heater dangerous?

[Shroitaka]

i just got my visi 50 watts heater that i am currently using for my 10 gal. is it dangerous for shrimps? also would u recommend putting the heater vertically or horizontally. thank you in advance.

Jason

[beckypyyeung]

My heater is placed vertically as instructed. I'm using a 'Jager' heater which works very well. May I share something with my shrimp friends what I and my friend experienced:

Two years ago I bought and used my first heater. The brand was Sxra (Don't know if I may mention the genuine name here in full. The 'x' should be replaced by another alphabet). However, 80% of my fish died overnight. My friend experienced the same. Then he spent much time finding out the problem. It turns out that most Sxra's products are good, but the design of their heaters is problematic. The temperature may run very high and fail to stop at the fixed temperature. That means 80% of my fish was 'boiled' to death. Please be careful.

[Dee]

I use "Jager" heaters too and find them the most reliable, although I place mine horizontally.


Dee

[beckypyyeung]

I tried Jager after I was betrayed by 'Sxra' because I saw two big fish shops here using Jager. I place it vertically since there are two lines named 'min. water level' and 'max. water level' respectively at the top of the heater. Therefore, the water level is between these two lines.

[beckypyyeung]

I don't think a heater will be dangerous to shrimps as long as it works properly and the temperature is correct. I started to turn it on in November last year and shrimps were introuduced into my tank in December 2004. I set the temperature to 24 degrees Celsius. Not only the heater doesn't harm my shrimps, the shrimps even help clean up the dirt on the suction cups. There was something slippery in white/ gray on the suction cups, but there is none after the arrival of shrimps. Sometimes they stay on the suction cups and I believe they help remove the slippery substance.

[Jenova]

i just got my visi 50 watts heater that i am currently using for my 10 gal. is it dangerous for shrimps? also would u recommend putting the heater vertically or horizontally. thank you in advance.

I have a visi term 25W in a 3 gallon tank, and I have never had any problems. It's a bit large and chunky, bit it appears to be well calibrated.
I don't think it would cause a problem, as long as you make sure it's covered with water when it is on, and you let it sit for about an hour in the water before you turn it on the first time.

I've got heaters that are placed horizontally and some that are placed vertically. Unless the package advises against it, both should work.

[Jackie]

i just got my visi 50 watts heater that i am currently using for my 10 gal.

I would advise 25 watt at the most. 50 watts in 10 galons and something goes wrong - you end up with shrimp soup.

[theshrimp_123]

Jackie wrote

I would advise 25 watt at the most. 50 watts in 10 galons and something goes wrong - you end up with shrimp soup.

That sound delicious! I mean terrible!

[beckypyyeung]

I think lobster soup is more delicious than shrimp soup.

[Mustafa]

I don't even have any heaters. If your room temperature is in the 70s (Fahrenheit) all year round, then you don't need a heater.

[PhaidOut]

Just wanted to throw in my .02...

Jager = only way to go. My LSF said they distributor in the states is no longer importing them. His distributors can not get them. However I see them on Aquabid all the time yet. It is true if you buy enough at once they will still sell to you, but LARGE quantities. So evidently someone is still getting them.

BUT even they have issues from time to time. Sticky thermostats are not the only issue. If you see condensation in a submersible heater - pull it. It means that somehow water is getting into it. If you establish an electric current out of it - even a small one - it can cause big problems in your aquarium.