My Experience With Heaters!!!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
2

2004exrider

Candiru
MFK Member
Dec 24, 2007
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Ohio
I started out with an "All Glass" brand heater that seemed fine for a few weeks, but then i started noticing it wouldn't stay at 78 and finally replaced it when i noticed it was at 84 at the lowest setting:WHOA:. My LFS wasn't open at the time so i had to run to walmart and picked up a "Whisper." I was A little upset that the only way to keep it at 78 was to have it cranked up all the way but hey it worked or so i thought. The temperature would vary day to day by a couple degrees which I could accept until i later checked it and it was 73! Finally i got it right and picked up a Stealth like i should have the first time. Moral of the story, do stuff the right way and you wont have as many problems in the long run. In a hobby name brand is the way to go, don't attempt short cuts unless you have a bigger bottle of tylenol to deal with the headaches you're about to run into.

Jimmy
 
I tell newbies that all the time but people are too damn cheap to do things right. People are generally trying to take shortcut to save a few bucks and in the long run ending up spending even more money from their mistake. Good job that you're catching on about doing things right the first time so you have peace of mind.
 
I got a few free heaters, to set the temp to what I wanted, I just had to take the knob off and put it back on, in a different position.
 
I had a tetra heater in my 55 gallon, it did great keeping the tank at around 78, until i looked at the tank one morning and it was wayy to hot. The heater somehow was on full power all the time, it did not matter where i had the knob set it was just on as high as it could go.
 
I learned a long time ago, that spending seventy five bucks for a good temp. controller like a Ranco, was cheap insurance when you have hundreds of dollars worth of fish in your tank. :D
 
Another tip. Use two smaller heaters, rather than one giant heater in your bigger tanks. That way, if one fries and stays on, you're much less likely to lose your fish.
 
i bought some stuff on ebay after researching.
(heating, filtration items)

after proper research,
my 180 gallon tank's been running perfectly and super clean for 4 months.

internal powerhead + filter
emperor 400 dual-biowheel
Jebo newport 28 series canister filter

i have glass heaters that aren't way expensive i just place them between my powerhead filter and the adjacent wall. my 8" jardini, 8" catfish, or 13" pleco have no way of hitting them unless they went kamikaze on it


i just clean the powerhead filter and hanging filter media once every 2 weeks and the canister once a month or two


way cheaper than getting one eheim etc. of equal displacement
although they are sweet-a** filters lol

also get epsom salt...or de-ionized salt rather than the "aquarium" salt from LFS.
cheap alternative ^_^


if you don't have loads of money to blow on expensive equipment, you could easily research and find cheaper alternatives.

they key is RESEARCHING plenty before you buy

i had fun posting this hope it help (this is my first official post)
 
I know keep a spare heater for my discus tank. I had a smaller tank was quaranteening a discus in when the heater blew, the water droped to about 59 before I realised, the discus was still alive so i did the wrong thing and bagged him and then transfered him to the main tank. ( I had no where else for him and did not want to loose him) I was so paranoid that all my fish where going to get some terrible disease because of the one fish I moved getting stressed and sick. Every thing turned out okay though. I know have a spare heater sitting under the tank! I learned my lesson.
 
impl0;1822794; said:
i bought some stuff on ebay after researching.
(heating, filtration items)

after proper research,
my 180 gallon tank's been running perfectly and super clean for 4 months.

internal powerhead + filter
emperor 400 dual-biowheel
Jebo newport 28 series canister filter

i have glass heaters that aren't way expensive i just place them between my powerhead filter and the adjacent wall. my 8" jardini, 8" catfish, or 13" pleco have no way of hitting them unless they went kamikaze on it


i just clean the powerhead filter and hanging filter media once every 2 weeks and the canister once a month or two


way cheaper than getting one eheim etc. of equal displacement
although they are sweet-a** filters lol

also get epsom salt...or de-ionized salt rather than the "aquarium" salt from LFS.
cheap alternative ^_^


if you don't have loads of money to blow on expensive equipment, you could easily research and find cheaper alternatives.

they key is RESEARCHING plenty before you buy

i had fun posting this hope it help (this is my first official post)
Click to expand...

Very good informative post!:) Welcome to the site. Thank you to the others who have had input on this thread also!

Jimmy
 
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