brenda on Apr 12, 2009 18:42:53 GMT -5
I have had bad luck with hydor heaters...Bought 1 had it a month and it wouldn't shut off..Thank goodness for my Rena smartheater that alerted me to the problem. I then recently thought "ok, I'll try another hydor" (price was better) it didn't even work. So, I am batting 0-2 on hydor. I do have a couple top fin heaters and I have to say they have never yet let me down and they are pretty cheap. Most of my tanks though run the Rena's...They are pricey though.
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Post by Carl on Apr 13, 2009 8:31:42 GMT -5
That is a nice feature of the Rena Brenda, I have not had much problem with submersible heaters staying on, however this is more common with the economy Automatic Heaters such as the Radiant (by Hagen). The Hydors, I believe are automatics, not thermostatics (Pre-sets). I have not used these Hydors in advice from a few of my friends in the "business", so your experience may be common.
However the Hydro under tank heater for bowls is a neat idea and they do not have a thermostat or automatic function to fail, they simply heat a certain amount past the ambient temperature.
Carl
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Post by babygeige on Apr 14, 2009 22:45:42 GMT -5
I've never tried the regular hydor heaters, but I've got one of those little 7 watt deals that Carl is referring to in my 2.5 gal. It does a decent job of raising the water temp a few degrees above room temp, which is just right for Finn by betta.
I think that most of the bigger hydors I've seen around here are the non-submersible kind that look a little shady to me. But I definitely recommend the little one for small tanks/bowls.
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Post by cashay on Apr 15, 2009 14:08:52 GMT -5
I've never tried the regular hydor heaters, but I've got one of those little 7 watt deals that Carl is referring to in my 2.5 gal. It does a decent job of raising the water temp a few degrees above room temp, which is just right for Finn by betta. I think that most of the bigger hydors I've seen around here are the non-submersible kind that look a little shady to me. But I definitely recommend the little one for small tanks/bowls. I have one of those hydro's also, I liked it for the winter time, when the room temp was a little cooler then normal, it would help with my preset heater that keeps the water around 78 now in my 14 gallon. the one I have that im questioning is in my 20 gallon, Im just afraid it maybe too hot for my fish, of course they have been ok so far at least i think they have, no one is dying and the babies are thriving!!! But like i said i cant change the setting, and if i close the tank hood it stays at 85 degree's and with it open it is at 80. |
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