DIY External Heater (56k!)

Snazzy · 09-04-2007, 07:41 PM

If anyone has had any doubts on the design even after this long, I still have not had any leaks and its been about 11months i think...i didnt ever try the uv ster. b/c was too lazy but i think conduit sch. 80 pipe might be uv resistent but may be wrong.

~snazzy

Treasure Chest · 10-04-2007, 09:24 PM

Does anyone know where is the thermostats located in Ebo Jager? I made one according to the plan on this thread but when I tested it, the thermostats seemed to be stuck open all the time. I used a powerhead pumping water from a pail to the enclosure then return to the pail. The temperature raised to 100 F shortly and still going up. I guess that there is something blocking the thermostats from measuring the water temperature. I am also quite sure there is no air trapped in the enclosure.

PDX-PLT · 10-05-2007, 04:46 PM

Most heaters have a line marked on them that indicates minimum water height. The thermostat is typically just below this line. it that area's not in contact with the water, you're not going to get good regulation.

Treasure Chest · 10-05-2007, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDX-PLT

Most heaters have a line marked on them that indicates minimum water height. The thermostat is typically just below this line. it that area's not in contact with the water, you're not going to get good regulation.

I only see a max water line just below the dial on my Ebo Jager. Does anyone know where the thermostat is located on this paticula heater?

cookingnerd607 · 10-07-2007, 06:26 AM

I would test it in a bucket outside of your module. sounds like something is wrong... I built mine a few weeks ago and it tested fine in a bucket.

Snazzy · 10-16-2007, 01:24 AM

its more then likely the pump heating up the water. what size/kind pump were you using? usually they overheat enough that they break their ceramic shafts or magnetic impeller. then heat up the water 100 degrees ++++

~snazzy

**Joetee** · 10-16-2007, 02:50 AM

Does anybody know of anything that we could do to lesson the risk of boiling our fish due to a broken pump etc?

Joe

Treasure Chest · 10-16-2007, 04:55 PM

I just used a brand new Maxi-Jet MP1200 power head for testing. I do not think it can generate that much heat to heat up a bucket of water to over 100 degrees...

cookingnerd607 · 10-16-2007, 10:48 PM

I re-tested my heating module. I did the following tests:

Heater in bucket alone.
Heater in bucket with powerhead moving water.
Heater in module with powerhead pumping water thru it and back to the bucket.

My powerhead didnt heat up the water much, if any.

I would bet your heater is faulty.

Grubs · 10-17-2007, 09:29 AM

Something is wrong with your heater or installation. I'm wondering if you have an air pocket in the top of the chamber. It is easy to purge the air by just loosening the watertight fitting a tad while the pump is on (assuming your heater is on the pressure side of the pump). You should hear the air being forced out and when a few drops of water leak out just screw the seal tight again.

I have two of these using 250W Ebo Jager heaters and both work as expected. I do have the advantage of being able to see the heater indicator light (earlier in this thread).

I agree the pump shouldnt impart much heat at all.

Treasure Chest · 10-17-2007, 05:02 PM

Glad to hear it is working out for everyone, so there is no problem with the plan

I will double check the heater, that is all I can think of the problem is. It is a brand new 250W. I am pretty sure there was no air pocket in the module. I also installed a light indicator. It did turn on and off, but it turned on before the water temperature dropped to the set point. I am not sure if it was the fault of the heater or there was something wrong with the enclosure. I will test the heater alone later on. I only use this to heat up the water when I do water change so it is not a big problem for me, I am just curious of why it did not work as intended. I have a Hydor 300W inline plumbed in the system. Thanks for the help everyone.

fishscale · 10-18-2007, 04:31 AM

cookingnerd, when you say it didn't heat up your water much at all, does that mean that it is not effective? I am thinking about making one of these for a 55 gallon. How big is your tank and what heater do you have in this thing?

tazcrash69 · 10-18-2007, 12:00 PM

Fishscale, His power head didn't heat up the water.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookingnerd607

My powerhead didnt heat up the water much, if any.

They are trying to figure out why TCs is raising the temp so high.

TC, I am curious to see where you had your problems. I'm willing to bet either the heater itself, or the fitting keeping the water from the thermostat.

fishscale · 10-18-2007, 03:21 PM

Oops, my bad. I am concerned, though, that the heater won't heat up the tank enough.

fishscale · 11-09-2007, 10:23 PM

I'm interested in this kind of setup and I'm wondering: how watertight is the heyco cordgrip? If you had the cordgrip at the bottom, would it leak? (imagine if you had just flipped your entire inline heater unit upside down

10-07-2007, 06:26 AM	#35
cookingnerd607 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Binghamton NY Posts: 616	I would test it in a bucket outside of your module. sounds like something is wrong... I built mine a few weeks ago and it tested fine in a bucket. __________________ The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think. Horace Walpole (1717 - 1797) Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)

10-16-2007, 02:50 AM	#37
Joetee Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 928	Does anybody know of anything that we could do to lesson the risk of boiling our fish due to a broken pump etc? Joe __________________ 10 gallon hospital tank. 29 & 50 gallon - High Tech C02 enriched. 50 gallon Pond - Natural. See my Blog for Tank Spec's http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=607 How to Move with Fish, Tank, & Plants, 2200 miles http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=661 +site:plantedtank.net ""

10-16-2007, 10:48 PM	#39
cookingnerd607 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Binghamton NY Posts: 616	I re-tested my heating module. I did the following tests: Heater in bucket alone. Heater in bucket with powerhead moving water. Heater in module with powerhead pumping water thru it and back to the bucket. My powerhead didnt heat up the water much, if any. I would bet your heater is faulty. __________________ The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think. Horace Walpole (1717 - 1797) Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)

10-18-2007, 04:31 AM	#42
fishscale Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: New York, NY Posts: 3,895	cookingnerd, when you say it didn't heat up your water much at all, does that mean that it is not effective? I am thinking about making one of these for a 55 gallon. How big is your tank and what heater do you have in this thing? __________________ Eheim Pimp #254, Eheim Wolverine #1 55 Gallon Work in progress 10 Gallon Shrimp Tank 10 Gallon Planted QT 20 Gallon Shrimp Tank (Work in progress)

10-18-2007, 03:21 PM	#44
fishscale Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: New York, NY Posts: 3,895	Oops, my bad. I am concerned, though, that the heater won't heat up the tank enough. __________________ Eheim Pimp #254, Eheim Wolverine #1 55 Gallon Work in progress 10 Gallon Shrimp Tank 10 Gallon Planted QT 20 Gallon Shrimp Tank (Work in progress)

09-04-2007, 07:41 PM	#31
Snazzy Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 128	If anyone has had any doubts on the design even after this long, I still have not had any leaks and its been about 11months i think...i didnt ever try the uv ster. b/c was too lazy but i think conduit sch. 80 pipe might be uv resistent but may be wrong. ~snazzy

10-04-2007, 09:24 PM	#32
Treasure Chest Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Richmond, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 35	Does anyone know where is the thermostats located in Ebo Jager? I made one according to the plan on this thread but when I tested it, the thermostats seemed to be stuck open all the time. I used a powerhead pumping water from a pail to the enclosure then return to the pail. The temperature raised to 100 F shortly and still going up. I guess that there is something blocking the thermostats from measuring the water temperature. I am also quite sure there is no air trapped in the enclosure.

10-05-2007, 04:46 PM	#33
PDX-PLT Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Oregon Posts: 292	Most heaters have a line marked on them that indicates minimum water height. The thermostat is typically just below this line. it that area's not in contact with the water, you're not going to get good regulation.

10-16-2007, 01:24 AM	#36
Snazzy Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 128	its more then likely the pump heating up the water. what size/kind pump were you using? usually they overheat enough that they break their ceramic shafts or magnetic impeller. then heat up the water 100 degrees ++++ ~snazzy

10-16-2007, 04:55 PM	#38
Treasure Chest Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Richmond, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 35	I just used a brand new Maxi-Jet MP1200 power head for testing. I do not think it can generate that much heat to heat up a bucket of water to over 100 degrees...

10-17-2007, 09:29 AM	#40
Grubs Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 32	Something is wrong with your heater or installation. I'm wondering if you have an air pocket in the top of the chamber. It is easy to purge the air by just loosening the watertight fitting a tad while the pump is on (assuming your heater is on the pressure side of the pump). You should hear the air being forced out and when a few drops of water leak out just screw the seal tight again. I have two of these using 250W Ebo Jager heaters and both work as expected. I do have the advantage of being able to see the heater indicator light (earlier in this thread). I agree the pump shouldnt impart much heat at all.

10-17-2007, 05:02 PM	#41
Treasure Chest Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Richmond, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 35	Glad to hear it is working out for everyone, so there is no problem with the plan I will double check the heater, that is all I can think of the problem is. It is a brand new 250W. I am pretty sure there was no air pocket in the module. I also installed a light indicator. It did turn on and off, but it turned on before the water temperature dropped to the set point. I am not sure if it was the fault of the heater or there was something wrong with the enclosure. I will test the heater alone later on. I only use this to heat up the water when I do water change so it is not a big problem for me, I am just curious of why it did not work as intended. I have a Hydor 300W inline plumbed in the system. Thanks for the help everyone.

11-09-2007, 10:23 PM	#45
fishscale Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: New York, NY Posts: 3,895	I'm interested in this kind of setup and I'm wondering: how watertight is the heyco cordgrip? If you had the cordgrip at the bottom, would it leak? (imagine if you had just flipped your entire inline heater unit upside down __________________ Eheim Pimp #254, Eheim Wolverine #1 55 Gallon Work in progress 10 Gallon Shrimp Tank 10 Gallon Planted QT 20 Gallon Shrimp Tank (Work in progress)

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