Do you have a controller for your heaters?

[Russell Bennett]

I have a 36 gallon and have a 100 and 150w heater one is redundancy/backup. I just use the dial on the heater to get the temperature, but I have been running a little high 80.1. I know with winter coming I will need to probably dial it up at some point.

I am thinking some type of controller might be the answer, but I really don't want to automate anything else. Anybody else just use the heater onboard gauge or do most of you have some of controller?

 

[myrjon]

i use a ranco for a controller and a aqua top heater and controller

 

[art13]

The most accurate and easiest would be an apex jr and just plug the heater into that, you will have 3 other outlets there as well should you feel the need to use them, but it's also the most expensive. second would be the reef keeper, i believe you can a basic one fairly cheap, i don't know if they're as user friendly but it will come with the temp probe like the apex and should be an easy setup. Both are usually more accurate than the stand alone heater controls, but that would be the third option. I think the apex is the most trusted out of three, but all three i'm sure have been used successfully. I personally prefer to have some type of controller as it controls the temp and you don't have to worry about turning it up or down.

 

[redfishbluefish]

You MUST use a controller for your heaters because all heaters will eventually fail, and the dangerous failure is "stuck on". If all you wish to control are heaters, a Ranco is a good choice....and if you're handy, you can simply DIY one as well.


EDIT TO ADD:

HERE is one example of a DIY controller.

 

[Trio91]

Apex for me, I have the neo therm set to 78' but it tends to swing +-3' so I have it set to go on/off when it hits 76 and 80

 

[Russell Bennett]

You MUST use a controller for your heaters because all heaters will eventually fail, and the dangerous failure is "stuck on". If all you wish to control are heaters, a Ranco is a good choice....and if you're handy, you can simply DIY one as well.

Sounds like sage advice guess time to research - so once I get controller I just turn the heaters all the way up, and the controller will run power to them as necessary?

 

[Trio91]

I would set your desired temp and set parameters on the controller to turn it on n off

 

[njtiger24 aquariums]

I'm working on having my DIY pi controller to control two heaters but right now I just use the heater controller and have a temp sensor which alerts me of high and low temps via push notification and email to my phone

 

[redfishbluefish]

Sounds like sage advice guess time to research - so once I get controller I just turn the heaters all the way up, and the controller will run power to them as necessary?

I wouldn't set them all the way up, but a degree or two above your desired temperature.

 

[njtiger24 aquariums]

I wouldn't set them all the way up, but a degree or two above your desired temperature.

Agree I would be concern with hurting your controller if you turn the heater all the way up and just let the controller to turn on and off the heater. Heaters are one of the most watt equipment we use on our tank. Their startup watt is high as well if I recall so if your heater is set full max and your controller is turning it on and off you might blow the fuse or line that the heater is connected to.

 

[Russell Bennett]

I'm working on having my DIY pi controller to control two heaters but right now I just use the heater controller and have a temp sensor which alerts me of high and low temps via push notification and email to my phone

lol I was about to ask for TigerTempBeta- I would like to try something PI at some point just to stay up on tech, but might look at apex or reef keeper.

 

[njtiger24 aquariums]

you know if you want to enter into the pi game I would suggest getting a pi and a temp sensor (pretty cheap) and have it monitor your temp along with the apex or reef keeper as you learn more about programming the pi.

 

[art13]

Apex for me, I have the neo therm set to 78' but it tends to swing +-3' so I have it set to go on/off when it hits 76 and 80

Lol, mine goes on at 78.2 and off at 78.5, probably not neccessary though with that thin of a margin, i just try and keep it as stable as possible, though in the summer my tank will heat up to 80-81 degrees.

 

[Trio91]

you know if you want to enter into the pi game I would suggest getting a pi and a temp sensor (pretty cheap) and have it monitor your temp along with the apex or reef keeper as you learn more about programming the pi.

On your tank thread, do you have a salinity probe set? I don't remember

 

[njtiger24 aquariums]

On your tank thread, do you have a salinity probe set? I don't remember

Not yet. I need to do more research into the salinity sensors. I have not worked on my project in awhile

 

[Lostinthedark]

I use a Finnex controller:
https://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Tempe...=1481033679&sr=1-1&keywords=finnex+controller
Its inexpensive and reliable. I have it set at 78 and my 2x 300w heaters set at 80. This way if either one fails, the controller or the heaters will limit any damage. Its cheap and simple.

 

[njtiger24 aquariums]

I use Finnex heaters on both my tanks and they work great

 

[Russell Bennett]

Tiger do I need those 3 credit hours of C++ I got (before I realized accounting was for me) to get my pi game going? I averaged some grades in hyper terminal back in the day -1999 l0l. Also helped a cute sorority girl with hers.

So I didn't know where the next $100-$200 dollar was going to spent on tank glad I got that answer lol

 

[redfishbluefish]

Agree I would be concern with hurting your controller if you turn the heater all the way up and just let the controller to turn on and off the heater. Heaters are one of the most watt equipment we use on our tank. Their startup watt is high as well if I recall so if your heater is set full max and your controller is turning it on and off you might blow the fuse or line that the heater is connected to.

With a Ranco or DIY controller, this isn't an issue. However, with an Aquarium controller....and in my case that's a ReefKeeper....I purposely run and "expansion sock" just for my heaters. This eliminates any excessive draw on the power bar, which might not be able to handle it. So if you're running an Aquarium controller (one of those things with, typically an eight outlet power bar), use an expansion sock for your heaters.

My expansion socket is just above the the upper right corner of that white outlet plate, and has my two heaters plugged into it.

 

[Trio91]

With a Ranco or DIY controller, this isn't an issue. However, with an Aquarium controller....and in my case that's a ReefKeeper....I purposely run and "expansion sock" just for my heaters. This eliminates any excessive draw on the power bar, which might not be able to handle it. So if you're running an Aquarium controller (one of those things with, typically an eight outlet power bar), use an expansion sock for your heaters.

My expansion socket is just above the the upper right corner of that white outlet plate, and has my two heaters plugged into it.

I need you to come over and do some cable management for me paul, I like how urs are nice n neat