Equipment Review and Discussion :: stealth heater

[scripta_elegans]

Thanks Steve! I am a little paranoid about all the potential hazards lurking in the tank.

[marisa]

If you feel the heater when it's in the water, I think you"ll find that it doesn't feel that hot to you (the heat quickly dissipates into the water). I happen to use heater guards, but this is mainly to either protect a heater from rocks in the tank (they get pushed around) and/or to protect a stock tank if the heater is a higher wattage one (I have one that's 400 watts) should something happen and it overheats.

[scripta_elegans]

Thanks Marisa! I don't know that my turtles have discovered the joys of rock rearranging yet, but I will keep that in mind if they do!

[scripta_elegans]

Okay, I bought another stealth heater for the other end of the tank. I have a 75 gallon mostly full, and the 250 watt heater isn't quite able to keep the tank at a steady 78 degrees if the air temp drops below 74. It's cold enough to have heat on, but I think setting it @ 75 will make me want to cry when I see the energy bill. I have a homemade polycarbonate cover on the tank that Grey Goose suggested, it keeps it warmer in there, but I would love to turtn the heat down to 70 sooner or later! I hope 2 250 watt heaters will be enough?

[cam722]

I didn't notice any difference in my electric bill because of filters and heaters. One 250 watt heater should be more than enough to keep your tank at the proper temp. I had a 75 gallon with the same heater and never had a problem. Where are you placing the heater? I did see either on the forum or an outside source what the energy usage was for the most popular heaters and filters. If I find the info I'll be sure to post it for you

[Andrew7769]

i think she ment the house heat

[cam722]

Okay, I bought another stealth heater for the other end of the tank. I have a 75 gallon mostly full, and the 250 watt heater isn't quite able to keep the tank at a steady 78 degrees if the air temp drops below 74. It's cold enough to have heat on, but I think setting it @ 75 will make me want to cry when I see the energy bill. I have a homemade polycarbonate cover on the tank that Grey Goose suggested, it keeps it warmer in there, but I would love to turtn the heat down to 70 sooner or later! I hope 2 250 watt heaters will be enough?

i think she ment the house heat

Well the fact that she mentioned 2 250 watt stealth heaters seemed to me she was talking about the water temps .. Unless the part about setting the house temp to 75 is what you meant.. lol Sometimes these posts can get very confusing.

Actually the room my turtles had been in was very cold I rarely had the heat on in there and my stealth maintained a steady 75 degrees... hmmm again

[Andrew7769]

my mistake

[grey goose]

The difference between air temps (room) and water temps (tank) is a big factor in determining what size heater you need. If the air temps are low (68F) and you want to maintain the water temps @ 75F, you'll need a bigger heater.....
Also keep in mind that warm water isn't the only thing that keeps our pal's happy, the air they breathe has to be relatively warm also (I'd say 72F should be the minimum) thus the cover. The cover also holds in humidity and slows evaporation.
Here's a short guide for heaters:
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/tipsa ... ersize.htm

[scripta_elegans]

Thanks again all! I was unclear in my post, but it was the air temp I was referring to. I have the air temp @ 74, and the heater did not seem to manage a mere 5F degree difference, so I wonder if there is something wrong with the heater. I have it set @ 86 and the water is @ 78. I have a second 50 watt in there too.

[grey goose]

Sounds like a bum heater....I don't have any experience with stealths, but I've heard nothing but good things about them.

[cam722]

As I've said I love those heaters and have had no problems and surely not when trying to maintain a 5 degree difference in air/water temps. I agree with grey goose, sounds like a bad heater. Is is possible to take it back where you got it and get a replacement?

[marisa]

Well, I've got issues with two Stealths (a 150-watt one and a 100-watt one). They seem to have to be set at least 5 degrees higher than the water temp I want (set at 75F to get the water to 70F for one of them).

[scripta_elegans]

I put the other heater in the tank, and I now have them set @ 80, which the tank is maintaining nicely. I guess I just needed the extra power? Or the first heater wasn't working..

[cam722]

unless you have sick turtles you don't really need to keep the temp at 80.. you can lower it to 78.. I know just what you want to hear that you need to mess with the heaters again