Heater problems - Fluval E300 watt. LOW Flow???

[SwampFins]

So I have been struggling with this heater for a while and it seems like it doesn't matter where I put it, it's always throwing a low flow message.

It will be fine for a few days and then out of nowhere it will over heat by a few degrees (nothing major) and throw the low flow message. I currently have it next to a filter intake and outtake as well as a wave maker. There is no way there is low flow in that area.

Has anyone else had this problem with these heaters? Should I return it?

I was also thinking of placing it inside of a diy canister I have to see if it would help with the temperature variations. (Similar to a sump setup).

I'm almost at a loss here. This is for a 125 tank

 

[SwampFins]

This is what it looks like. The out take from the canister is angled to shoot right on the filter too.

 

[Cardeater]

It happens to me. That's even when there's obviously flow as it's close to a powerheads. I also notice it pops up more often when the tank heats up to higher than the set temp. It'll turn red and say LF.

In another thread someone said when they took the guard off, it stopped happening. My own theory is that it's a design flaw in whatever they use to detect LF as I know mine have flow. I just ignore it but mine doesn't do it constantly like yours.

 

[SwampFins]

It happens to me. That's even when there's obviously flow as it's close to a powerheads. I also notice it pops up more often when the tank heats up to higher than the set temp. It'll turn red and say LF.

In another thread someone said when they took the guard off, it stopped happening. My own theory is that it's a design flaw in whatever they use to detect LF as I know mine have flow. I just ignore it but mine doesn't do it constantly like yours.

That's a good point, I wonder how much that guard is restricting flow.

Mine has been all over the place. It swings to blue, then green, then red. Etc

I think my main concern is whether or not the overal temp is really changing or if it's just what's reading. I just put a thermometer at the other end of the tank to see.

I'm wondering if I should contact fluval or just get something else.

 

[Cardeater]

I think my main concern is whether or not the overal temp is really changing or if it's just what's reading. I just put a thermometer at the other end of the tank to see.

I'm wondering if I should contact fluval or just get something else.

I have an inkbird controller on my tank. The heaters are plugged into the heat outlet, which will shut off power if my tank gets too hot. It will also alarm if trmp gets too low. My temps are slightly above what the heater says. I have the heaters set to 88 degrees and my tank stays atound 88.7-88.9. when I had it set to 88.5, trmps would increase to 89.1-89.3.

Part of extra heat is from the filters and powerheads. I think the probe bring higher than the heaters could amount to a few tenths. It's possible the heaters could be off in their display temps or the controller is.

 

[Richard203]

I put my air tube under the heater and never got that LF anymore.

 

[squint]

I always just remove the plastic guard. I remember they didn't heat the water effectively when I got "LF" errors. I actually got 4 more today and the first thing I did was remove the guards.

 

[SwampFins]

I always just remove the plastic guard. I remember they didn't heat the water effectively when I got "LF" errors. I actually got 4 more today and the first thing I did was remove the guards.

I think I might give that a go seeing that a few people have done it successfully.

How do you go about removing the guard? Is this something that can be pulled apart or is it a non reversible mod?

 

[squint]

I think I might give that a go seeing that a few people have done it successfully.

How do you go about removing the guard? Is this something that can be pulled apart or is it a non reversible mod?

The instructions cover removing the guard. It removes the suction cup mount as well though.

 

[RD.]

The first thing I did when this happened was return them to the store, and ask for my money back. Problem solved.