Heaters: Sticks, controllers, ...?

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jrimmer

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 10, 2010
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Xanth
Unfortunately I'm having to deal with a few Stealth heaters for the recall. While I see a number of posts recently regarding Fluval E vs. Eheim Jager Ebo there are also a few passing references to external controllers and titanium elements.

As part of settling this recall I'd like to resolve my heater issue once and for all with my 55gal, 26gal, and 220gal all running HOBs or cannisters (FX5).

What are controllers and elements vs. stick heaters. Or is 'versus' even the right term to use? What brand would you recommend? I'm less concerned with money than I am reliability.

Note that I've also considered the inline heaters but the FX5 tubing size complicates integration.
 
In my 120g I am using two canister filters with 5/8" tubing. With these I have two Hydor ETH in line heaters. Great product that gets the heater out of the tank. You could plumb these into an FX5 but you would have to use a "Y" that would reduce fro the 1" down to two 5/8" and then either have two lines back into the tank with some sort of diffusers or "Y" them back to one large line.

The other option would be to use the Lifeguard Aquatics heater module and plumb some barbs in-line. This would be super simple, and would get the heaters out of the tank.
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3579+3627&pcatid=3627

Just some ideas.
 
I have used controllers with titanium heaters, glass heaters: Visi-Therm, Eheim, Fluval, and about 3 or 4 others. I never had a problem with the Eheims and only a couple problems with the Visi-Therm. But if you look around it seems all brand have had there share of disappointments. But my first 2 choices are the Eheim and Vis-Therm and then the Fluval.
 
Basically, the only difference between the normal tank heaters and Titanium heater and controllers is how the temperature is regulated and where that regulation mechanism is located. Temp controllers will control whether or not the heater comes on instead of internals on standard heaters. Titanium heaters do not have internal controls.

I have great luck with Ranco temp controllers and titanium heaters. I've also liked the Ebo Jagers.
 
I had a finnex controller that died after 15 months.
I've read good reviews and now own a JBJ True Temp controller. I really like the digital display.
But don't buy it from Auquacave. They made an unauthorized substitution of the heating element, and then they claimed I ordered it that way.
Turns out that the finnex titanium heating element was fine, so now I have a spare.
 
Thanks for the help. I see a couple of brand names for temp controllers in the thread which I'll pursue but I'm lost with the 'titanium' heaters. Is that a kind of heater or a brand name?
 
It is a kind of heater. They are made from titanium.
 
if money is not a problem look at the jbj true temp. my built in heater on my Ehiem stopped working. got the jbj a month ago from foster & smith and could'nt be happier. the heater and probe have mag mounts instead of suction cups. easy to set up and calibrate. a bit pricey but so far worth it.
 
jrimmer;4906511; said:
Is there a preferred brand or does any kind that uses titanium suffice?
Click to expand...

My normal supplier was out of stock when I bought mine, so I bought the Blue Line brand. They have worked really well for a couple of years now.
 
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