Stealth heater JUNK!!

[rmalone]

Well today I got zapped by ANOTHER stealth heater, that is 3 out of the 4 stealths that I bought that have leaked voltage. What a garbage product, I am convinced the only reason they are popular is because they arent glass. The damn things dont even have a light to let you know when they are on!!

Nothing but Ebo-Jagers for me from now on, much nicer product. Even the hydors are more reliable than the stealths.

Anyway just griping, sorry for the rant. I am sick of junk that purports it'self as quality.

[CalmSeasQuest]

Well today I got zapped by ANOTHER stealth heater, that is 3 out of the 4 stealths that I bought that have leaked voltage. What a garbage product, I am convinced the only reason they are popular is because they arent glass. The damn things dont even have a light to let you know when they are on!!

Nothing but Ebo-Jagers for me from now on, much nicer product. Even the hydors are more reliable than the stealths.

Anyway just griping, sorry for the rant. I am sick of junk that purports it'self as quality.

I agree. I've read about lots of Stealth failures. I also use Ebo-Jagers and Hydors and have had great success with both (although always using a separate controller.)

[ReeferRob]

I've had only 1 in 12 I've owned go bad.......

[Sharkboy87]

I have 5 stealth heaters waiting to go back to marineland right now. I have allready sent 4 back previously. I am asking for glass replacements of a full refund this time. Stealth heaters from my personal experience are garbage. Electrical fire, in a plastic tube.

[Wy Renegade]

Interesting. I've owned only three and after three years all three are still working great. Perhaps its the new ones hitting the market that have an issue?

[Sharkboy87]

I just rolled over the 5 year mark on the 5 i am sending back. They worked great for a long time, perfect for sharks and rays or other large fish.

[creefer]

This thread makes me want to get a new heater.......

[Sharkboy87]

2 of them nearly started electrical fires in my house. Nothing beats an Ebo...

[Dan_cochran]

I have run marineland in the past, and no problems, but when I setup my new system I was Reading about a batch of the stealth that had problems, So when I bought my new one I made sure it was the NEW model with the LED: marineland stealth Pro w/led 250w

It has been running down in my sump for 6 months now with no problems, But I also have never trusted a heater to be fully under water, And I never will fully trust a heater to be fully under water, But I don't even like the idea with my power heads cord in the water.

you never know when you could get a monday or friday made product.

[brandeewyne]

i've had a terrible run of luck with the stealths also, in my own tanks as well as my fathers.

just last night i stopped by his house and he told me of the latest failure .. he heard some popping noises and finally pinpointed it to the tank, when he pulled the heater out of the sump the entire top portion came right off. every coral in his 135 is closed up. hopefully no permanent damage but only time will tell on that one.

does anyone know about the internal workings of these heaters? beyond the electrical issue should he be concerned with any type of chemical leaching into the water with all that being exposed?

[reefpoor]

I had one go bad a few years ago. Didn't know it was leaking voltage until one day I had one hand in my tank and one in the sump at the same time. There is a ground rod in the sump, so the voltage went up one arm and down the other to the ground rod. Zowiee, checked it with a meter found 56 volts leaking. No more metal or glass heaters for me

[brandeewyne]

he did a 40 gal WC after it happened .. i'm just unsure if that's enough, depending on what may have contaminated the system. the only problem i've experienced is them frying on me, never have had to deal with one completely coming apart like that.

softies, LPS, SPS, clams .. all closed up and ticked off as of this morning yet. how absolutely sickening to think of losing the entire tank over a heater malfunction .. grrr!

[softiegirl]

I feel ya with this problem!!!! mine blew a hole in the side of it last week and almost caught on fire, thank god we were home!!! p.o.s.!!!! it was less than six months old. I hate all heaters!!!!!!!!!!!!! :stupidme:

[creefer]

All this talk scares me....maybe time to order and Jager.

[rmalone]

A jager on an rkl inspires confidence, hold a stealth in one hand and jager in the other and you will really notice the diff.

[brandeewyne]

the ebos are on order .. i'm changing every last heater out.

[reefwonders]

That's funny all the EBO's I've owned were junk and I've had at least 10 of them. I do run a stealth right now and haven't had a problem. I guess it's like cars, you can find someone that has a problem with any car.:big_grin:

[AJ :)]

I too have had plenty of ebo jagers fail on me as well.
I haven't found a perfect heater yet. It seems my personal best luck are Marineland.

It does help to run two smaller heaters instead of one large heater, so if one fails in the ON position it wont cook the tank.

[iyachtuxivm]

i've had a terrible run of luck with the stealths also, in my own tanks as well as my fathers.

just last night i stopped by his house and he told me of the latest failure .. he heard some popping noises and finally pinpointed it to the tank, when he pulled the heater out of the sump the entire top portion came right off. every coral in his 135 is closed up. hopefully no permanent damage but only time will tell on that one.

does anyone know about the internal workings of these heaters? beyond the electrical issue should he be concerned with any type of chemical leaching into the water with all that being exposed?

As far as I know if he is running a skimmer he should be fine. There is an oil (mineral) in the heaters but its such a small amount that the skimmer should take care of it. Copper windings in there too, but that really shouldnt cause an issue. A very very small amount possibly could get released I wouldnt worry skimmer on full and run some carbon should be good. More damage from the electricty then either of those.

[brandeewyne]

i know this is totally off-topic .. but is that a Helfrich's firefish in your av?

[brandeewyne]

i was wondering about the copper. when the top came off the ends of the copper wires were toast so there is no way to know how much was released into the water. with the fish not being affected as the corals are, i thought this a possibility.

[The.Maxi.Man]

I know this thread is 4 months old but I just want to let you know that Marineland had a silent recall on all their stealth heaters.

/thread Marineland Stealth Heater Recall? | Aquaspire (http://www.aquaspire.com/2011/02/marineland-stealth-heater-recall/)

[The.Maxi.Man]

I know this thread is 4 months old but I just want to let you know that Marineland had a silent recall on all their stealth heaters.

/thread Marineland Stealth Heater Recall? | Aquaspire (http://www.aquaspire.com/2011/02/marineland-stealth-heater-recall/)