Stealth Submersible Heater Reliabilty Poll

[BTB0923]

I read a thread today where someone posted that their Stealth Heater broke and would've fried their fish if they hadn't caught it just in time. I've considered Stealth to be the best heater on the market right now, but this has me wondering.

This poll is only for those who own and are using/have used Stealth submersible heaters FULLY submerged.

I don't know how long this heater has been on the market, so I kinda guessed at up to 5 years.

If you have multiple heaters you can vote multiple times.

 

[Deaths Sting]

good thread/poll idea!!!

im very interested! since i just bought one!

 

[ewurm]

I bought these heater based on reputation on this site. One year in, no problems.

 

[steelshade]

My favorite LFS now refuses to carry the stealth brand because it has killed off so many of their customers' fish! Haven't tried one myself.

 

[dmopar74]

I read a thread today where someone posted that their Stealth Heater broke and would've fried their fish if they hadn't caught it just in time. I've considered Stealth to be the best heater on the market right now, but this has me wondering.

This poll is only for those who own and are using/have used Stealth submersible heaters FULLY submerged.

I don't know how long this heater has been on the market, so I kinda guessed at up to 5 years.

If you have multiple heaters you can vote multiple times.

so the thermostat broke but the actuall heating element works? seems to be a rather common occurence with the cheasy thermostats in aquaruim heaters. with all the money people put into their fish it boggles my mind why people dont run tempurature controllers.

edit- have over 10 stealths, some 4 years old now, and all work fine.

 

[benzjamin13]

One year on one and 6 months on the other 2 I have. Still working fine.

 

[BTB0923]

good thread/poll idea!!!

im very interested! since i just bought one!

Thanks, I created out of fear really.. lol. I have two 250 watt stealths in my 180 gallon, two times the chance of frying my fish if these heaters are defective.

with all the money people put into their fish it boggles my mind why people dont run tempurature controllers.

You have a good point. I think I'm going to have to get one....do you have a link to a good site selling reliable temp controllers for cheap??

 

[chonhzilla]

You have a good point. I think I'm going to have to get one....do you have a link to a good site selling reliable temp controllers for cheap??

I'm in the same boat.

 

[dmopar74]

http://www.rancoetc.com/

 

[trebor69]

so the thermostat broke but the actuall heating element works? seems to be a rather common occurence with the cheasy thermostats in aquaruim heaters. with all the money people put into their fish it boggles my mind why people dont run tempurature controllers.

edit- have over 10 stealths, some 4 years old now, and all work fine.

I have an old temp controller that I bought many years ago...still working great. I forget the brand/model but its not digital.

I bought a ETCI-1R in January this year....it quit working 2 weeks ago.
Its hard to find a negative review of the ETCIs but lucky me eh?

point being....there is no 100% guarantee....even tho the temp controllers are generally much more reliable than heaters....they're not bullet proof

Why in the world can't/doesn't someone make heaters the quality of temp controllers?

I have used about all the different heaters over the years....they all fail to some degree. I have to say though that the Stealths have a good track record with me.

One of the best things I ever did was go out and buy some digital thermometers with BIG screens/numbers that are easy to read from a distance. Something thats very easy to check at a glance as you look around the room. It wont save your fish if youre not home but it will bring a heater failure to your attention pretty quickly if you glance at the readout several times a day.