[JanS]

Ebo Jager heaters are not the same as they were 2 years ago. They are not manufactures by the same company anymore.

Yup.... Almost all of us swore by the Ebo's a couple of years ago, but since they were taken over by someone else, almost all of the same people have had failures since then.

I've moved on to titanium heaters since then, but for such a small tank they wouldn't be practical (nor available). For the smaller tanks I've had very good luck with the Thermal compact heaters.
http://petsolutions.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_15510721_A_Thermal+Compact+Heaters_E_

 

[JanS]

All of my older Ebo's are still going strong too. The latest one I bought had condensation inside of it within a few months (which of course is a very dangerous situation). I've had other newer ones that just don't maintain a steady temp, so I've replaced them as well. Last year a friend had one that didn't shut off over night and fried a tank of beautiful Angels.

As for the Visi therms, they don't have a good track record for reliability either, so as the others said, you should check out some of the others recommended. You don't want to take chances when it comes to something as relatively low cost as a heater. It could affect your safety as well as your fish and plants.

 

[JanS]

It means the moisture is entering the inside of the heater when it isn't supposed to (they are supposed to be fully sealed so water can't get in), and now the water is exposed to the electrical elements.
The water line is the minimum you can let the water in your tank drop to before it is exposed to air and will malfunction. You have to keep them fully submersed so the top of the heater is below the water level, and if it gets down to the "water line" you need to add more water, or move your heater down.

 

[JanS]

can you put the new jagers all the way in pass the water level even when it says not to?

Unless you have a model I've never seen before, yes submerse them all the way. Most of us run them horizontal about 5" from the bottom of the tank for better heat distribution.

Where does it say not to put it past the water level?
On every one I've seen, the water level line is the very minimum you can have it sticking out of the water.