Buy another brand... By Hack21 on 3/26/13

Hack21 wouldn't recommend this product to a friend

I purchased the HMA-500 Finnex Heater for my 120 reef tank. The pros are the external controller, titanium tube, and the length. But that is where it all comes to an end.

I ordered my first unit in November of 2011, and it had to be set at 87 to maintain the tank at 78. Wasn't very comforting so Bulk Reef Supply did replace it in early December.

The replacement unit worked great throughout the winter, I turned it off cleaned it up and stored it for the summer, and got it back working again in the fall of 2012. All was fine until two days ago when it would no longer heat. The controller light comes on but no heat from the tube.

I contacted Finnex and they responded in less then 24 hours so no complaints there. But this product has just a 6 month warranty and paying to have it serviced based upon their track record seems foolish. I am of the opinion that poor performance, poor quality, and a short lifespan is the standard for products made in China. No wonder it only comes with a 6 month warranty.

Funny, I have a lower wattage (300w) glass tube model from a manufacturer Bulk Reef Supply does not sell that I typically use just to heat up water changes and it is handling the job just fine. I paid just 16.00 from another site, and I ordered a second one today. So buy a cheap heater since that mirrors their quality, and buy a good controller since they will fail. That would be my recommendation.

Does not stay on By Dan on 12/9/12

Dan wouldn't recommend this product to a friend

Awful heater, bought an HMA-500 for a 90 gal reef tank. Will not stay on, it comes on for a few seconds and goes off again. I really should have paid more attention to the reviews.

Worst ever By Donna on 12/9/12

Donna wouldn't recommend this product to a friend

Plug in for last winter unplugged for summer pluged it back in tonight and it literly blew up and sent glass all in my tank and broker 2 ai light covers and they basically said sucks to be me lost corals and fish

Excellent By Ryan on 11/28/12

Ryan would recommend this product to a friend

I bought this product because I was tired of always adjusting my heater 5 times a day. I placed this heater in my sump and the controller mounted nicely inside my stand. Love it.

Working great By Titus on 10/16/12

Titus would recommend this product to a friend

While some have reported issues with these, I am happy so far. I have 3 of the 200w versions and a 75w one. All are still working great for 6 months now.

Works well By Mike on 8/30/12

Mike would recommend this product to a friend

I've been using 4 of these (2 150's & 2 300's) for about a year they have held up and work just fine. I like that I don't have to worry about breaking them since they aren't glass tubes. I've noticed they aren't perfectly calibrated, so the temp you set it for might not be exactly what you get, but that's not really an issue. Use a thermometer (or several) to make sure you're at a good point and then just use the dial for adjustments. Nice to not have to get my hands wet.

no problems with this one By Dale on 5/23/12

Dale would recommend this product to a friend

Bought 100 w for use in 20L tank in fish room. Is very compact to fit well in short tank. Have not had any issues for over a year. Have had some problems with glass tube style of Finnex heaters so would recommend with caution.

Bought 4 HMA-500 all failed within 6 months By tdb320Reef on 5/17/12

tdb320Reef wouldn't recommend this product to a friend

As the title says all of the heaters failed. The support refused to provide a RMA. This is the worst purchase in my 15 years of reefing.

Good lil heater By otis on 4/3/12

otis would recommend this product to a friend

does it's job hasn't failed yet!

Bought 3 300 Watt Units By Rocco on 2/5/12

Rocco wouldn't recommend this product to a friend

I built a new custom setup with a high flow sump. I originally planned on only placing two into the setup however 2 wasn't putting out enough heat to maintain a 80 temp when temps were down in the 40's. With the 3rd things are great. Haven't had any issues and going on 2 months now.

TERRIBLE! By DMT on 12/9/11

DMT wouldn't recommend this product to a friend

I bought this last November and used it thru Feb 2010 or so, unplugged it and now that I'm trying again in November to use it, it doesn't kick on, so removed it from the aquarium and removed the box panel, turns out the dial that controls the temperature is cracked, so it wasn't moving anything inside the panel. Now that I use needlenose pliers to move the gauge, the temperature will either stay ON or will not come on...I can't regulate it at all. Sorry engineering and paid $40 for a few months of heat last year...why can't anything be quality anymore?

Find a better model... By George on 12/7/11

George wouldn't recommend this product to a friend

It says on the box + or - 2 degrees from the setting, when it should say + or - 15 degrees from the setting. This thing is terrible, it acts more like a weatherman taking a guess at the temperature then a piece of equipment you can rely upon.

But based upon other reviews once in a while you get lucky with this product and it does work. My experience says stay away, buy a better heater, this is nothing more then another example of a poorly made in China product.

I will not use again By John on 12/7/11

John wouldn't recommend this product to a friend

I had two of these (500 W), both failed within 8 months or so. I used them with Neptune controller. I will not recommend them.

resistors By stick with the program dori on 12/3/11

stick with the program dori would recommend this product to a friend

used one for a month or so, got a second to supplement for tank size. seems to work nicely. a good value. easy to set. easy to read. they click and off and on fairly frequently, similar to other tube units.

?? By Jose Manuel on 11/25/11

Jose Manuel wouldn't recommend this product to a friend

It worked for a few weeks, now only the red LED turns on but it doesn't start.

Bad Experience By Jeff on 11/21/11

Jeff wouldn't recommend this product to a friend

I realize these heaters get a lot of good publicity, but I have to put my experience with them out there. I bought 2 of the 100W Finnex heaters to use in my system...during the summer months I take them out and store them. I had only used my heaters since last October and when I went to put them back in my tank for this winter, they both were not working. I called BRS and they told me to contact Finnex, I contacted Finnex and they refused to believe anything was wrong or that they could have failed. Not a fan of Finnex customer support at all

Works as expected By Brian on 8/19/11

Brian would recommend this product to a friend

150w model for 90G tank + 75G sump. Holds the temperature fine in the summer, will probably add a 2nd for winter. Replacing a Ebo Jager that kept sticking on. It's deliberately on the small side with the intent of possibly needing several of them so if one gets stuck on it can't cook my tank.

The heating element is very small compared to the old Jager, and the control unit is very compact as well.

150w By Joel on 4/21/11

Joel would recommend this product to a friend

I am happy with this purchase. I think the dial is a little off, I have to set it a couple degrees above what I want the water temp. I love that the unit is so compact as I do not have a lot of room in my sump.

Great heater By Jason on 2/12/11

Jason would recommend this product to a friend

I use an ehiem Jager as with this heater the Finnex works best after the refugium, the titanium surface seems to discourage the growth of hair algae. You almost have to have two heaters to keep up with any kind of flow. One on each side of the sump. I keep one set at 78 and one at 80 and so far after two months the temp has been right on.

Could be better By Reef Racer on 2/7/11

Reef Racer wouldn't recommend this product to a friend

This appears to be a newer model. The one that I received Had a different dial controller. I had a terrible trying to get this heater to maintain temp. A 300 watt for a 75 gallon should have been sufficient, but far from it. Despite what temp I set the dial to, the heater would click on and off every few minutes. And it just couldn't keep up I guess. After 3 straight nights of 4 degree water temps I pulled it out. Perhaps they fixed the issues with the new model, but mine has been relegated to heating water-change water.

Accurate By Mehmet on 1/6/11

Mehmet would recommend this product to a friend

This unit keeps accurate temp and easy to use.