Stainless steel heater in a reef tank?

[Newreefer1]

Stainless steel heater in a reef tank?

I have a 150 watt ViaAqua stainless steel ( submersable ) heater. On the outside of the box it say's "safe and reliable in both fresh and salt water". But on the inside directions it say's " For use in freshwater environments only!".

Is anyone else out there using one of these heaters in thier Reef tank??? Is it safe?

 

[Anonymous]

The only "unsafe" issue with it is that it may corrode if the SS is not marine grade. I would call the manufactor to ask them to resolve the discrepency, most likely the direction inside and the box was printed in China

 

[tinyreef]

i've experienced a couple of them rusting and others not. i pulled the rusting ones and replaced them with a couple of the new non-glass heaters.

these stainless steel ones are nice but i think they need to work out some bugs still. (not that they're new to the market but they may have some mfg issues?)

 

[Newreefer1]

Thanks,
for the replies and info.. I have already ordered a new heater just in case. Maybe I will only use the SS heater for water changes and new LR cycling. I will rinse and dry off the SS after each use to keep it from rusting.

 

[Anonymous]

Are you sure it's steel and not Titanium?

 

[Newreefer1]

Yup, the box says stainless steel ( in big letters). I know most of the new ones are titanium now.

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't trust it but if it starts to oxidize is should be really obvious right away.

 

[ratherbediving]

I wouldn't risk it. Marine grade stainless steel is extremely expensive; I doubt the heater uses it.