Defective generic brand heaters/filter flow question

21 years ago

Has anyone had any bad experiences with generic brand heaters and condensation forming inside? I bought a heater from Petcetera (the Cdn chain, not to be confused with a USA one). It was their own brand of heater. Placed in the aquarium, let stand 20 minutes and then plugged in. I noticed condensation starting to form inside. Took it back and got another one. Guess what? Condensation once again.

I took it back and the sales clerk tells me that with some brands of heaters, they recommend placing in aquarium and letting stand an hour or more before plugging it in. So, I let stand almost 2 hours before plugging in and so far no condensation. Not sure if that was the solution, however, it seems to me if the heater is properly sealed it shouldn't matter, or should it? I've read that condensation means a leak somewhere or even that the heater was manufactured in a humid environment and that moist air is trapped inside the tube.

Also, I have a penguin 170 filter that says for tanks up to 50 gallon. My tank is 30. I figured I could use the extra power, as I originally was planning to get more goldfish. Instead I got guppies and they seem to have a hard time swimming with the flow, especially the fancy tail ones. Should I even worry about this, or is there a way to reduce the flow a bit? Unfortunately, there's no control knob or anything. Actually, it's more the water that's flowing out of the filter that's causing a 'riptide' as opposed to the intake suction.

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Comments (5)

keithgh
21 years ago
"that with some brands of heaters, they recommend placing in aquarium and letting stand an hour or more before plugging it in."

I was told this even with very expensive heaters.

Not meaning to be rude but you only get what you pay for. It is the old saying price equals quality.

Keith
Puddlemaker
21 years ago
The water inside is bad. They should be dry inside to be safe. As for the water flow I used a piece of window screen mesh and taped it to the back of the hood and then let it fall into the tank in front of the filter output. It breaks the flow up enough to keep the riptide down. My 30 gallon has an emp 280, a whisper 30 and an UGF running with all four venturi tubes bubbling. My Orandas are large and they need a lot of filter. The one small oranda was getting washed around when he came up to the top to eat and this helped a lot. Make sure if you try this you stay home and check that you aren't splashing water out of the tank.
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Puddlemaker
21 years ago
Here is what I was told at a local pet store. Get one or more of the little packets that say don't eat that come in packaging. Desicant (Sp) I think is the name of the stuff but it's used to keep things dry. Put them in a zip loc bag with the heater and it will suck the water out. Once it's gone it won't come back. I'd buy a new one but if you have one of them around it's worth a try.
glen3a
Original Author
21 years ago
Thanks for the advice. I did end up getting a new one, a name brand one. What a difference, the dial on top seems easier to turn, the "on light" is better and it has a suction cup so that it stays in the aquarium straight. Lesson learned about buying cheap crap. The thing is, Petcetera store is so over priced, their own crappy brand stuff was on sale half price and still more expensive than a name brand at another store.
bagpiper8
21 years ago
aquatics by kr sells WON heaters, they have a stainless steel element and no glass to worry about, along with a very nice outside thermostat. i am religious about them! lol also, for my guppies i took a piece of plastic hose and put it over the nozzle on the power filter and then curved it downwards between some rocks in the tank. besides lessening the current, it makes for a nice bubbly corner in the tank. snails will love it!