Equipment Review and Discussion :: is this heater good enough

[KatieSmeltzer]

when i got my 50 long tank, it came with accessories. including a heater. i got everything set up, and just realized that the heater was broken. i ran to the closest pet store, and grabbed this: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3579693. i know that everyone recommends the jager heater, but they didn't have them at the pet store. i figured that fluval is a good brand, although this heater isn't fully submersible (it has the "min" and "max" water lines, so i'm assuming it can't be fully submersible). my question is, will it do for the time being?

[VeipaCray]

The fluval M series is a good heater. For any heater you need about 3-5 watts per gallon of water. If your 50 long is filled up all the way, I'd aim for a 200 watt heater.

The fluval M series are decent heaters. They are impact resistant borosillicate glass tubes according to the fluval page. Which to me could just as well say "they are made from flimflamkabaob" as I have no idea what borosillicate glass is. So they are glass of some sort, keep an eye on the heater if your turtle likes to mess with it.

The fluval M series is 100% submersible. If you call hagen fluval they will tell you so. There are people on other forums that have confirmed these heaters are fully submersible.

The problem with the fluval heater is that it's deisgned and manufactured in italy. Like all things designed and made in italy, it will look incredible, be an engineering marvel, have a ton of features, and fall apart in a week. The exception to the rule is italian clothing and leather goods.

http://www.fluvalblog.com/product-spotlight-m-series-heaters-video/

[KatieSmeltzer]

veipa, i didn't realize the heater was fully submersible. it has the "min" and "max" lines for the water level. hmm.

[VeipaCray]

Yeah I know it has min and max markings. I don't have a fluval M series myself, but if you search the net for fluval M series and fully submersible... there appears to be a bunch of people saying they are submersible. Some people have claimed to call fluval and hagen fluval confirmed the use of the M series as a submersible heater.

Your best bet is to call hagen fluval yourself with your exact model number of the heater you have.

[mikee]

If you find the Fluval heater a little long you can mount it at an angle and It will do fine. Mine has been a good heater.