Equipment Review and Discussion :: SO Frustrated!

[happycamper]

I realized yesterday that I had one of the Stealth Pro models that was recalled, and decided to take it to Petsmart to get a different heater. I was kind of bummed out, because I have had that model for a year with no complaints. Anyhow they had NO heaters with enough wattage to heat a 55 gallon tank, so I took my refund and went to PetCo. They had 2 heaters that were able to heat my size of tank, they were both Aqueon brand. So I bought one, no choice really...

Came home and my tank had dropped down to 75 degrees, so installed the new heater, set it to 78 degrees, and watched the "heating" light come on for about 1 minute... then it turned back off. A few hours later it was still at 75.8 degrees... so I turned it up a tiny bit more. Now the dang thing has been set at 83 (according to the knob on the top) for 8 hours... and is still at 76 degrees. SO FRUSTRATED! Anyone have one of these Aqueon heaters? Do they suck? Cause that's what I'm starting to think

Side note about the Stealth Pro Recall:
Petsmart was extreemly nice about the whole scenario, they didn't even ask when or where I bought it. Also when they didn't have a heater with enough watts for me they happily gave me cash.

[steve]

I don't have them but haven't really heard of anything negative. Could you have them give you a new one? And what are you using to measure the water temp?

[happycamper]

One of those digital probe thermometer thingies. When I got home last night it was up to 78, then when I woke up this morning it was back down to 76.5. I am going to buy one online on payday and return the one I bought.

[steve]

Get one of those $2 sticker thermometers, I've noticed them to be more reliable and accurate -- or at least more consistent than those probes.

[happycamper]

Thanks Steve, I have one of those sticker things on there too. I'll check to see if the two temps read the same

[steve]

Yup, look at this:

from here: http://fishelement.blogspot.com/2010/07 ... gital.html

[happycamper]

Ha! That is hilarious! I bought the thing to get the temperature of the basking area. Hope my basking temps aren't way off

[VeipaCray]

steve > I can probably come close to recreating that picture here. The cheap digital thermometers are very inaccurate and the batteries go fast. While the cheap floating thermometers are not turtle-safe, they are 99 cents and very accurate. I use one all the time to double check my heater and controller's temperature probe.

Aqueon heaters are generally good. The downside of the aqueon brand is that they are like 47 feet long.

For an all-in-one heater at a reasonable price, the eheim jager is still hands down the best.

[happycamper]

Yes, it is about 47 feet long. Looking at the sticker and the digital thing it's looking like the temp is finally steady, but the knob is about 5 degrees off compared to actual water temp.

[VeipaCray]

Glad to hear your water temp stabilized.