[richEmmers]

I have a titanium heater with a separate temp control that sits outside the tank, and I have been using it for about 6 months.

Well about 20 min ago I smelled something and then I realized it was something burning. I am the only home, so I'm thinking where is this coming from. I look in the living room and the controller for the heater is in flames.

So What is a good heater, as I am going to be replacing heaters in my big tanks.

 

[airplanes]

Not sure good heaters exist. Some are just more realiable.

I use Finnex

What one did you have?

 

[richEmmers]

Not sure good heaters exist. Some are just more realiable.

I use Finnex

What one did you have?

not sure to be honest the case melted so I cant see who the mfg was.

 

[richEmmers]

Umm it was a finnex, I just looked them up and there it was.

 

[Rhonda]

Auugggh. Good thing you were home. Tank nightmare #1 (I have a rotating series of them) is that I burn the house down with all this stuff plugged in.

I use Fluval heaters, and now have four running--two in the DT, one in the sump, one in the fuge due to the recent cold. I replaced my two originals (1 yr old) just because I am paranoid about them. Overkill on safety, and they will supposedly just die before frying out...but for $60 ea. I have some backup heaters and a tiny bit of piece of mind. I don't know if they are better vs. some other brand, or better to run one big heater vs. a bunch of smaller ones. I am just juggling and hoping a ball doesn't fall.

 

[johno27]

eheim jager have always been very reliable for me the only draw back is their size

 

[Branden]

eheim jager have always been very reliable for me the only draw back is their size

+1

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[Higgy]

Jager !! All I use now...

 

[BCTate]

Jager here as well!

I had the same thing happen to my Finnex heaters last year! Mine didn't actually catch fire, but the bottom of the controller box (where the fuse goes in) melted and deformed badly! That is when I switched to Jager and I am very pleased with them. They are pretty long though!

 

[jmowbray]

These part two weeks I have went through 4 ebay heaters. Yes they were cheap but still. I plug them in and next thing you know the connection from the thermostat to the elements has a glowing spark, then a small flash of a flame and smoke. Thankfully the glass didn't break.

 

[yak85]

Agree with johno27 and Bruno. Jäger all the way!! Yeah the higher powered are long such as the 300 watt (something like 18 inches) but When used with a good controller like a reef keeper or Neptune should have no problem. Also make sure youve got a GFCI on either the outlet or on the breaker panel!

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[dsmith3512]

I had a Won Bros. titanium heater melt and smoke. It was one of the reasons I set up my current system on hot water heat six years ago. It works great no problems, and a lot less cost to heat. I circulate water from my water heater through a coil of 1/2" pex tubing in the sump controlled by a ranco controller. If you search there are old threads on here and other forums on the topic.

 

[lemonjello]

I too use the closed loop system . I see no reason to pay for ready to use hot water and have it just sit there , so it heats my tank with no ill side affects.

 

[rogerwilco357]

same

jager since my last one broke down ..

 

[2k3sgm]

Closed loop here too!

 

[fishgeek88]

Ranco and a quality titanium probe