I need a heater that isnt junk!

[smcnally]

The problem is mine is not totally submersible You are suppose to keep the temp dial out of the water so I use it to make water.

IIRC, all of their heaters are fully submersable. They labeled then as non-submersable until they got their UL listing here in the US.

 

[RichConley]

Steve, thats correct.

 

[Dave]

IIRC, all of their heaters are fully submersable. They labeled then as non-submersable until they got their UL listing here in the US.

Thats good news.
I have one that is UL approved and labeled as "Do not immerse beyond water level." It is less than a year old. I have had it below the water level and it is fine. I did notice the temp dial got sticky and harder to dial-in a temperature.

 

[Andy O]

I have three of them with separate controllers. 2 of the analog controllers and one of the digitals and have had very good success with them. One thing that i noticed was that on the digital one the temp reading on the controller is actually about 2 degrees higher than the actual temp in the tank so it reads 81 on the controller when the tank temp is really about 79.

I had only one minor issue with a controller and Finnex sent me a new one -- no questions asked.

 

[Moe_K]

Moe,
This might be too obvious and you probably have already tried it but:
I've found if you place the heater in a higher flow area of the sump like inbetween the baffels or right by the pick up for the return it helps with this issue.

Nope, hadn't thought of it. Good thinkin'.
I'll try rearranging things.

 

[Moe_K]

I have an 800w Finnex in my sump. I ended up replacing the controller with a Ranco. Haven't had any trouble since. You get what you pay for, guess that's why the Finnex controllers are about $25.
FWIW I also have 2 marineland heaters which are 15 years old. While I would no longer trust them in a tank, they still work very well in my saltwater holding barrels.

Yeah, those Ranco units ain't cheap.
Just my luck.