Recommend a heater

H@rry · Nov 1, 2012

I've got several tanks plumbed together for a total of about 575 - 600 gallons. I need to buy a heater (or heaters) for them. I got a controller so all I actually need are titanium heaters. I've read so many bad reviews I'm confused about what to buy.

Thanx in advance.

mainereefer · Nov 1, 2012

I have had titanium heaters and like with every other heater they have some issues aswell. with a controller any heater will work! most heaters stick on but with a controller it dosnt matter
personally I like the ceramic heaters (the ones that were all recalled) I picked up a few from the lfs for free that were returned because they stuck on. they work great
just make sure your controller is rated for however many watts you run in heaters

zemuss · Nov 1, 2012

I have a Finnex Titanium and don't have any problems. I switched after my first one shattered (was made out of glass).

-Logzor · Nov 1, 2012

I like the glass heaters better, every titanium one has failed me, every glass keeps going year after year. Ehiem Jager.

H@rry · Nov 1, 2012

Why do glass heaters shatter? Do they get bumped or do they get out of the water?

JMSKI333 · Nov 1, 2012

+1 on Ehiem Jager. I currently have 4 of them throughout my system and the work flawlessly. I bought a marineland heater for mixing salt about a year ago (to save $5 and my local pet store carried them) and it failed shortly there after. It was a quite shocking salinity test that day. Haha

zemuss · Nov 1, 2012

H@rry said:
Why do glass heaters shatter? Do they get bumped or do they get out of the water?

It was one of the recalled ones and I believe it was the Marineland heater.

I don't believe all glass heaters will shatter, but I am sticking to titatium for now.

AZDesertRat · Nov 1, 2012

I love my Via Aqua titanium heaters but not sure if they go that big. Finnex is popular for titaniums and Aquatic Eco-Systems carries lots of stuff for larger systems and ponds.
Aquatic Eco-Systems: aquaculture, lake, koi pond and aquarium supplies

milkman · Nov 1, 2012

The Eheim heaters are the best IMO. I run three 200w for 200 gals. I would get three of the 300w for your situation. Located in AL, you should not have as drastic of a temp differential as we do in KC where it can get down in single digits. You can check online, but Drs F&S has the 300w for $24.95. I have never had one fail in three years. I run them totally submerged laying horizontal on the floor of my sump.