Heaters exploding is the norm? Advice on new heater?

I've bought everything needed for my new 75-gallon planted freshwater aquarium except for one item, a heater. I've read multiple posts, articles, top 10 lists, and have scoured through Amazon reviews but I'm left with nothing. Each and every heater I see has a handful of reviews showing exploded/broken heaters or heaters that have burned up an aquarium. Is this just normal? Do most people have success with heaters but a rare few have these incidents where a heater fails catastrophically? Should I just pick one and see what happens? Any solid recommendations (with link) would be welcomed. Also, I have no preference about one heater or two smaller ones (I've read enough posts to realize 1 v.s. 2 is a touchy topic but I understand both sides).

 

In over 50 years of keeping fish I never had a heater explode. The worst i've had is one sticking in the on position and cooking some fish. The old heaters had mechnical contacts to turn on/off I think newer ones are electronic controlled and more reliable. I think Eheim is a good brand but a little more expensive.

 

I made a thread yesterday about blowing up (literally) my first heater ever. I forgot to unplug it when doing maintenance and it was left massively overheating in the cool room temperature air.

I use largely the cheapest heaters available from a pretty crappy brand, I have over two dozen tanks, and this is the first time it's happened to me and was 100% my on fault (plus not the only time I've made this mistake, but the only time it ended so poorly). So I'd like to say that the reports are exaggerated.

Then again I don't live in the U.S. and brands are different here. I'm surprised to hear how many people have their tanks crack, it's never happened to me and my tanks are the cheapest of the cheap as well (I have a brandless 12G that is 20 years old and spent a decade neglected in a garage, it is still perfectly in working order and in use today).

 

I've never blown heater( **knock on wood***), which is surprising considering I've lost count how many times I've left it plugged in and went below the water line. I buy cheap heaters too.

 

I totally agree with Pascal! I use cheap of the cheap, and only end up with problems when it's due to me doing something like forgetting to unplug things during maintenance. You would think one would catch on at some point.... Lol. But I've never had one explode, just get burning hot from being exposed.

When you have several tanks cheap is your best friend. I use the following. Sometimes I end up with a dud, but the seller replaces them at no cost when this happens. I'ts happened twice in 2 years. I like them because they are cheap, adjustable, and come in a 2 pack, which is nice when you need multiples.

 

Like jpm995 I have had fish tanks for a very long time and have never had a heater explode. If I should forget to unplug one when doing a water change it might happen but fortunately I've never forgotten to do that. I did have one stick in the on position once years ago. It didn't end well for my fish and was the main reason I had an empty tank for about 6 years. It broke my heart.

I run a Marineland 200 watt heater on my 55. The first one I bought quit on me the second year I used it. Company sent me a new one but while waiting on it to arrive I bought another one. It is always a good idea to have a back-up heater. I have one no name heater in my 5.5. It is at least 20 years old and still woks perfectly. I bought a cheap 100 watt off ebay for my 10 gallon. Seems to be working just fine.

One thing I don't do is submerge any of them even though they say they are fully submersible.

 

Like jpm995

One thing I don't do is submerge any of them even though they say they are fully submersible.

Did you have a bad experience? I have mine fully submerged, maybe I should pull it up from the water.

 

Nah, I submerge the ones that say not to submerge them. Feel like keeping them at least an inch underwater is way safer so they don't end up cooking my tank when the top gets exposed to room temperature due to evaporation when I'm away on holiday or something.

 

Thanks for all the great replies so far, they make me feel better about picking a heater. Also, thanks Sheena-Phx for providing a link to your heaters, it's very helpful to get that recommendation.

 

Did you have a bad experience? I have mine fully submerged, maybe I should pull it up from the water.

No bad experience but I just feel like electricity and water don't mix well and I really don't trust that the water won't start seeping into them. There seems to be a disconnect when it comes to quality control in most products on the market these days. I am not comfortable at all putting an electric cord in my tank. May just be paranoid but I can't bring myself to submerging mine.

 

Hm...

My topfin heater failed in my 46g. I had that thing cranked to 93 and I barely got the tank temp to 72. Works fine on my 20 I moved it to. I replaced it in my 46 with an eheim 150 watt (ill get to that).

I have a aqueon 50w preset heater in my other 20. Good steady temperature and works well enough. But preset temperature is a downside should I need to treat ich or fish need a temperature change.

I have a little 10w minI aqueon heater. Preset as well. Ive been through two. It shuts off when exposed to air and seems I forgot and it never worked again. Had to get another. Its rated for up to 5 gallon but I have it in my 10 gallon for my betta, keeping him at 77-78F.

Ive not been a fan of the preset heaters or the cheap top fin one.

Now my other 20 had a reallllly old glass heater. It works quite well for its age. Given the thin glass, I question how long it'll be until it blows up just from being old. I currently have that one set as my back up heater. Its currently in my fry grow out tank.

I replaced a heater with the eheim 150w and I have to say I'm very happy I spent the money on it. Feels very sturdy, no problems at all with it, and easy to calibrate. If I could replace all my heaters, id go with this brand as overall I'm happy with the quality.

I'm a forgetful turd so I place any heater I can as far down in the tank as I can, so its well below the usual limit of my water changes. So I don't forget and accidentally expose it to air. All but my topfin and glass heater are placed either horizontally or as close to the bottom as I can.

That said, none have ever exploded. The more extreme cases reach more ears than the most common issues. You're more likely to have it just up and stop working properly.

 

No bad experience but I just feel like electricity and water don't mix well and I really don't trust that the water won't start seeping into them. There seems to be a disconnect when it comes to quality control in most products on the market these days. I am not comfortable at all putting an electric cord in my tank. May just be paranoid but I can't bring myself to submerging mine.

Yeah I guess that's all it takes is 1 small leak or defect.

 

I've been ok with heaters so far *also knock on wood* I get the brand names usually second hand. I pick them up wherever I see them for a good price because I have 9 tanks going atm, and a spare heater is always a good idea imo.

Brands I consider good quality are Eheim, Fluval and Marineland.

 

angelcraze Thanks for reply and including brands you trust, this helps a lot.

 

Never had it happen or knew anyone it happened to. I’ve had some ehiem jagr heaters for 20 years. I have the same ones I first bought. Only heaters I buy. You can also buy stainless steel heater.

 

I have both Fluval and auqeon heaters, I never had any break even though I sometimes forget to unplug them during water changes. I like the Fluval better though because you can change the temp on it.

 

I have a 75 gallon and considered the number of heaters issue. I decided to go with one. I regret that decision. I worry if that heater dies when I'm away at a 36 hour party. (kidding)! Two heads are better than one.

 

I keep two heaters on my 120 gallon and 90g, I don't use a temperature regulator, but it is advised to do so when using two heaters. The heaters on my 120 gallon are Eheim Jagers and on my 90g, I have Fluval. Seriously, I bet some of my heaters are 20 years old! (the ones bought used).