Heater controller questions

[Jco89]

Trying to get my tank to that sweet spot of 78 degrees in my 10 gallon nano. I had a 100w heater in there and it was at 80-84. A little to much. Got a 50w heater and now it’s hovering around 76. I’ve heard about a heater controller but not familiar with them. Can anyone make some suggestions to me as to how I can hit that 78 sweet spot.


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[ZapataInc]

I have been doing research on them as well. I was looking at getting

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KEYDNK...colid=5GOAZA3OVN8L&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

because it controlls both a heater and a cooler.

Or

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XSHMG8...colid=5GOAZA3OVN8L&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

bc then i can check the temp with my phone. But you have to buy this as well

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NZ321Y...colid=5GOAZA3OVN8L&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[Adam]

I don't know anything about those above but there's a lot of people using this.

ITC-308SA Aquarium Temperature Controller

Custom Designed for Aquarium Temperature Control Ink Bird ITC-308SA Aquarium Temperature Controller lets you set custom trigger points to turn on a chiller or heater based on the temperature of the water in your tank. The easy to read display lets you view the current temperate, while the large...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

It's always a good idea to have some kind of controller.

 

[ZapataInc]

I don't know anything about those above but there's a lot of people using this.

ITC-308SA Aquarium Temperature Controller

Custom Designed for Aquarium Temperature Control Ink Bird ITC-308SA Aquarium Temperature Controller lets you set custom trigger points to turn on a chiller or heater based on the temperature of the water in your tank. The easy to read display lets you view the current temperate, while the large...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

It's always a good idea to have some kind of controller.

Yeah I was looking at Ink Bird as well. All of these are on my wish list on Amazon. lol

 

[Rickdareefa]

I use the ink bird on my 75 gallon it's pretty sweet gives me peace of mind not relying on my heater to possibly burn up my tank if it malfunctions. It's fairly easy to set once you figure it out. I have my heater in the heat outlet and mounted a mini fan from walmart in the cooling side. I bought due to large fluctuations in my tank while at work I set mine at 79 with a one degree differential and it work frickin awesome lol. I highly recommend the inkbird if you're on a Budget and don't wanna shell out hundreds for an apex or something. I got it for 30 bux on Amazon

 

[Jco89]

I use the ink bird on my 75 gallon it's pretty sweet gives me peace of mind not relying on my heater to possibly burn up my tank if it malfunctions. It's fairly easy to set once you figure it out. I have my heater in the heat outlet and mounted a mini fan from walmart in the cooling side. I bought due to large fluctuations in my tank while at work I set mine at 79 with a one degree differential and it work frickin awesome lol. I highly recommend the inkbird if you're on a Budget and don't wanna shell out hundreds for an apex or something. I got it for 30 bux on Amazon

I’ve looked at the ink birds. I have read in some of the reviews that the thermometer probes will rust in the salt water. Have you experienced this?


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[Rickdareefa]

I've only had it for 2 weeks now

 

[Steve Burton]

I coated the sensor on mine with several coats of silicone just in case

 

[AquariumSchmo]

I have two inkbirds, one on each tank. They have been super reliable. My only complaint is the 1 degree temperature differential, meaning at best, the heater outlet will turn on when the temperature is one degree less your target temp and the cooling when it is one degree above your target temp. I wish it could do half a degree.

Some good news though!!! I heard BRS say they are working with InkBird to release a new version in the near future with a temperature differential less than one degree.

I haven't heard of the second one you listed, but if you go with it, I would attempt to see if this probe would work with it, rather than the metal one you listed. If not, you can put silicone on the metal part of the probe. If you get that second one, please let me know; it would be cool to monitor the temperature remotely.

Amazon.com: Inkbird Detachable Aquarium Probe for Heating and Cooling Temperature Controller for ITC-308 ITC-306T and ITC-308S Freshwater Saltwater Aquarium : Pet Supplies

Amazon.com: Inkbird Detachable Aquarium Probe for Heating and Cooling Temperature Controller for ITC-308 ITC-306T and ITC-308S Freshwater Saltwater Aquarium : Pet Supplies

www.amazon.com

By the way, there is an older version of the InkBird that doesn't have the removable temperature probe; it comes with an attached metal one instead, so if you decide to get an InkBird, just make sure you get the one with the plastic probe (like the one @ZapataInc listed), which will be better in saltwater.

 

[AquariumSchmo]

I coated the sensor on mine with several coats of silicone just in case

You beat by a few seconds, lol... was typing the same thing.

 

[Jco89]

I coated the sensor on mine with several coats of silicone just in case

Wouldn’t coating it with silicone throw the sensitivity of it off?


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[Doberman13]

Darn I'm glad I read this thread I just put an ink bird on mine about 2 weeks ago and it has the metal probe I did not think about it. I guess I'll have to pull it out and silicone it

 

[AquariumSchmo]

Darn I'm glad I read this thread I just put an ink bird on mine about 2 weeks ago and it has the metal probe I did not think about it. I guess I'll have to pull it out and silicone it

I ran a metal one without silicon for over a year and the probe still seemed fine, but better to play it safe with corals. I think it would rust eventually. Does yours have the connector that will allow you to remove the probe? If so, you can just swap it. I guess I should clarify that there are three version... one with with a metal probe that can not be removed, one with a metal probe that can be removed and swapped out for a plastic one, and one that comes with the plastic probe that can be swapped if ever needed.

 

[Steve Burton]

Wouldn’t coating it with silicone throw the sensitivity of it off?


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The silicone won't insulate it from surrounding temperature, may take a very short time longer to sense a change

 

[ichthyoid]

Ranco temperature controllers have been reliable for many in the hobby for years-

ranco temperature control - Google Search

 

[york1]

I now use only ranco. They are not cheap and you need to do some basic wiring but they have a really good record for being accurate/reliable.

 

[Rickdareefa]

I use the ink bird on my 75 gallon it's pretty sweet gives me peace of mind not relying on my heater to possibly burn up my tank if it malfunctions. It's fairly easy to set once you figure it out. I have my heater in the heat outlet and mounted a mini fan from walmart in the cooling side. I bought due to large fluctuations in my tank while at work I set mine at 79 with a one degree differential and it work frickin awesome lol. I highly recommend the inkbird if you're on a Budget and don't wanna shell out hundreds for an apex or something. I got it for 30 bux on Amazon

As you can see it's only .1 degree off

 

[Doberman13]

I've got a question on the ink bird, could I possibly run a splitter and put two heaters in the heating outlet?

 

[Jco89]

Nice, where did you get that little fan from?


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[Steve Burton]

It depends on the model, they state how many watts you can run, with heavy duty 2 or 3 way adapters you can use more heaters, just don't exceed the Inkbird wattage