Heater Brands and Durability

[Hugh Mann]

I am looking at getting a couple new heaters for my various tanks, as my current heaters are a little undersized for the temperature difference in my basement since I moved the tanks. They're on almost as often as they're off.

Just wondering primarily about the durability of glass heaters? How prone are they to cracking/breaking vs titanium or plastic? As that is my primary concern over anything else. Any pros or cons of using plastic or titanium heaters? Should I be more concerned about brand/build quality over materials?

I currently have a 200w aqueon pro, 150w aqueon and a 200w Eheim.
All three hold within 0.3f throughout the day.

 

[piranhaman00]

Heaters of any brand should always be on a controller. I use a cheap glass brand off amazon that has worked great for me. I hear of titanium ones breaking easier (or failing easier cant remember).

 

[Hugh Mann]

I remember reading something about that too in regards to titanium. What controller do you use? Been thinking about an Inkbird.

 

[piranhaman00]

I remember reading something about that too in regards to titanium. What controller do you use? Been thinking about an Inkbird.

InkBirds work, I have 4 in service for over a year now and holding steady. They take a bit to register a temp change however, I recently switched to bayite. They are just a bit more money but so much better, register 0.1F temp changes, my tank sits at 0.1F fluctuations, really amazing. I control it with an apex but I would 100% trust it without.

LINK

 

[andrewey]

The best heater out there is the one the one that has multiple failsafes (e.g. a controller, undersized, etc.). Some heaters are better than others, but you'll do best long term if you treat heaters as a consumable piece of equipment and replace regularly.

 

[92Miata]

I am looking at getting a couple new heaters for my various tanks, as my current heaters are a little undersized for the temperature difference in my basement since I moved the tanks. They're on almost as often as they're off.

Just wondering primarily about the durability of glass heaters? How prone are they to cracking/breaking vs titanium or plastic? As that is my primary concern over anything else. Any pros or cons of using plastic or titanium heaters? Should I be more concerned about brand/build quality over materials?

I currently have a 200w aqueon pro, 150w aqueon and a 200w Eheim.
All three hold within 0.3f throughout the day.

I'm confused - because when I read that, my thought is that your heaters are too large. The ideal heater is one that runs 100% of the time and keeps your temperature right where you want it.

The most common heater failure is a heater sticking *on*. They rarely fail off (without shattering/etc)

The most dangerous (to livestock) heater failure is failing on - both because a heater can raise temperature way quicker than temperature will drop to ambient, and because animals tend to react worse to high temps than low temps (o-sat, etc).

And I generally agree with @andrewey here - if you're going to spend money - spend it on a temp controller, and some sort of temp logger/notifier as a failsafe.

 

[Hugh Mann]

The one in my DT is a 150w in a 55 gallon tank, right around a 17f difference between the air and water. Keeps my tank right around 75.5f, but the knob on the heater is set around 80f. Dunno if that's because of the temperature difference, or calibration. I know my thermometer is accurate from testing. The 'On' light is, well, on about 50% of the time, so I assume this means this thermometer has the capacity to cook my tank if it fails?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I live by titanium units which have a probe for accuracy

 

[jdstank]

Hygger makes very nice titanium units with included controllers at a reasonable price point.

 

[Red_Beard]

I have used quite a few and have had very good luck with eheim’s jaeger series. The glass is tough as long as you don‘t let it get hot out of water and then submerge them...like in a water change situation... don’t ask how I figured that one out lol