Is buying a used heater a good idea? Looking to get a Hydor inline heater, not sure if I should save a bit and get a used one, or just spend a little more for a new one.
Thanks,
Drew
Thanks,
Drew
Buy heater new or used?
- Thread starter Oompa Loompa
- Start date
I’d spend more and go new. Anytime ive gotten a used heater with a tank it doesn’t work. Plus, I don’t like having an unknown history for something that can malfunction and kill my fish.
Those were my thoughts too. It would be another $20 at most to get a new heater instead of going used, so it's no biggie to do that.
Drew
Lol, main goal of this setup is cheap. I think my breakdown so far will be:
- 2x4 stand ($35 or so)
- 4x2x21" tank (building it on my own, already have all the glass except for the braces, so probably another $40 for that glass and some silicone, plus some polycarbonate sheets for a lid)
- LED shoplight ($30 or so)
- Eheim Pro 3 Canister (not sure of price yet but definitely under $100, found a good deal on one that I'm negotiating now)
- 300w inline heater ($55)
- Pool filter sand, manzanita wood piece, java moss (maybe $20 at the most)
- Styrofoam background (building myself, probably $20 in materials)
Drew
do NOT buy used heaters...
my friend bought one that looked perfect he put it in and over night all the fish died.
it was open and was electrifying the water... it gave him a jolt so he left the fish hobby after that (mostly cause he lost his 20 discus fish)
my friend bought one that looked perfect he put it in and over night all the fish died.
it was open and was electrifying the water... it gave him a jolt so he left the fish hobby after that (mostly cause he lost his 20 discus fish)
Cheap is only cheap if it doesn't fail. Heaters are one of those things it doesn't pay to skimp on. You can save far more by some smart purchases or DIY work on other items.
In my opinion any heater over a year old is ready to be phased out.
I know aquarists who change them out with new ones every year, as common practice, because the chance of having them cook your fish, when failing in the "on" position goes up exponentially as heaters age.
I had a Hydor in-line heater fail in the on position, and start to melt the PVC pipe line it was feeding (not to single out Hydor,I have had many brands fail that way over the last 5+ decades of fiskeeping), I noticed when I saw the PVC pipe sagging.
Since then, I always get under sized heaters for my tanks, and use a few in a tank instead of one high watt unit, in this way if one fails "on", the others turn off, and smaller units don't have enough power to cook alone.
The other, and best option, is getting heater controller.
I know aquarists who change them out with new ones every year, as common practice, because the chance of having them cook your fish, when failing in the "on" position goes up exponentially as heaters age.
I had a Hydor in-line heater fail in the on position, and start to melt the PVC pipe line it was feeding (not to single out Hydor,I have had many brands fail that way over the last 5+ decades of fiskeeping), I noticed when I saw the PVC pipe sagging.
Since then, I always get under sized heaters for my tanks, and use a few in a tank instead of one high watt unit, in this way if one fails "on", the others turn off, and smaller units don't have enough power to cook alone.
The other, and best option, is getting heater controller.
I would go new, it is not worth something malfunctioning and killing your fish. For the price/price difference it is worth the piece of mind.
Glass tube style heater (traditional type) I will agree with all the above and not buy used. However with that said, Hydor inline heaters I would not agree with the above. I've had five or six of the Hydor inline heaters over the years and they can not be lumped into the same category as the in tank tube style. Since they are not in the tank they do not wear out the same that an in tank glass tube heater does. I've used/bought/sold a number of those over the years and would have no problem using a used Hydor inline on one of my tanks. Those are a rock solid dependable long lasting heater.