Best heater to use without a controller

Chameleon · May 9, 2012

Hey yall,
I just read a post on a tank crash due to overheating and it got me thinking. I am wanting to upgrade my current heating of my tank to something a little more redundant and foolproof. I currently have a fluval 300watt submersible heater that keeps my tank warm during winter months. What would be a good upgrade with keeping in mind i want redundancy and fail-safes. I do not have a controller atm so keep this in mind with suggestions. Thank a lot for any suggestion!
-Cham

Chameleon · May 9, 2012

Oh fyi total system volume is about 80 gallons

BarbH · May 10, 2012

For heaters one of the ones I am thinking about getting is the aqueon pro heater ( I believe that is the correct one) it is completely glass free which for me with the fact that having no sump and the heater being in my display tank is attractive since no chance of something happening and the heater busting and having pieces of glass in my sump. I currently have an aqueon thinking the next model down which is a submersiable heater but is glass. I have had the heater for over a year and has worked well for me. For fail safes one of the things that I have read that people do is instead of using one large heater for their tank is that they use two smaller heaters. That way if one of the heaters was to stop working the other heater would keep your water from getting too cold before you realize what has happened.

AZDesertRat · May 10, 2012

I have used the Via Aqua Titanium heaters for years with good results. They have their own seperate controller and the temp probe is seperate also so you get very accurate temps.

Chameleon · May 10, 2012

Thanks for the input yall. It really helps. That via aqua titanium looks pretty nice.

Blake11rebel · May 10, 2012

I just got a hydor theo fully submersible heater a couple months ago and it has worked out really well for me. Its suppose to be shatterproof. I set it at 75 degrees so that it wont get to hot in the tank but wont get colder than that either. I have it in my sump on my 30g mixed reef

Cherub · May 10, 2012

Blake11rebel said:
I just got a hydor theo fully submersible heater a couple months ago and it has worked out really well for me. Its suppose to be shatterproof. I set it at 75 degrees so that it wont get to hot in the tank but wont get colder than that either. I have it in my sump on my 30g mixed reef

that's the same heater I got and honestly I hate it. I didn't have a temp probe and hadn't checked the temp in a couple of days. There was a frag knocked over so I stuck my hand in the water and it was cold. Temp was 74... The heater is designed to turn off when it is out of water and I think the heater "thought" it was out of water and just turned off. Freaked me out and I won't use it again. Bought it because it was a good deal on foster and smith...

Blake11rebel · May 10, 2012

Idk I keep my in my sump and the only thing in there is pods, chaeto, and ulva. So I hope this doesnt happen to me, but since its about to be summer I dont really have to worry about the water getting to cold. temp has been between 75 and 78 everyday since I got it. Ill keep that in mind tho. thanks

CalmSeasQuest · May 10, 2012

I would not trust ANY heater without a controller. If unavoidable, use two smaller heaters so when inevitably one sticks on, the chance of the tank and its inhabitants being destroyed prior to detection is minimized.

BarbH · May 10, 2012

Like the look of the via aqua too, might look into getting that instead. I have had the hydor theo and I am not sure if maybe I got a bad batch or what, but with that heater the theromstat was not very accurate and I had to pull one out of my qt tank because it kept wanting to overheat my water even when set at the lowest setting.

Reefing8EZ · May 10, 2012

I use the eheim jager, it's been very reliable so far.

chort55 · May 10, 2012

CalmSeasQuest said:
I would not trust ANY heater without a controller. If unavoidable, use two smaller heaters so when inevitably one sticks on, the chance of the tank and its inhabitants being destroyed prior to detection is minimized.

I totally agree! W/O a controller 2 smaller heaters is the only way to do it, and even then I wouldn't trust it one bit, my luck both would stick on at the same time and still fry everything! For the small investment (in comparison to livestock) there really is no reason not to get a controller IMO. I even have one on my wifes 12g nano pretty much for just the heater because all heaters are junk honestly. If you want redundancy get one (or two smaller) heater that has a built in controller.... and spend the money for a real controller its the best and safest way really!

Cherub · May 10, 2012

well what's a good recommended heater with controller that doesn't break the bank?

btkrausen · May 10, 2012

Reefing8EZ said:
I use the eheim jager, it's been very reliable so far.

I'm using the same on my QT and not a single issue yet. Keeps the temp fairly consistent.

I also use two of them on my display tank, but they are connected through the Apex.

Alkamist · May 10, 2012

i use the eheim jager as well and its been running strong for a year now. I also use the via aqua in my mixing tank and that one is 4 years old and still heating at 79, + or - 1 degree

Chameleon · May 10, 2012

I plan to get a controller eventually, but do not have the funds for the one I want at them moment. I am looking for suggestions for a heater without a controller. I know I really need a controller, but I am want suggestions for what to do in the mean time. So it seems like the consensus is I should get two smaller heaters. Maybe the eheim jager or the via aqua? Please don't suggest a controller, because although I know this is the best way to go that is not the question I am asking. Are there any ways to help prevent overheating caused by a stuck heater other than using smaller heaters in duplicate?