[tizzite]

I had a Hydor ETH and was happy with it, but when I went to get another one I saw a bunch of reviews saying they were defective or unreliable.

It seems as though this is the only inline heater, I can't believe that other companies wouldn't make these, unless there's a patent. Does anyone have any recommendations?

 

[aaronbear]

I've looked too and came to the same conclusion as you, there really isn't another option and even though mine never has problems there are clearly people whose Hydors have been unreliable. There is a tutorial you can search for where someone made a DIY inline heater with a regular heater stuck into some PVC but it was big and ugly, I'd rather just stick with the Hydor one and hope it keeps being reliable.

Apparently Fluval was rumored to come out with a special inline heater that connected directly to the G3/G6 filter and used its temp sensor but I don't think it was ever released.

 

[exv152]

The hydor is an awesome heater, I have one on a 125g, along with a jager heater, and between the two the temp is rock solid. Before, when I ran two 300w jager on the setup the temp would fluctuate a few degrees.

One huge recommendation I would make, not just for hydor heaters but for any heater, is to use a separate heater controller which cuts off the power to the heaters if the temps rise beyond a set point.

 

[PickieBee]

One huge recommendation I would make, not just for hydor heaters but for any heater, is to use a separate heater controller which cuts off the power to the heaters if the temps rise beyond a set point.

Can you suggest a brand of heater controller?

 

[PortalMasteryRy]

Can you suggest a brand of heater controller?

You can build one if you are that type of handy person.

You can buy a temp controller box @ amazon and a plastic project box. The diagram can then be found on google.

 

[charlie 1]

Can you suggest a brand of heater controller?

I highly recommend getting the RKL lite pkg(Reef Keeper Lite)
it`s an expandable pkg @ a decent entry level price & includes a temp. control & leaving room for 3 more programmable outlet , replacing numerous timers
ReefKeeper Lite - Basic Includes:
1 x RKL Head Unit
1 x PC4 - Power Controller 4
1 x DA iTemp Temperature Probe
1 x SID - System Interface Device
1 x Programming Coupler
4 x Mounting Screws
http://www.marinedepot.com/Digital_...iums-Digital_Aquatics-DA1131-FITEMOMI-vi.html

 

[goodbytes]

They actually make a production version of the DIY inline heater. I saw it on somebody's tank journal.

Definitely pricier than I would like but I guess you'd only ever have to buy the one.