15G - heating question

[Julie]

This is the T5 tank that almost convinced me to go T5 http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/totm/index.php.
Only thing thats missing is the shimmer from metal halide.
I had power compact on the 20g and yes it was very effective, but expensive to replace bulbs and got quite hot even with the fan.  It was a dual satellite.

[redbelly]

There is no replacment for halides IMO. And when you do the math a decent T5 ho setup will end up costing about the same as a mh setup. That being said a mh of a 15g might be a bit much unless you went with a 70W.

I wouldnt go with cf's either. The bulbs are way too pricey for what you get. For the price of a decent cf you can get an excellent T5 HO bulb like UV (aka URI).

[KLKelly]

I went into big al's today to buy the stealth heater (they've been out the past two weeks and I was told they would be in today.  Today I was told they weren't ordered.  Big Al's won't be carrying them anymore.

So what 50W heater should I buy.  I have had one heat a tank to 86 (ebo), another ebo where the light doesn't work, I had a visitherm (recommended by BigAl's today btw) break in half - tiny bubbles streamed from it and in two it went.  Freaky that I happened to be sitting watching tank when it happened.

Should I risk another try at Ebo or Visitherm?  Or maybe I'll let my husband pick one at random - this way I won't be responsible if it goes buzzerk   

Also we are going to start out with the lighting I bought for curing the live rock etc and see how we do for easy corals/shrooms.  This has been the part of researching that I haven't enjoyed.  Hey, I know once he starts - it won't be the lighting he upgrades - it will be the tank

Thanks guys!

Karrie

[kennyman]

I am looking forward to trying these in my tanks but I have not owned one yet

http://www.rena.net/en_us/productCategory.asp?categoryname=heaters

[Julie]

I've been fortunate enough not to have problems with heaters....they've never broken even through massive water changes and low water levels.  My heaters are all at least 2 years old; currently I am using a visitherm (I think -it has a fish inside the shape of the fish on the top part)  in my sw tank.  I've used EBO's and didn't have a problem with these either.

[BigDaddy]

I went into big al's today to buy the stealth heater (they've been out the past two weeks and I was told they would be in today.  Today I was told they weren't ordered.  Big Al's won't be carrying them anymore.

So what 50W heater should I buy.  I have had one heat a tank to 86 (ebo), another ebo where the light doesn't work, I had a visitherm (recommended by BigAl's today btw) break in half - tiny bubbles streamed from it and in two it went.  Freaky that I happened to be sitting watching tank when it happened.

Should I risk another try at Ebo or Visitherm?  Or maybe I'll let my husband pick one at random - this way I won't be responsible if it goes buzzerk   

Also we are going to start out with the lighting I bought for curing the live rock etc and see how we do for easy corals/shrooms.  This has been the part of researching that I haven't enjoyed.  Hey, I know once he starts - it won't be the lighting he upgrades - it will be the tank

Thanks guys!

Karrie

Karrie.. I have a 50W Stealth for ya

[KLKelly]

Makes me wonder why you have a free one and big al's isn't selling them anymore 

Sending pm

[Tynan Rasmus]

Avoid Stealths, MarineScape is not carrying them anymore either. There is apparently some serious issues with them.

[artw]

Karrie  hows the tank going? I haven't seen you around the store for awhile.

...and I've had the 50w stealth in my fuge for 6 months and its been flawless. I havent even adjusted it at all.

[charlie]

Avoid Stealths, MarineScape is not carrying them anymore either. There is apparently some serious issues with them.

Hi, can you share those issues , so we can all be aware of them , i`ve been running a 150 stealth in my 40 gln planted tank for well over 15 mths with no issues.
Regards

[Tynan Rasmus]

I am not sure what they are, he didnt tell me the exact problem. I went in there to get one on the weekend and one of the guys told me they wont carry them anymore due to issues with them. Now BA has stopped as well, so it cannot be good. Give Kieth a call, I am sure he will let you know.

As for having them already .... I have one too, I am guessing the older ones are fine and this is a recent issue. I hope anyways. I love Stealths!

[KLKelly]

Tank is still empty.  Waiting on the heater ordered from BigAl's last week.  My husband is set on the stealth - maybe he should read this post later.  I didn't pick up the 150W stealth for my 30 gallon that I had transferred from another store - I was talked out of it.  Still debating what heater to put there.

I went in yesterday to buy live sand and left without any    Why does there have to be so many choices on everything!  I didn't realize when I asked you about the sand that all the bags were labeled as different varieties. I thought just the size of the sand/rubble differed.  Can you tell me what small grained live sand you'd recommend for this tank? Also what brand of salt would you recommend?

We would be adding some crabs, a shrimp and maybe a clown goby or small blenny when the tank is ready to add each of them.

Thanks!

[artw]

hm well Kent Reef crystals and some small grained live sand would be a good start (thats what I did).  The other fellow from the store (Cory) just started but he used the sugar grain sized and I think he was complaining about water clarity.   I just used what I thought looked good, meh
I'm working 6-9 tonight and Fri and all day Sun come on by I'll show you some stuffs.

[Tyler.L]

go with something small but not to small that flow is gonna move it around. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals is what im going to switch to cause it replaces things in the tank that are used by corals. not like regular IO where it just uses whats in the salt and have to be replaced by a water change..still will need water changes but you know...thats what im switching too but even IO is good on its own.

for some reason this kinda doesnt make sence but whatever i hope you get the drift lol

[Vallely4]

I myself am running a Stealth heater aswell -no problem in the four weeks ive had it...
Seems to be running smoothly

Bought it second hand off somebody here actually, who owned it for 3 months previous...
Its a 200w Stealth....  -Submersible &  -Durable
Ive realized just lately though that i dont even need a heater in my tank... my room/house is plenty warm enough without any heater.

My tank temp. without heater hovers around 23-27, Perfectly stable
I may need it in the coming winter months though

[93GTCANADA]

i have had 4 stealth heaters and i still have one running and i have never ever had a problem. jebos are another story i went threw 4. thing kept trying to boil my tank.

[sniggir]

back to your lighting I think you should get one of the 70w, or pending on if you wanted a little clam in there the 150w...just make sure that you have it 12" or higher above the tank.

[KLKelly]

I really hate lighting.  I would have thought with the popularity of nano setups that 70w fixtures would be more readily available.  Seems like most sites have lots of options for 150 though.  We are keeping our eye out for a decent 70w pendant (sp).

We'll be picking up the live sand today and the heater is in (He's sticking with the stealth).

[KLKelly]

I still haven't decided how much sand to buy.  We were thinking 1/2 inch.  The book we are reading says to go with 2" but I know substrate too deep can cause issues.  He wants this more as a reef tank than a critter tank (but I like the critters )

How many pounds of sand would I need for the 15 gallon?

[Tyler.L]

you're looking at an inch to 2 inches...