I'd always used Tronics (with the nifty little plastic sleeve add-ons), but last year I needed a heater for a QT setup, and the local place didn't have Tronics. They can be a bit hard to find. I got a Visi-Therm Deluxe instead. It performed admirably for a couple months, and I placed it into storage when I took down the QT. Earlier this year I set the tank up again, filled it up and plugged in the Visi-Therm. The next morning, the water was at 95F. (No fish in the tank yet, fortunately!) I took out the VT and threw it in the trash.
I figured it was a fluke and, having heard good things, picked up a VT Stealth. I set it to 76 and put it in the re-filled tank. The next morning, the water was 81F. One or two degrees variance is to be expected, but five is a bit much. It does hold the temperature I want if I low-ball the dial, but that's one more thing I have to remember when setting up a tank's equipment.
The four Tronics I have owned have been rock solid for years.
I've heard too many smart hobbyists like Dave endorse VT heaters for me to say the brand is a dud. I still think that it's one of the top two or three heaters you can buy with confidence. Just wanted to add my two cents for another excellent brand (Tronic, now sold as Fluval Tronic) and note that my VT experience has been a little different than most.
Oh, and BTW, this:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Daveedka
I do keep them fully submersed, and expect (without knowing) that the folks whohave trouble with these heaters do not keep them submersed.
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does not apply in my case, but I agree that it is a common cause of heater woes.