From what I have read and based on past experience, most of us do not trust the heaters in our tanks. I am just starting up again and my heater is about 10 years old so I am going to purchase a new one. Any suggestions? Have they gotten better? Currently I am just running a sump, which is in a colder basement. The sump is about 60 gallons. Altogether the tank and sump will be about 150 gallons.
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Heaters
- Thread starter cyrusthevirus
- Start date
Thanks and thanks foe the welcome. NJRC has been an amazing find. So active and all local. I see many other fellow 856ers on here.
As for the heater I was hoping it has gotten better. If you look at the DIY section, I am building an LED system for my tank. I just decided to add a salinity and pH monitor, looks like I may need to add some relays for the heater, the project just keeps getting larger...
As for the heater I was hoping it has gotten better. If you look at the DIY section, I am building an LED system for my tank. I just decided to add a salinity and pH monitor, looks like I may need to add some relays for the heater, the project just keeps getting larger...
I'm using 2 x 150W Jager heaters and like them, they look cool (blue
) and seem to function well enough. I would recommend whichever heaters you do go with do 2 of total watts instead of a single. This way if one does take a crap you have a backup heater to maintain temperature somewhat and you won't cook your fish if it gets stuck.
Also I recommend a controller to regulate them on and off. I'm running a Reefkeeper Lite and love it.
) and seem to function well enough. I would recommend whichever heaters you do go with do 2 of total watts instead of a single. This way if one does take a crap you have a backup heater to maintain temperature somewhat and you won't cook your fish if it gets stuck.Also I recommend a controller to regulate them on and off. I'm running a Reefkeeper Lite and love it.
I agree with both TWO heaters and a controller. I got a RANCO controller and have both heaters hooked up to it. Both are titanium heaters that are in the sump.
I'm currently waiting for an inspection at work to end so our metrology deparment can tell me whether my digital or my mercury thermometers are correct. Two digital thermometers agree with each other and two mercury thermometers agree with each other. The digital reads 2 degrees higher than the mercury.
I'm currently waiting for an inspection at work to end so our metrology deparment can tell me whether my digital or my mercury thermometers are correct. Two digital thermometers agree with each other and two mercury thermometers agree with each other. The digital reads 2 degrees higher than the mercury.
What model controller are you using?
I got the ETC 2 stage controller. You can get it pre-wired or save a few bucks and wire it yourself. Pretty easy to do. For those that only want 1 heater (or two with the same set points) you can use the 1100 series.
I originally got the 2 stage to control 2 heaters on 1 control and the fan on the other. This allowed the heaters to come on when the temp dropped. When the MH lights heated the tank past the point of the heaters shut off point the second controller turned the fan on. Now that I have LED lights I switched the 2nd controller to heat mode and set it 1 degree below the other so it is a backup heater in case the primary either fails or cannot keep up with the demand.
"The Ranco ETC-211100 is identical to the Ranco ETC-111100 except that this unit is 2 stage, and has 2 relays to control both heating and cooling at the same time or two heating or cooling stages. (The output relay NC and NO ratings are also different than the single stage control)."
I originally got the 2 stage to control 2 heaters on 1 control and the fan on the other. This allowed the heaters to come on when the temp dropped. When the MH lights heated the tank past the point of the heaters shut off point the second controller turned the fan on. Now that I have LED lights I switched the 2nd controller to heat mode and set it 1 degree below the other so it is a backup heater in case the primary either fails or cannot keep up with the demand.
"The Ranco ETC-211100 is identical to the Ranco ETC-111100 except that this unit is 2 stage, and has 2 relays to control both heating and cooling at the same time or two heating or cooling stages. (The output relay NC and NO ratings are also different than the single stage control)."
Imo you should have 2 smaller independent heaters. or 1 on a controller and 1 independent. If you have them both on a controller and the controller goes bad then they both wont work. Might as well just have 1 big heater if their on same controller. the prob is even with a 2 stage controller, they share the same temp probe. My last probe went bad on my controller, it said 87. So the heater wouldnt turn on. Problem was my other thermometer said 72! Long story short the probe was bad. a week later i tried it again it said 96, way off. Thats why i now have a 500w heater on my apex, and an independent 400 watt heater set a few degrees cooler. If either goes bad the other will still work