Recomend me a heater.

[robandrosco]

Well.. I guess my marine land 200 watt will not cut it this winter, I walked in to find all of my LPS shrunken and just plain looking unhappy, so I checked the water parameters and all tested out perfectly. But I did notice that the water felt cold. So I checked the temp and I was sitting at 71. Cranked up the heater and all of the LPS have puffed back up and are looking awesome again. Tank temp is currently 79ish. It was originally set at 78 now is at 82 with the ambient being increased from 65 to 70.

So after my investigation I would say that this heater just wont cut it like my old one did (died).

what shall I replace it with (unsure on wattage) and want a good reliable brand.

Thanks!

Rob

[binford4000]

I like the Finex controller with their titanium heaters if your on a tight budget. You can't calibrate it tho like the pin point that I use but you can verify it with a thermometer very easily. My personal preference is the pinpoint and it drives a Finex titanium submersable heater. The pinpoint is rock solid and consistent. You never need to replace the thermocouple and it can be calibrated! The Finex heaters are bullet proof also. Here's a link
Aquarium Supplies for Reef, Marine, Saltwater Fish Tank - AquaCave.com (http://www.aquacave.com/finnex-hc810-digital-co)
Finnex HC810 Digital Controller - AquaCave.com (http://www.aquacave.com/finnex-hc810-digital-controller.html)
Finnex 300W Deluxe Titanium Heating Tube - AquaCave.com (http://www.aquacave.com/finnex-300w-deluxe-titanium-heating-tube.html)

[ksfulk]

I like the Finnex heaters as well, but I also swear by the eheim Jager heaters. Solidly built, decent price and rugged. I run a 300w on my 70 gallon system and have had the same heater for three years. They are long, however, so make sure you have plenty of room.

[larryandlaura]

I use Finnex titanium and eheim heaters. On a apex or a Finnex controller.

[frisbee]

I've got some Aquaclear heaters that have been with me for years on end without any problems. It was pretty much set it & forget it.

[robandrosco]

Thanks for the suggestions guys! Going with the Finnex controller and heater seems like the best bang for the buck.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

If you can swing it, a full controller (APEX, reef angel, ReefKeeper, ect) will give you so much more functionality. Then your current heater can still be used.

Tom

[creefer]

I second Tom's comments. If you can swing an Apex, it's well worth it. Even an Apex lite if you can find one.

[robandrosco]

how about an apex junior?

[Tom@HaslettMI]

That'll do. But you'll likely end up wanting features that come standard on the full or lite. If/when that happens then, you'll need to buy modules and an EB-8 (outlets). Going that route will end up costing more. Keep an eye out for a used system in the sale forums. Or post a WTB ad and see what happens.

Please don't get me wrong, the Finnex setup may be an excellent piece of equipment. I have no experience using one. But you'll get way more BANG (for a lotta buck) if you go APEX.

Tom

[robandrosco]

well BRS has it for 494.99 for the full apex with lab grade probe. thinking of whipping out the credit card.

[dlhirst]

I'm a broken record when it comes to heaters. But, this is advice I was given years ago, and it hasn't hurt me yet! Rather than one heater in your tank, divide the watts by two, and buy two. Heaters fail catastrophically in one direction or the other. All heat, or all nothing. If one of your heaters goes cold, the other will work a little harder - and maybe keep the tank warm enough. If one of your heaters goes full on HEAT, the other will kick off and (hopefully) prevent the tank from hitting death zone temps.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

I'm a broken record when it comes to heaters. But, this is advice I was given years ago, and it hasn't hurt me yet! Rather than one heater in your tank, divide the watts by two, and buy two. Heaters fail catastrophically in one direction or the other. All heat, or all nothing. If one of your heaters goes cold, the other will work a little harder - and maybe keep the tank warm enough. If one of your heaters goes full on HEAT, the other will kick off and (hopefully) prevent the tank from hitting death zone temps.

That is excellent advise. But it not relevant if you have a controller that serves as the thermostat and will email you if the temp goes over or under set temperatures!

Tom

[dlhirst]

You are right, of course. Unless you are the irresponsible sort like me who checks my phone's email about once ever two weeks... I guess if my fishes lives depended on it, I might check more often!

[binford4000]

That is excellent advise. But it not relevant if you have a controller that serves as the thermostat and will email you if the temp goes over or under set temperatures!

Tom

The Apex does do a great job. But you will want to set up a fail safe on the heater even with the Apex. I had mine go nuts last year when the brain went on the fritz!! Lucky for us the chiller was able to keep the temp from going thru the roof!!

[robandrosco]

Thanks guys!

Kinda talked me into an apex. Bought a used one with a lab grade ph probe from a guy on another forum. It is about a year old so I'm hoping everything will last a while.

Binford... what kind of failsafe could you put on it with an apex? I really don't want to invest in a chiller just for that.

Thanks again people! I'm sure I will be picking your brains about the apex programming when I get it hooked up.

[binford4000]

Thanks guys!

Kinda talked me into an apex. Bought a used one with a lab grade ph probe from a guy on another forum. It is about a year old so I'm hoping everything will last a while.

Binford... what kind of failsafe could you put on it with an apex? I really don't want to invest in a chiller just for that.

Thanks again people! I'm sure I will be picking your brains about the apex programming when I get it hooked up.

I used the Finnex controller.i plugged the finnex into the Apex and the heater to the finnex that way if the Apex failed again the finnex thermocuplar would turn the heater on and off even tho the Apex was running the heater at full power. Make sense??

[robandrosco]

Perfect sense! Thanks! I guess its too bad aquacave had them on back order. (I ordered one black Friday) I'll try and trust the Apex for now.