Heater malfunction discussion

My dad works at a pool business and thinks he knows everything about heaters and water. I told him that I needed to use his amazon account to buy something (with my own money mind you). Our household uses one amazon account btw. I wanted to buy a Inkbird heater controller for my tank. My tank is small and if my heater was to malfunction it would totally boil my livestock. He said I didnt need it because heaters automatically turn off when they get too hot. He totally ignored the malfunctioning part (not surprised because he thinks he know severything). He explained it in a way to make sound it like I'm going "crazy" about this tank. Hes got the nerve! I always say it's better to be safe than sorry he needs to back off and let me take care of my tank. It's my tank and my money I don't see what the problem is here! I'll take advice from people who actually own fish! So, do you guys actually use heater controllers? And what's the chances of my 25 watt Marina heater malfunctioning? I already can't keep a stable temperature with it which is really annoying. I can't stand sitting next to him on this couch while typing this. I'm triggered I'm sitting somewhere else

 

How big is your tank? That depends on the heater size. If you’re having trouble keeping a stable temperature, you most likely have the wrong heater size for your tank. Your dad is correct—most aquarium heaters have an auto shutoff feature that shuts it off when the water reaches the desired temperature, and turns the heater back on when the water temperature drops below the desired temperature. I have never heard of a heater “malfunction” in the way you are describing. As you said, it’s better to be safe than sorry, but I really do not think this extra product is necessary. I would follow your father’s advice, or upgrade your heater, depending on the tank size.

 

I personally don't use them and currently use a tetra preset for one tank and just a basic top fin one for my other. I haven't had any malfunctions or issues with either.
I however haven't use the heater you're referring to. Though if your tank is 5 gallons or larger a 25 watt really shouldn't be able to boil it. From what I've read and experienced that sort of issue isn't very common at all, in fact the opposite is more likely to happen. My old heater I was using in my hospital tank just started cutting out and completely stopped working. I'd be more worried about that than it overheting.

 

I have a 5 gallon and the package that the heater was in said it only reaches 80 degrees doesn't say anything about shutting off my tank reached 91 degrees before this was before I had live plants and livestock it's a weird heater I had it on a stable 78.1 temperature before for 3 days and then it dropped to 75 I don't think the temperature of my house has anything to do with it we keep it at 64

 

I don't think its neccessary, but I have one. I like the tech and seeing the temperature that my tank is throughout the day. The inkbird graphs that, so I can see when my temp is dipping. I use a space heater and it'll set the alarm off because it raises the tank temperature. Kind of good for me because I never realized how often I was affecting my tank temp using my space heater, so now I'm more careful. I'm a heat lover and I'll run my space heater for hours, but now I reduce it because it will make the heat in my tank climb pretty quickly. I also like the peace of mind knowing that if my heater malfunctions I have a chance to save my fish. It'll notify me wherever I am on my phone if the temp gets too high.

Honestly it's your money, so I don't know why he doesn't want you to get it. I could see if you're asking for him to pay. Are you an adult living at home or a minor?

 

I don't think its neccessary, but I have one. I like the tech and seeing the temperature that my tank is throughout the day. The inkbird graphs that, so I can see when my temp is dipping. I use a space heater and it'll set the alarm off because it raises the tank temperature. Kind of good for me because I never realized how often I was affecting my tank temp using my space heater, so now I'm more careful. I'm a heat lover and I'll run my space heater for hours, but now I reduce it because it will make the heat in my tank climb pretty quickly. I also like the peace of mind knowing that if my heater malfunctions I have a chance to save my fish. It'll notify me wherever I am on my phone if the temp gets too high.

Honestly it's your money, so I don't know why he doesn't want you to get it. I could see if you're asking for him to pay. Are you an adult living at home or a minor?

I'm 17 I'm still considered a minor which sucks because there's things that I still have to rely on my parents for and I like being independent (not independent when it comes to bills though)

 

In forty years of fish keeping, I’ve had one heater stick and heated the tank to the nineties. Lost a tank of synodontis catfish. Sad day. It can happen, but it’s rare. I now heat my fish room to 78F and ditched all my heaters.

 

I have had my 75 gallon get 85 degrees, which made my fish start acting very weird. I felt the water and was like holy moly! So, now I don't use any heaters unless I have an angel or betta, which I move the house temp up to 75. I honestly don't trust heaters anymore which is disappointing because I just bought like 6 of them