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What exact size band does Finnex list for the STE-200?
Finnex’s official STE data row gives the STE-200 a 200 W rating and a 40–60 US-gallon band. The 60-gallon maximum is a capacity screen, not a temperature-performance promise; the 40-gallon floor is not enforceable by this site's current maximum-only matcher, so the STE-200 remains a reference rather than a finder result.
Explore this need in the finder →Can the STE-200 be set to a chosen temperature?
Finnex lists the STE series at 68–92°F, says adjustments move by one degree and advertises ±1°F accuracy. Those are manufacturer settings/tolerance statements, not independent measurements. Check actual water with a separate aquarium thermometer; the STE-200 is not a substitute for animal-specific temperature guidance.
Explore this need in the finder →What must be verified before using the STE-200?
Finnex describes STE heaters for freshwater and marine aquariums and describes remote sensing, titanium and a non-resumable fuse. The sources reviewed do not state this exact STE-200's complete voltage/frequency or immersion depth, orientation and dry-operation rules; a retailer photograph is not an installation manual. Confirm the nameplate and supplied directions before installation. Finnex's 'virtually unbreakable' material language is not treated here as a verified shatterproof-body rating.
Explore this need in the finder →What the STE-200 is, and what Finnex says it can cover
This is a source-based assessment of the Finnex STE-200, not a report of ownership, hands-on use, or independent temperature testing. Finnex's US Shop page identifies the 200 W selector as SKU STE-200 and associates it with its own variant record and UPC. Finnex's specification graphic lists that model for a 40–60 US-gallon aquarium, at 1.67 A, with a 68–92°F adjustable range. Those values are separate facts: the capacity is a maker-stated band, the current is a listed electrical value whose reference voltage the image does not state, and the range describes controller settings rather than measured water temperature.
The 40-gallon floor is important. A system that checks only whether a heater's stated maximum is at least as large as the selected aquarium could treat this 200 W model as acceptable below 40 gallons. That would ignore the published band. For that reason the STE-200 is retained as a model reference, not an active finder match or purchase recommendation. A volume label also cannot predict whether the heater will reach a chosen water temperature in a specific room, with a particular cover, flow pattern, or temperature difference.
Controller, sensor and protection claims
Finnex describes the STE series as a titanium-tube heater with a digital controller and a remote sensor that measures water in the aquarium. The official page says the setting changes in one-degree increments, specifies a 68–92°F control span and advertises ±1°F accuracy. That tolerance is a manufacturer claim; it is not an independent bench result and does not mean a separate thermometer will always read the displayed setting. The sensible use of a display is to make the control target legible and adjustable, then check the actual water with an independent aquarium thermometer after installation.
The same manufacturer materials describe a redundancy circuit, a non-resumable fuse in the out-of-water-protection row of the comparison chart, and an ETL listing to UL standards. The Shop description calls the titanium element corrosion-resistant and says the series is intended for freshwater and marine aquariums. These claims make the feature set more specific than a basic preset rod, but they do not erase setup requirements: a fuse that ends operation is not permission to run a heater dry, and no safety feature is a substitute for following the exact package instructions.
Why the exact size matters within this family
The STE-200 is the smallest wattage in the current Shop selector, not a miniature-tank heater. Its 40–60-gallon band is distinct from the 80–100-gallon STE-400, the 120–150-gallon STE-600 and the 190–265-gallon STE-800. The four share the digital control concept and advertised 68–92°F span, but their wattage, listed current and capacity bands differ. A larger sibling is not a fallback for a small tank simply because both use titanium; each has its own capacity boundary.
The exact listing image in this assessment shows the STE-200's marked carton, guarded heater element and controller together. It helps identify the model in a product photo; it is not evidence of what is in stock now, the precise clearance needed around a tank, or how far the heater must be immersed. Finnex's current instruction index page reviewed here does not list an STE manual. The Shop description and gallery do not provide an immersion mark, an allowed orientation, minimum water level, or dry-operation procedure. Confirm those details on the instructions supplied with the actual STE-200 before placing it in service.
Electrical and installation checks before considering it
Finnex's graphic lists 1.67 A for STE-200 but not a voltage or frequency beside that value. Do not convert it into a claimed mains rating or assume the carton photo proves the outlet requirements. Check the unit's nameplate, plug, controller, instructions and intended circuit as a set. The product appears as a complete controller-and-element model in the Shop listing and exact listing photo; this should not be confused with Finnex's separate TH titanium tubes, which are sold as elements without an integrated controller.
Installation is also a hard question, not a cosmetic detail. The remote sensor is described as being in the aquarium, and Finnex's promotional image depicts an in-tank assembly, but the materials reviewed here do not set out the exact permitted immersion depth, location or clearance. If you require an explicitly documented submersible arrangement, use a product whose current instructions state it rather than inferring the full procedure from a photograph. Likewise, the STE-200 has no basis here for an inline external-filter installation.
Who might compare this model—and why it is reference-only
The STE-200 is worth identifying when a keeper is comparing an adjustable 200 W titanium assembly, a remote-sensing controller, the published 40–60-gallon band and the series' advertised saltwater/freshwater support. Finnex calls the tube virtually unbreakable, but this source set does not convert that marketing phrase into the finder's stricter documented-shatterproof flag or a tested outcome; a heater guard, cord and controller still need ordinary care. The decision is not simply “titanium equals safe” or “200 watts equals enough”: the installed arrangement and electrical label have to fit the aquarium.
The practical tradeoff is that the reviewed control can express the upper 60-gallon screen but the site's unchanged questionnaire cannot enforce the model's 40-gallon minimum. The source set also lacks the setup instructions needed to verify full submersion and orientation. Therefore the STE-200 stays outside ordinary finder matches and questionnaire-based purchase recommendations. Its separate model-reference lookup identifies the documented variant but does not claim tank compatibility or certify a marketplace offer. Use the sizing guide for the distinction between an upper limit and a useful band, and compare confirmed in-tank alternatives through the same-condition finder. Any selected target should be appropriate for the livestock and verified in the water, not inferred from the heater display.
Key specifications
Key details at a glance
| Rated heater power | 200 W |
|---|---|
| Lowest thermostat setting | 68°F |
| Highest thermostat setting | 92°F |
| Temperature control | Adjustable thermostat |
| Supported water types | freshwater / saltwater |
Use the exact model’s instructions for operating limits, supplied equipment and version differences.
Sources for this review
Sources for this assessment
- Finnex Shop — STE Series selector, 200/400/600/800 W
- Finnex Shop — STE Series variant data
- Finnex Shop — STE series model specification graphic
- Finnex — Titanium heater series comparison chart
- Finnex — Instructions index checked for STE documentation
- SaltwaterAquarium.com exact-model STE listing photograph — STE-200
Check the complete aquarium setup
Use the finder to compare documented tank size, water type, installation and temperature-control fit. A match does not guarantee the keeper's species-specific target or measured performance.