Any thing we can do to prevent heater malfunction?

[heuerfan]

All this talk about blackout and heater malfunction has got me worried. I am going to pickup an UPS also in case of blackout. But what can you do to prevent a heater malfunction? Get a controller to control the temp, but what if that fails too?

Maybe get an under powered heater that can only heat your tank max 86 degrees? But during winter time it will struggle to keep tank warm?

We all spend tons of money in this hobby and i think this is something we should all think about.


What are your thoughts?

 

[marrone]

Some people use 2 smaller heaters so if some thing goes wrong with one it won't fry the tank and the 2 heaters will be enough to maintan the correct tank temp. It also helps to remove or shut off the heater in the warmer months.

Finally it does pay to buy very good heaters and not cheap ones. You should also check them out every so often to make sure that they're working properly. You should also check the heater itself for any cracks in the plug wires or in the heater itself.

 

[heuerfan]

I like the 2 heater idea. Even good heaters can go bad. My 3 proheatII heaters work like a charm and i have never had a problem with them in the 3 years i've been using them. But who's the say one day they won't go beserk on me.

 

[regal]

All this talk about blackout and heater malfunction has got me worried. I am going to pickup an UPS also in case of blackout. But what can you do to prevent a heater malfunction? Get a controller to control the temp, but what if that fails too?

Maybe get an under powered heater that can only heat your tank max 86 degrees? But during winter time it will struggle to keep tank warm?

We all spend tons of money in this hobby and i think this is something we should all think about.


What are your thoughts?

Unplug them in the summer when you don't need them.

 

[heuerfan]

Unplug them in the summer when you don't need them.

Mine are already unplugged, what about winter time?

 

[marrone]

I've always used ebo jager and have never had a problem with them. I also do use heaters that are on the smaller size so if some thing does go wrong it wouldn't fry the tank.

I guess nothing is fool proof and it really doesn't take much to fry a tank. I guess you really need to check them every so often, even if you use controllers they can also malifunction.

I guess the best thing to do is have a # of safe systems setup just in case the temp goes to high the power to the heaters will be cut off.

 

[pecan2phat]

Steven,

Using an external controller (Ranco, Medusa, Aqualogic, Reefkeeper, Aqua Controller, Aquatronic, Octopuss etc) is your best solution. If you set a quality heater so that it first turns off at about 80 to 82 then utilize the controller and set it to about 78 to 79, then if the controller fails, then the internal heater controller will be your second fail safe.

I utilize a Reefkeeper on my 120/102g tanks and an assortment of Ranco and Aqualogic temp controllers for my 90g and even my 12g nano-cube. None have ever failed on me and I haven't heard much talk of them failing at all.

I think your next investment on your 72g should be a Reefkeeper 2, you can control your lights, monitor your PH, control your heater/heaters and fans or chiller without them fighting each other. This allows you to get rid of multiple timers, ph monitor, not worry about the heater etc.

If you want more sophisticated control over your tank then look into an Aqua Controller III, but it's double the cost.