heating the fermentor?

[droopybrew]

so i'm considering getting a heater for my fermenter, there's 2 different type's i've seen on ebay, one that is a heating belt that wraps around the ouside of the fermentor and the other is a a heating rod that passes through the rubber bung so is in dirrect contact witht he beer, from my understanding the rubber belt one won't heat the fermentor very efficiently (i have a plastic fermentor) as plastic is a poor conductor of heat but it has the benifit of no chance of contaminating the brew, the heat rod would be more efficient but has chances of contamination.

so what do you guys use and what do you think is the best option?
thx rob

 

[Walker]

I have my fermenters in a fridge in the garage with two-stage controller on it. For heating in the winter, I just use a 40W lightbulb.

 

[Zamial]

I HATE anything that sticks up out of the surface of my wort, with the exception of yeast rafts and such. The belt is a nifty idea but doesn't offer up much control. I suggest a large round tub, like the ones used for a swamp cooler but instead of loading it up full of water + ice you could get a cheap aquarium heater and use that in the water. Then when fermentation is done just turn off the heater for a few days and it will be like a psedo cold crash. You can float a thermo in the water to get a temp reading for extra control...

 

[scottland]

Just use a 100w light bulb or a ceramic heating bulb (available at pet stores for reptiles). Easy and cheap

 

[kappclark]

I HATE anything that sticks up out of the surface of my wort, with the exception of yeast rafts and such. The belt is a nifty idea but doesn't offer up much control. I suggest a large round tub, like the ones used for a swamp cooler but instead of loading it up full of water + ice you could get a cheap aquarium heater and use that in the water. Then when fermentation is done just turn off the heater for a few days and it will be like a psedo cold crash. You can float a thermo in the water to get a temp reading for extra control...

I do the same in the basement, using a muck bucket and a 75deg aquarium heater...keep the bath at abt 68 deg for ususally 7-10 days

Then I remove better bottle and place on table to chill for a few weeks, then keg

 

[Yooper]

I do the same in the basement, using a muck bucket and a 75deg aquarium heater...keep the bath at abt 68 deg for ususally 7-10 days

Then I remove better bottle and place on table to chill for a few weeks, then keg

That's what I do. I have a $10 aquarium heater, and I use a water bath around the fermenter, all in a cooler. I ferment at 64 degrees, usually, but can raise it if I want to.

 

[lemmiwinks]

I'm thinking about going with a setup like Yooper described with a Rubbermaid Tub and an aquarium heater.
Is everyone who uses this type of system also using a water pump?
I'm concerned about have stagnant water so I'd like to use a pump, found a fountain/pond pump at HD for about $18. If used it, would I just drop it in the tub without any tubing and let it do it's thing?

 

[kappclark]

The pump is to circulate the water ?? I don't think you need it...the bucket is remarkably even in temp - that is what the aquarium heaters do...

YMMV, but try to keep it simple