Heater Recomendations

[JohnL]

Hi All

Just joined the forum and have a couple of questions about heaters.

I'm just getting back into this hobby after a 25 year lay off and things sure have changed.

I'm trying to select heaters for a 55 gal tank I think at this point I have decided to go with two 150w for the redundency but I'm having trouble deciding on the brand. I would like completly submersable with external control. What would you all reccomend?

[ksfishguy]

Welcome and good luck. I do not use external control but here is a recommendation:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113767

What type of fish are you looking for?

[gu2high]

You may need a 250w heater for 55 gal tank.

I am using a Marineland® Visi-Therm® Stealth Submersible Aquarium Heaters 250W in my 58 gal tank and is very satisfied with it. But it doesn't have an external control.

[O ALX O]

Welcome to AA! I purchased this and it has been working great:

http://www.petsolutions.com/Titanium...C-1021-C-.aspx

[dapellegrini]

If you are using a canister filter, I recommend an inline filter (hydor makes good ones). I have owned almost every heater on the market, and these are my favorite by a fair margin.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113767

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/review...ate=1108287758

[tommyr]

Originally Posted by JohnL

Hi All

Just joined the forum and have a couple of questions about heaters.

I'm just getting back into this hobby after a 25 year lay off and things sure have changed.

I'm trying to select heaters for a 55 gal tank I think at this point I have decided to go with two 150w for the redundency but I'm having trouble deciding on the brand. I would like completly submersable with external control. What would you all reccomend?

Visi-therm Stealth. I love them. Had others and had a glass one that broke last week, had to make an emergency run for a new one. Should have bought the Stealth to begin with, I have one in all my tanks now...

Tom

[tropicalfish]

Visi-Therm Deluxe or Visi-Therm Stealth.
Deluxe is glass, and Stealth is black plastic.

[JohnL]

Thanks all for the recommendations the visi-therm seem to be popular. But I'm leaning towards the TI titanium heater I may give it a try.

[richiestang_78]

I would go Visi Therm Deluxe or Stealth, I have three Deluxes running, the oldest one being 3 or 4 years with no problems. Whatever you decide go with a submersible and stay away from the ones that hang, and as far as the inline ones, there nice but if the filter breaks or gets clogged you may be in a pickle as the water flow is what heats the tank. I also occasionally use an old EBO-Jager heater my parents bought in the early 80's which still works great, I know there still around but don't know anything about there quality these days.

Id go with two 200watt heaters instead of a single large heater also.

[JohnL]

Sounds like the Visi Therm is the way to go I'm planning on using two 150's (55gal). What's the difference between the deluxe and stealth models?

[tropicalfish]

Deluxe is glass, stealth is black plastic stuff or something...

only disadvantage out of the two is that stealth has no pilot light to show that it is heating.

[JohnL]

Thanks everyone for all the great advice I think I'll go with the Visi Therm Deluxe.