Need new heater???

[ComradeCactus]

I cleaned my sump, for the first time in 2 years and when i cleaned the heater all the black color on it did vanished so it seethrough, do i need a new heater or is it ok?
Its a aquael heater.
Thanks.

 

[mia relis]

Picture?

 

[ComradeCactus]

 

[bluprntguy]

I replace heaters once a year, so I'd replace it.

 

[melanotaenia]

I would also recommend replacing; I use Eheim heaters, they are top notch.

 

[LiveWire]

I agree. If you made it two years with this heater you were lucky and got your moneys worth. Its the norm to change out your heater annually.

 

[ComradeCactus]

aa okey thanks, first thing in the morning then to do

 

[Sailingeric]

I would run two heaters,.so if one fails the other will maintain or slow the heat loss/ heat gain if stuck on. I would also recommend using an Inkbird or similar controller with an alarm. I have an Inkbird I got from BRS that has alarms I set if it gets a couple degrees above or below my set temp.

 

[bluprntguy]

BRS is selling their own titanium heaters and controllers now too:

Bulk Reef Supply Aquarium Heaters

Bulk Reef Supply - Saltwater Aquarium Supplies for Reef Tanks

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[ComradeCactus]

Can a heater pollut the water in any way if its breaks?

 

[bluprntguy]

Can a heater pollut the water in any way if its breaks?

Other than electrocuting you and your fish?

 

[ComradeCactus]

yes other then that...

 

[ComradeCactus]

bought a Eheim heaters today and it has 3 years guarantee, but they break after a year??

 

[Rover]

bought a Eheim heaters today and it has 3 years guarantee, but they break after a year??

Its not that they 'break' after a year. Its that everything will eventually fail. Some things like heaters when they fail will 'fail on' and cook your tank, killing everything in it. Some will fail off, and just let the tank cool down a bit, but usually room temperature keeps this from being a tragedy. Some will 'explode' and risk shocking/killing your tank. Others can break and release harmful chemicals/metals/elements.

The reason people are suggesting to replace annually is the same reason you change the oil on your car as opposed to wait until the engine breaks to replace it instead. Its a heck of a lot easier to change the heater out then it is to replace a dead tank and deal with that. Its a preemptive measure as opposed to a reactive measure.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Eheims will last about 3-5 years. Manufacturers know that you want be chasing a replacement worth about 30 bucks.

That said, I've had the first finnex last 6 plus years but any recently purchased didnt last a year - went back to eheim.

 

[Quietman]

In general...if it's past warranty (which is usually 1 year - replace). If something about a heater makes you ask this question...replace. It's 20-30 bucks - not worth the worry or gamble. Even if it was high $ heater, I'd still replace if something about it made me ask this question.

However, I think I'm going to trust my Eheims to go 3 years. But then again, I don't rely on the internal thermostat or cycle it often since it's only a backup if the controller fails on (and I also have a fail safe Auto Aqua Temp security if that fails). Even then I check internal thermostats at least annually (and if fail - gone). At three years though, even if passes checks I'll replace. I guess I look at the 3 year warranty as a 'heater coil/system integrity' warranty and really have no expectations that I can rely on the internal thermostat so designed system that way.