best heat packs?

surfn · Nov 19, 2008

what are the best heat packs to get?

I just had a heat pack fail in shipment, which doomed the corals. they are the "UniHeat - Small pets shipping warmer (40hrs)"

and tested out a few others i had today that haven't been opened, and they failed to heat up after 30min.

anyone have any similar experiences? i got them from ken's fish supply, same place i got my bags.

Reef Pets · Nov 19, 2008

Those are suppose to be the best. I have used them for years and have never had an issue. I have heard that they do expire. That may have been the propblem, you got an old batch.

Hypertek99 · Nov 20, 2008

Yep last time i used a uniheat 60 hour one they weren't heating up at all. My whole batch i ordered was bad. The 40hour and lower ones work great for me. Heats up quick.

AussieExoticCorals · Nov 20, 2008

wow sound like pro salt, bad batch.

Leishman · Nov 20, 2008

I had the same thing with Ken's 40hr packs. I ordered 40 or 50 and the whole 1st bag I opened were usless. See my and his response email below....

Good Afternoon Richard,
I have not had any problems with them that we are aware of. The heatpacks only heat to about 110 degrees. Let me know how many you are having a problem with.

Thank You
Ken Menard
32 Fourth Ave.
Taunton, MA 02780
[email protected]

----- Original Message -----
From: richard.leishman@
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 2:31 PM
Subject: Previous order

Hi Ken;

Back on June 17th I ordered a bunch of 40 hr heat packs, now it's time to use them non are warming up. I have opened ~6 or 7 and not one has got more than a few degrees warmer than my hand. Have you had other inquires? I'm wondering if I just got some from a bad batch.

I have not had time to reply, but I will today.

stunreefer · Nov 20, 2008

Heres a link to study Beaker Bob did on heat packs for our Michigan Forum: http://www.michiganreefers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62394&highlight=heat+pack

He did four brands including the Unit Heat packs.

MarvinsReef · Nov 20, 2008

stunreefer said:
Heres a link to study Beaker Bob did on heat packs for our Michigan Forum: http://www.michiganreefers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62394&highlight=heat+pack

He did four brands including the Unit Heat packs.

great study by Bob...

recently, I have been using the 18+ hours heat pack from Wal-Mart... they are less than $3 for a pack of 3... so far, the recipients have been happy...

oceaninabox · Nov 20, 2008

I use a 40 pack called "HEAT FACTORY". I have used 100's of them and never had one fail yet. One thing I try to do in the cold months is I tear the bag open and let it start to generate heat before I place it in the box. That way I feel fairly confident it's going to work. One time I noticed one wasn't getting hot and the ingredients inside were harder than normal, so I assumed it was opened some how and wasn't working. An ounce of preventative measure goes a long way in this hobby.

FX CharityCorals · Nov 20, 2008

I always open mine up and activate it for at least 20 min before putting it in the box. That way I know its warm and working. One problem people run into is they seal up the box so well that the warmer runs out of oxygen for the reaction.

GMaquarium · Nov 20, 2008

oceaninabox said:
I use a 40 pack called "HEAT FACTORY". I have used 100's of them and never had one fail yet. One thing I try to do in the cold months is I tear the bag open and let it start to generate heat before I place it in the box. That way I feel fairly confident it's going to work. One time I noticed one wasn't getting hot and the ingredients inside were harder than normal, so I assumed it was opened some how and wasn't working. An ounce of preventative measure goes a long way in this hobby.

Ditto

surfn · Nov 20, 2008

Leishman said:
I had the same thing with Ken's 40hr packs. I ordered 40 or 50 and the whole 1st bag I opened were usless. See my and his response email below....

I have not had time to reply, but I will today.
[/indent]

Rick,

Be sure to point Ken to this thread. I think I got mine sometime last winter. I know for a fact that they haven't gone bad or already been pre-activated, because if they did........the contents inside would become hard.

My personal opinion is that the company who is making them, didn't mix the ingredients correctly. i.e. too much of one chemical and not enough of another.....thus causing no chemical reaction when mixed. it was probably just 1 or 2 bad batches that Ken got.

I could have SWORN, there was a thread last spring about an entire box of these heat packs purchased from Ken not working.