often overlooked - but you should definately buy quality.

[Ram_Puppy]

So I am looking for a new heater.

I know, there is no glitz or glam in this... but I am sick of buying cheap pieces of crap that stop functioning if my maroon clown looks at it wrong.

so:

Are tehre any brands out there worth noting? has anyone finally gotten it right?

[Bill S]

I had a titanium heater. Got a hole in the tube. I haven't found a "great" one. The one I have is double protected, with a controller along with the internal thermostat.

[Ram_Puppy]

i was looking at marinedepot... apparently the Jager brand is accurate to .5 degrees... and it doesn't seem inordinately expensive... anyone used them?

I am pretty concerned about this, because my suspicion is that my jbj artica nano is giving out because the heater decided not to shut off, i came home last night to a loud chiller and when I turned it off (and the lights) the chiller made a wheezing sound like it was discharging excess moisture from the compressor or something... that is a whole other story, luckily, still under warranty.

[Jynxgirl]

I dont want to use glass anymore after my experience, but my titanium one is dead after less then a month. I will be following this thread as well.

[Ram_Puppy]

lol, Joshua, I totally agree, when my halide is on and running it is no issue, but i am only running the T-5s right now as I haven't mounted the halide in the new canopy that ace built me... go figure it's this little thing called Time that is always getting in the way.

I am ordering a 14K bulb though :)

[brewercm]

Speaking of quality, which 14K are you going with? I've been very pleased with the Hamilton DE, but here the Phoenix is very close in comparison unlike some of the 15Ks that look almost as blue as a 20K. Just my opinion though.

[DaBird47]

I have been using the Stealth "unbreakable" and so far so good...At least it won't shatter if it get hit or unsubmerged...

[Ram_Puppy]

how long bird?

Cliff,

I am gonig to get a a Phoenix, I saw it on Josh's tank and it's perfect. My old 175 watt system I ran a Hamilton 14K and I loved it, but For a 250 watt DE, the phoenix lights are just getting rave reviews, and seeind in person, I love the colors it gave josh's tank.

Right now I am also running (only running) 4 28" T-5s, 2 are actinic plus right now, and one is a 10K, and one is a blue plus.. it's giving off good light, and I don't think the phoenix will add anything to the mix but intensity, when I get it up and running, I will switch out the 10K for another blue plus, and one of the actinic pluses out for a pure actinic.

but I digress.

[captexas]

I've used the Ebo Jagers with no problems. Only issue I had with them is they are not 100% submersible. Supposedly the new ones are though.

[DaBird47]

I've had them (2x 250w) for over a year, not a long time but so far I'm happy...

[matt]

They're okay. Hardly accurate to .5 degrees, but they seem a little better than some of the really cheap ones.

[caferacermike]

I agree with the 2x 250w Pheonix heaters. Work like a champ for me.

This is EXACTLY why I made a reply in another post about deciding if you actually need a heater. If you don't, don't put one in the tank. I understand that some peoples tanks are different and might need a heater. I've heard failure stories at about a rate of 100 to 1 success.

[Ram_Puppy]

well, If i was staying in San Antonio, I would say, no I probably don't need a heater as my tank seems to bottom out in the low 70's when it's not running.

however, I am going to be moving the tank to the hill country (life happened this weekend and I couldn't do it when planned) and it gets much colder up there in the fall & winter.

[LoneStar]

I never really ran a heater BUT I do have a Ebo Jager. I've used one this past winter in the garage while 'cooking' some live rock in a trash can. Works pretty good. Hasn't broken yet.