Having a reliable aquarium heater is crucial to the ultimate success of your system. If your heater malfunctions, it could cause a catastrophe including a total tank crash. The Innovative Marine Helio PTC Heaters take a refreshing approach to aquarium heating that provides redundant protection for your tank, far superior to the standard aquarium heaters we have been relying on for decades. 

Shop Innovative Marine Helio PTC Aquarium Heaters

What’s In The Box?

  • Helio controller
  • Titanium heating element
  • Titanium temperature sensor
  • Magnetic Mounts for the heating element & temperature sensor
  • Velcro mounting tape
  • User manual

Innovative Marine Helio PTC Aquarium Heater

The Heating Element

Unlike standard aquarium heaters that use resistance wires and mechanical thermostats, the PTC heating elements have a solid-state ceramic chip that self-regulates its temperature to make sure that it doesn’t overheat in addition to the hardwired electronic thermostat.  This makes it nearly impossible for the heater to get stuck in the ON position, overheating your tank and risking the lives of your aquarium pets. Another welcome change is the size of the heating element itself which has to be some of the smallest titanium elements we have seen to date.

Size Options

You can select from either having a single heating element or dual elements depending on your preference and the size of your aquarium. Adding a system with a pair of elements will provide additional protection while adding even more heating power to your tank. Each heating element comes with a powerful magnet that works on aquarium glass up to ½” thick. For the single element Helio, you can select from 100, 200, 350, and 500-watt models for aquariums between 10 and 125 gallons. For the double heating elements, you can choose from 200, 400, 700, or 1,000-watt models that can operate on aquariums between 25 and 250 gallons. Good news, you can always add a second heating element later should you decide to purchase a single element kit upfront. All of the Helio PTC controllers come equipped with connections for two titanium elements. 

Innovative Marine Helio PTC Temperature Controller

Setting It Up

All Helio units come pre-set to 77 degrees Fahrenheit which essentially makes them plug and play for most reef tank owners. A low alarm is pre-set to 74 degrees as well as a high pre-set to 80 degrees. That means if the temperature in your aquarium drops below 74 or above 80, you will receive an audible and visual alert based on factory settings.  Of course, everything can be configured exactly as you want it using the Helio PTC controller should these factory settings not suffice for your particular tank. 

Control specifications for the Helio PTC heater controller

Control Specifications

The temperature range in which you can set your heater is from 59 degrees to 93 degrees Fahrenheit and the heating element and controller are accurate within one degree of that setpoint. Additionally, you can change the high and low alarm setpoints and the heater can be recalibrated when you want to be certain of its accuracy. The Hanna Checktemp or Long-stem Calibration Thermometer are handy tools we always recommend for reef tank owners because it allows you to maintain consistent readings across all of your temperature monitoring/control devices.