Heater Question

[nmreefbeginner]

I know it may be a dumb question but I am wondering why submersible heaters are used in salt water aquarium opposed to the hang on type. I plan on using a submerged but just am curiuos

[fliberdygibits]

They are prefered in fresh and salt alike. They tend to be better built, and they are easier to hide behind your decorations or in a sump.

Thats just me, others may have more scientific reasons.

[mapster]

As with air, heat also rises in water. You can place fully submersible heaters lower in the tank (even sideways) to provide better all around heat circulation. Like fliberdygibits said, most of the "better" quality heaters are fully submersible.

More flexability, whether in the main tank or in the sump.

Thats what I think anyway.

[tdwyatt]

Interestingly enough, one of the brands that have always been considered "the best" for marine tanks (Ebo-Jager) do not claim to be fully submersible in the packaging that domes with the heaters, and has a "max" water line at the top of the heater just under the dial for setting the temp. Although They do have a fantastic reputation, and have been over the years the hands down heater for precision heati maintenance, They no longer claim to be totally submersible...

My 2 cents US...

Tom

[fliberdygibits]

I know that several years ago before I quit keeping tanks and was doing only fresh, EJ heaters were the porsche of the heater world, and were TOTALLY submersible. I havn't seen one recently. That's wild.

[rwithey]

I have two EboJager heaters and they both have a MIN water level marking, not a MAX. Although the packaging doesn't specifically say submersible, it does say it is double sealed from water. Maybe they have different models?? Mine are model TS.

[dwyatt]

Whatever you do - DON'T use a Visi-therm!!!

[iceboxman]

What's wrong with Visitherm?

[nmreefbeginner]

Thank you

I had to ask it was bugging the hell out of me, but the answers make sense.

[Rich]

I used a visitherm in freshwater. I had two of them crack and the toxins killed the fish ( or the current thru the heater).

[asmith]

Originally posted by iceboxman
What's wrong with Visitherm?

Where should I start? They are just really cheap heaters. They have been known to explode, and if they don't explode, you will be lucky to have it last more than a year or two. They are also extremely difficult to adjust properly. The thermostat can sometimes be off by as much as 5 degrees or even more.

I recommend the Ebo Jager or Won heaters. I have Won heaters now and I love them.

Andrew

[iceboxman]

Well I have one, but if they are known to explode, maybe I'll get another heater and use the visitherm for conditioning water in the garage.

By the way, I use a thermometer to keep track of my temperature, not the heater.

[dwyatt]

I personally know of 3 tanks that were cooked by Visi therms that stuck in the on position. These would be fine for your SW mixing tank or for curing LR etc but don't take a chance with your display tank.

[mapster]

That mark on the heater is for the minimum water line.
Definitely fully submersible and, IMO, definitely the best heaters. I would never use anything else.

[tdwyatt]

Originally posted by mapster
That mark on the heater is for the minimum water line.
Definitely fully submersible and, IMO, definitely the best heaters. I would never use anything else.

I just bought (last week) four of these these from Marine Depot, the 150 watt heaters, 120 v, model TS and I just reread the instructions that come with the heater. They are listed as "Waterproof for Fresh and Saltwater" on the outside of the box, but the instructions do not mention that they are submersible, and there IS a Max water line marked about 1 cm below the blue dial where the temperature is set. The min water level line and the auto cut off function for low water are about 12 cm down from the top of the heater on the 150 watt models. I might mention that in the past I have used these as a totally submersible heater, but after seeing the claim in the instructions that they are "...The first to implement a low water level safety switch avoiding glass breakage due to thermal shock..." , I checked the heater out and discovered the Max water level line on the heater, as well as the printed warning: "Do not immerse beyond Water level" in both English and French. I have consequently installed these in the sump with about 2 cm of the top of the heater out of the water. If the manufacturer will support the fact that these are indeed totally submersible, I would love to place them under the surface, as the position of these in the sump is awkward at best. They do state that they are double sealed and that the cord is double insulated. Wonder why they have a max level mark and the warning if they are indeed still submersible...

btw, I agree, until now I would have never used any other heater, the ones I have had in the past have not had this mark or the warnings on them and I have used them without problems as totally submersed heaters. However, as the new WON brothers heater is as accurate and precise as the Ebo-Jagers, and is fully submersible; they will prolly be the heaters I get for the new tank...

The new models and new packaging does not support these heaters as totally submersible, and the heater itself warns against using them in this manner. Such a shame...