In search of a 100-150 watt inline heater...

**bradleyheathhays** · 02-21-2013, 06:17 AM

I'm brand new here and I'm doing some new tank building and my ideal setup is steering me toward two inline heaters at 150w each. After a lot of searching honestly the only inline heaters I've found is the Hydro line which only come as 200 and 300 watt units.

Does anyone know of an inline heater sold that is 100w-150w?

Thanks!

**talldutchie** · 02-21-2013, 07:20 AM

I think hydor is pretty much your only option. A higher wattage isn't going to cause problems.

**Cliff** · 02-21-2013, 10:48 AM

+1 to the above

I am currently using a hydor in-line heater and I really like it. The difference between a 150 and 200 watt heater is minimal and should impact anything.

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/revi...ydor-eth&cat=6

**fearsome** · 02-26-2013, 05:45 AM

Some people built their own DIY inline heaters, heydor eth is nice but it still has the same major flaw all heaters have, they will sometimes get stuck on and cook all your fish and since they only come in higher wattage you cannot use 2 lower wattage ones to try to prevent that unless you happen to need like 400 watts of heating. This is ironic because besides cost I think alot of people do not like 2 heaters in their tank, but with external heaters it wouldn't really matter to have 2 so I think heydor really dropped the ball not offering this in lower wattage version. In the OPs case though it will be close but he might pull it off. The other consideration is the heydor says it must be vertical not sure why.

The other option with any of them is to get a separate heater control and hook it up at a saftey temp in case one fails.

**talldutchie** · 02-26-2013, 05:47 AM

I've never had a heater get stuck in more than 2 decades of fish keeping. I've had them burn out though but that was ages ago and it was already an old unit.

**fearsome** · 02-26-2013, 05:56 AM

You are one anecdotal sample, look around these forums and reviews for any most heaters for aquariums and you typically will be able to find people who complain of this.
Depending on how much your fish cost you might not even care but many are weary of it. This model of heater has just such reviews.

**Cliff** · 02-26-2013, 11:03 AM

I have found failing heaters are more common in the mid - lower quality heaters. This is less of a risk in higher quality heaters like hydor.

**talldutchie** · 02-26-2013, 11:15 AM

Or Eheim/jager.

I'm active on 3 forums. Runaway heaters are quite rare these days and the few accounts I've read tend to be noname affairs or the tiny fixed temperature affairs. Broken heaters happen. If I didn't have 3 shops within 15 minutes of my home that are open 6 days a week I would probably keep a spare in stock.

**genocidex** · 02-26-2013, 12:50 PM

Ive had heaters die on me, but that was them just stop functioning. That includes the 5 dollar ebay specials... Ive only once had a heater over heat my tank but thats cause i tried setting up a 300w in a 5.5g.... Other than that never had an over heat issue once any heater is set. Hydor is a good brand... +1 to cliff