Gear
Heaters and temperature controllers: what reef keepers commonly use
Heaters, and the controllers that cut their power if they stick on. Below are 2 items we see often, each with our honest note and where to view it in the UK and the US.
We sell nothing and earn nothing from these links. Prices are as each retailer's page showed them on the date checked, and they change. How this guide works
Listings checked . How we check
What should you look for in heaters and controllers?
- Enough heating for the tank and the room it is in. Two smaller heaters fail more gently than one large one.
- Any heater can stick on. A separate controller that cuts the power at a set temperature is the best guard.
- Run-dry protection, and a probe placed away from the heater itself.
Commonly used heaters and controllers
Specs are as published on the listed pages. Where the US and UK pages give different figures, we show both.
Eheim Jäger 100 W heater
Brand: Eheim
Our note. A widely used glass heater with a simple dial and run-dry protection. It is cheap and easy to replace, but like any thermostat heater it can fail on, so pair it with a controller.
Key specs
- 100 W
- US: 26 to 40 US gal; UK: up to 150 litres
- Range 65 to 93 F / 18 to 34 C
UK listing
Kraken Corals (UK): opens the retailer's page for Eheim Jäger 100 W heater in the United Kingdom- Price as shown
- £24.99
- Checked
US listing
Bulk Reef Supply (US): opens the retailer's page for Eheim Jäger 100 W heater in the United States- Price as shown
- US$32.88 (100 W)
- Checked
Inkbird ITC-306T
Brand: Inkbird
Our note. A plug-in thermostat that switches your heater off if the tank goes above the set point, a cheap safety layer for any tank. It controls heating only, and the body is not waterproof.
Key specs
- Two heater outlets
- 10 A max load
- 2 m NTC probe
- Separate day and night set points
UK listing
Amazon UK (UK): opens the retailer's page for Inkbird ITC-306T in the United Kingdom- Price as shown
- Price not shown on the page when we checked
- Checked
US listing
Inkbird (manufacturer) (US): opens the retailer's page for Inkbird ITC-306T in the United States- Price as shown
- US$34.99
- Checked