We talked about it some weeks ago and now finally we have in our hands: the new AquaEL Ultra Heater 200, the heater with variable power.
This article is also available in: italiano
This new heater, in thermoplastic material, is particularly interesting for the new modality Smart Heating System. The peculiarity of this heater thermostat, in fact, is that it doesn’t work with the on-off mode as we’re used to, but it changes its power while it works based on the temperature relevated in aquarium.
Technical characteristics of the AquaEl Ultra Heater 200
- One Touch System – set the temperature with only one touch;
- Built-in thermic switch: automatic shout off of the heater in case the temperature gets too high in hot season;
- Fully electronic – no mechanical parts;
- Built-in electronic thermometer – aquarium temperature indication by color scale;
- Crack resistant housing in special plastic;
- Precise electronic thermostat (+/- 0,25 °C);
- Functioning of the heater the temperature indication are shown by colored LEDs;
- Possibility to work both in freshwater and in marine aquarium;
- Smart Heating System.
Our test
In the video below you can see the test we did: we inserted the heater in a container, we connected the power consumption meter and we waited… And we found out that the heater works differently from what we’ve thought, but maybe it suits the aquarium better! As usual, the video is in Italian, but you can turn the Eng subs on. Otherwise, there’s also a written explanation more below.
After we plugged the heater we saw it was set to 27 degrees with the green LED on as you can see in the image in the opening. The blue LED istead indicates the water temperature at that time, that is 23 degrees. In the video you can see that the blue LED turns on and off between 23 and 27 to show that the heater is on and it’s working.
What we didn’t expect is that the heater doesn’t start right away at 200 watt but at 18 watt. Even if we set 33 degrees, the maximum, and even if the water measures only 18 degrees when it starts.
We stated that every 5 minutes the heater increases the power with increments of, more or less, 35, 50, 70, 90, 110, 150, 190 watt.
This type of functioning suits perfectly an aquarium, because it starts low and slowly increases the power if it isn’t enough. It’s a little bit more inconvenient if you need to heat fast the water for the water change, because before it goes in full power you have to wait some time.
The maximum power we dected changes a lot. We never read 200 watt, but at least 190 watt, value that drops until 175-180 watt as you can see in the pictures here above and in the video.
Let’s sum up
We liked AquaEL Ultra Heater 200. And after we understood its logic, we liked that too. What we didn’t like is that it doesn’t reach 200 watt, and it’s a pity. Then we’d like to be even higher power cuts in order to use it with even 300 liters aquariums. But we’ll think they’ll come in the next future. The heater in the 200 watt costs only 35 euro or you can buy it on Amazon by clicking here.
PROS
Smart Heating System is very useful The setting is simple and precise You can see in anytime the temperature set and, in case, the aquarium one Built in thermoplastic, less dangerous than glass
CONS
We didn’t measure 200 watt as declared, at maximum, it oscillates between 170 and 190 watt.
We thank our friend Gandalf that lent us his own heater in order to do the test.
