I couldn't find much user feedback about them other than this thread before I bought mine.....Its a GREAT heater and anyone with a canister filter should get one. I like it so much better than my old submersible heater. First of all its not extra crap in the tank, no wires going into tank, and I dont have to worry about forgetting to turn it off during water changes. I turn if off anyways, but if I don't it has an auto-shutoff. The standard submersibles just melt rubber and break if they run out of water.
On my 125 I initially ran one 200w marineland stealth heater, attached at one end of the tank right under the output of my canister filter. It kept the tank at around 75 degrees (measured by thermometer at the opposite end of the 6 foot tank) if it was set at 80.
Those stealth heaters got recalled and I got the free visitherm 200w from marineland (and returned the stealth to petco for $37 gift card and got $25 refund from bigals all for the same heater but thats another story haha) which broke the 2nd day for whatever reason. Then I got a refund for that one and tried the 200w hydor inline heater on my eheim 2217.
It keeps the tank at 78 (measured at other end) when I set it to 78. This isnt the best way to compare but it does tell that the same wattage inline does a better job heating the whole tank than the submersible one, and I didnt have to set it higher to get the right temp.
Also, the manufacturer ratings say the hydor 200w in line is for tanks between 25 and 50 gallons....!!!!!! it heats my 125 just fine to 15+ degrees above room temp at night.. i don't know how often it turns on over a long time interval, but at night when my lights arent doing any heating the indicator light on the heater only comes on for 30 or so seconds every 5 minutes or so...in other words it doesnt seem to be being overworked on my big tank.
Once I buy a "kill-a-watt" ill test how much electricity it actually uses in 24 hrs and compare it to a submersible 200w heater
Overall best heater on the market tho, and DEFINITELY worth paying an extra $20 for IMO
On my 125 I initially ran one 200w marineland stealth heater, attached at one end of the tank right under the output of my canister filter. It kept the tank at around 75 degrees (measured by thermometer at the opposite end of the 6 foot tank) if it was set at 80.
Those stealth heaters got recalled and I got the free visitherm 200w from marineland (and returned the stealth to petco for $37 gift card and got $25 refund from bigals all for the same heater but thats another story haha) which broke the 2nd day for whatever reason. Then I got a refund for that one and tried the 200w hydor inline heater on my eheim 2217.
It keeps the tank at 78 (measured at other end) when I set it to 78. This isnt the best way to compare but it does tell that the same wattage inline does a better job heating the whole tank than the submersible one, and I didnt have to set it higher to get the right temp.
Also, the manufacturer ratings say the hydor 200w in line is for tanks between 25 and 50 gallons....!!!!!! it heats my 125 just fine to 15+ degrees above room temp at night.. i don't know how often it turns on over a long time interval, but at night when my lights arent doing any heating the indicator light on the heater only comes on for 30 or so seconds every 5 minutes or so...in other words it doesnt seem to be being overworked on my big tank.
Once I buy a "kill-a-watt" ill test how much electricity it actually uses in 24 hrs and compare it to a submersible 200w heater
Overall best heater on the market tho, and DEFINITELY worth paying an extra $20 for IMO
