Heaters

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

Hey everyone! I'm in the market for a new heater, and need some recommendations. I have always gone with Marineland, but I want to move my heater into my sump, and the Marineland is too big. So, I need recommendations on a heater that is no more than 12 inches long, capable of heating a 40 gallon tank.

Thanks every!

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

Hey everyone! I'm in the market for a new heater, and need some recommendations. I have always gone with Marineland, but I want to move my heater into my sump, and the Marineland is too big. So, I need recommendations on a heater that is no more than 12 inches long, capable of heating a 40 gallon tank.

Thanks every!

Eheim Jager makes one that should fit. 150W fits in my biocube 32 I don’t think it’s more than a foot long. Also I would use two smaller heaters if I were you. Personally I’d do like two 100W Jager heaters. Best heater brand there is

 

[Gtinnel]

The only eheim heaters that are under 12" are the 25w, 50w, and 75w, although several are just barely over 12". I know many people will disagree with this but I hate eheim heaters. The only heaters I have ever had completely fail have been eheim. I now use either inkbird (which are too big for your application) or whatever cheap heater I can get on aamzon then just replace them every year or so.

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

The only eheim heaters that are under 12" are the 25w, 50w, and 75w, although several are just barely over 12". I know many people will disagree with this but I hate eheim heaters. The only heaters I have ever had completely fail have been eheim. I now use either inkbird (which are too big for your application) or whatever cheap heater I can get on aamzon then just replace them every year or so.

I use an inkbird. I agree with that part, I have however had three other heater brands fail on me. Aqueon killed my coral beauty so now I ONLY use Eheim heaters.

 

[Gtinnel]

I use an inkbird. I agree with that part, I have however had three other heater brands fail on me. Aqueon killed my coral beauty so now I ONLY use Eheim heaters.

I've used many different brands of heaters over the last few decades and the only brand I've had fail was eheim, but they both failed off and I didn't lose any livestock. Again I know hating eheim puts me in the minority.

When I said I use inkbird I was talking about their heaters not the controllers, although I use both.

 

[polyppal]

I only use Eheim Jagers and replace them annually. All aquarium heaters suck, but they suck the least IME

You'd be hard pressed to find a sub 12" heater for a 40g. Can you run it horizontally in the sump and get a larger one?

 

[Gtinnel]

All aquarium heaters suck

The key IMO is to use some controller and replace the heaters regularly. I use the cheap inkbird heaters mostly now because they're titanium so they won't shatter at least.

 

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

I only use Eheim Jagers and replace them annually. All aquarium heaters suck, but they suck the least IME

You'd be hard pressed to find a sub 12" heater for a 40g. Can you run it horizontally in the sump and get a larger one?

Unfortunately my sump is so small and packed it's hard to fit anything at this point.

 

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

I only use Eheim Jagers and replace them annually. All aquarium heaters suck, but they suck the least IME

You'd be hard pressed to find a sub 12" heater for a 40g. Can you run it horizontally in the sump and get a larger one?

Unfortunately my sump is so small and packed it's hard to fit anything

Eheim Jager makes one that should fit. 150W fits in my biocube 32 I don’t think it’s more than a foot long. Also I would use two smaller heaters if I were you. Personally I’d do like two 100W Jager heaters. Best heater brand there is

I was thinking of doing 2 smaller heaters and seeing how that works.

 

[Gtinnel]

Unfortunately my sump is so small and packed it's hard to fit anything

I was thinking of doing 2 smaller heaters and seeing how that works.

Sorry I got distracted from answering your actual question. I've used the cheap Orlushy heaters from Amazon before and they're very short. You can get up to 300watt heaters at only 11" long. There is nothing special about them they're just basic, cheap, glass heaters.

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

Unfortunately my sump is so small and packed it's hard to fit anything

I was thinking of doing 2 smaller heaters and seeing how that works.

I’d try two small Jager heaters. The lower wattage ones are smaller and they’re great heaters. You can get two 50Ws and they should fit NP.

 

[PeterC99]

Recommend these HELIO heaters. Little more expensive but they keep temps spot on. This unit has 2 small heating elements that should fit in your sump. Also use less energy because it will only use one heating element for minor adjustments.

 

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

I’d try two small Jager heaters. The lower wattage ones are smaller and they’re great heaters. You can get two 50Ws and they should fit NP.

I was looking at that option, as the 200w Jager is way too big... but will two 50w heaters be enough for a 40g plus the few gallons in the sump?

 

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

Recommend these HELIO heaters. Little more expensive but they keep temps spot on. This unit has 2 small heating elements that should fit in your sump. Also use less energy because it will only use one heating element for minor adjustments.

I did take a look at these. They have great reviews and should fit. I just don't know if I can justify paying that much for a small tank

 

[PeterC99]

I did take a look at these. They have great reviews and should fit. I just don't know if I can justify paying that much for a small tank

I got the 3 yr warranty. Then amortize the cost over 3 years. Not much different if you are buying new heaters every year.

 

[Gtinnel]

I got the 3 yr warranty. Then amortize the cost over 3 years. Not much different if you are buying new heaters every year.

It's still a big difference in cost compared to the heaters I get. I buy two 300 watt heaters per year. The heaters I get I usually buy on sale for around $25 each. So for 3 years I buy about $150 worth of heaters, that's still much cheaper than roughly $400 for an equally sized Helios. I've never used a Helios and I'm sure it's a really nice product but I can't understand what's so special about it to justify the cost. I'm sure it keeps the temp in a tighter range, but otherwise what does it do that a couple of cheap heaters and an inkbird controller doesn't do (I don't mean that to be rhetorical it's a serious question about if it has some function that I don't understand)?

 

[PeterC99]

It's still a big difference in cost compared to the heaters I get. I buy two 300 watt heaters per year. The heaters I get I usually buy on sale for around $25 each. So for 3 years I buy about $150 worth of heaters, that's still much cheaper than roughly $400 for an equally sized Helios. I've never used a Helios and I'm sure it's a really nice product but I can't understand what's so special about it to justify the cost. I'm sure it keeps the temp in a tighter range, but otherwise what does it do that a couple of cheap heaters and an inkbird controller doesn't do (I don't mean that to be rhetorical it's a serious question about if it has some function that I don't understand)?

I get it - cost is a big consideration. I think these HELIO heaters bring a few extra things into consideration. The temp accuracy, dual elements which give some redundancy, smaller heating elements, and less energy consumption (uses one element most of the time to tweak temp). If these extra factors don’t consider into your equation and budget then there are plenty of other options.

I have also not heard of one instance of these units getting stuck and over heating because it uses different technology.

 

[Gtinnel]

I get it - cost is a big consideration. I think these HELIO heaters bring a few extra things into consideration. The temp accuracy, dual elements which give some redundancy, smaller heating elements, and less energy consumption (uses one element most of the time to tweak temp). If these extra factors don’t consider into your equation and budget then there are plenty of other options.

I have also not heard of one instance of these units over heating because it uses different technology.

It's interesting that it only uses one element unless needing the second, but I don't think that will save energy. If it's only using half the heating capability it would have to run that heater for twice as long. I also don't see that not knowing of anyone who has had one fail is fair because I'd say the number of people using one is relatively low compared to any other heater solution.
I'm sure it's a great product but not worth the expense for me personally.

Thanks for replying and telling me some of it's differences though.

 

[PeterC99]

It's interesting that it only uses one element unless needing the second, but I don't think that will save energy. If it's only using half the heating capability it would have to run that heater for twice as long. I also don't see that not knowing of anyone who has had one fail is fair because I'd say the number of people using one is relatively slim compared to any other heater solution.
I'm sure it's a great product but not worth the expense for me personally.

Thanks for replying and telling me some of it's differences though.

A fail is a fail and usually catastrophic for reefs!

 

[Yodeling]

I used to swear by Ebo jagers, but last time I bought them, all three 300w heaters developed really bad leaks in less than 2 months of operation. Never again.