Finnex Heaters are JUNK

steveb

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 24, 2010
Messages
334
Reaction score
163
Location
TX
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I’m sorry if you disagree but this is the 3rd Finnex heater to die dramatically on me and the 2nd to shock the crap out of me. Not one of them have been more than 2 years old.

3722EB2A-6E6A-4CFB-A2E3-5E6CD816C027.jpeg

6C69E70B-841A-4281-8AF7-7C380ABAED47.jpeg
 

GoldeneyeRet

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 7, 2016
Messages
3,079
Reaction score
11,180
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I have had similar experiences with finnex.
 

dadnjesse

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 9, 2019
Messages
1,633
Reaction score
1,175
Location
New Hampshire
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
All this junk is made in China. I try to find products made in the USA but it's darn near impossible. I will pay double for a American made over China.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

jsker

Reefing is all about the adventure
View Badges
Joined
Apr 11, 2015
Messages
24,974
Reaction score
79,717
Location
Saint Louis
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The company is based outside of Chicago in Elmhurst. There customer service is pretty good. Have you contacted them?
 

ca1ore

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 28, 2014
Messages
13,803
Reaction score
19,657
Location
Stamford, CT
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Yikes! Heaters do seem to be the quality weak link all too often. Curious if the titanium tube in the finnex with the integrated controller is the same as the stand alone element?
 

andrewkw

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 1, 2014
Messages
2,895
Reaction score
6,834
Location
Ontario, Canada
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Replace heaters every year, problem solved.

This is the key. All heaters are junk doesn't matter what country or company they just suck. Look at the price of them compared to any other piece of equipment. I keep mine for 2 years then downgrade them to non essential usage ie QT tank, mixing tank if for some reason I needed to heat it ect. 2 years does feel a little too long but I haven't had one fail in a long time or one explode in an even longer time.
 

WallyB

REEF Techno-Geek
View Badges
Joined
Jan 24, 2017
Messages
3,124
Reaction score
8,088
Location
GTA Toronto, CANADA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I’m sorry if you disagree but this is the 3rd Finnex heater to die dramatically on me and the 2nd to shock the crap out of me. Not one of them have been more than 2 years old.

3722EB2A-6E6A-4CFB-A2E3-5E6CD816C027.jpeg

6C69E70B-841A-4281-8AF7-7C380ABAED47.jpeg
All Heaters are a gamble to some degree.
I've had various degress of success and failures. Some lasting 10 years+.

But to avoid Shock and actually will trigger if your heater fails (water get's inside)..... an GFCI outlet with a Ground Probe solves that. (Problem is anything on the GFCI will also shut down).

For example, my heater was fine, but a Urchin bit thru the power cord. Same result.
 

Falcar

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
May 21, 2019
Messages
166
Reaction score
101
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I had my finnex stop working within a week. Thankfully Marinedepot took it back. I have since used the BRS titanium ones without issue. Well worth it.
 
OP
OP
steveb

steveb

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 24, 2010
Messages
334
Reaction score
163
Location
TX
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I haven't had any issues with Finnex. I consider them a quality company.

30% failure rate says otherwise and I’m not just talking stuck on/off. All 3 have failed in a matter that creates a shock hazard. I know heaters don’t last forever. but 3 out of 10 failing in < 2 years is not quality IMO.
 

Hemmdog

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 9, 2018
Messages
11,681
Reaction score
44,772
Location
Silicon Valley, CA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I've always used there titaniums that require a separate controller, and I have been very impressed with them. I've never had an issue. Quality heater in my book.
+1, the ones I usually see having problems are the ones that adjust their own temp, the stand alone titanium finnex are incredible.
 

kevin_e

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
May 5, 2018
Messages
638
Reaction score
295
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
30% failure rate says otherwise and I’m not just talking stuck on/off. All 3 have failed in a matter that creates a shock hazard. I know heaters don’t last forever. but 3 out of 10 failing in < 2 years is not quality IMO.

Small sample size there. I've had 2 in 10 years. Not a problem.
 

AZMSGT

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
May 6, 2019
Messages
3,988
Reaction score
7,893
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Seriously? Every year? We shouldn't support junk products.
Yes, every year, all heaters are junk and I would not trust thousands of dollars in live stock and SPS to a cheap $50-100 dollar heater. Mine will be replaced annually. Replacing them every year is cheap insurance.
 
Last edited:

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

  • I currently have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 74 37.6%
  • Not currently, but I have had feather dusters in my tank in the past.

    Votes: 68 34.5%
  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 25 12.7%
  • I have no plans to have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 28 14.2%
  • Other.

    Votes: 2 1.0%
Back
Top