Heaters and Controllers - Need Recommendations

B

besl

New member
Setting up a 125 gallon Reef Tank with a 30 Gallon sump. I have crawled all over RC and every other web site on the subject of Heaters and all I can find are hooror stories of why people hate their heaters. Because of how I built my sump the heater needs to be less than 12" long - of course I can use multiple heaters to get the overall wattage up.

Can anyone please recoomend a good brand heater? Controller (I will only being using Heaters and not a Chiller)? Thoughts on Titanium versus Glass?
 
Ive been thinking about a temp controller lately also. Not only to protect from heater sticking on, but to also conrol my fans. Ranco is used by a lot of people with no complaints a dual stage will run around $130 wired. I am seriously considering a digital aquatics reefkeeper. My LFS have them for $220 it will do temp control, wavemaking, light timing etc..

Medua makes a line of temp controllers that I hear are also really nice. Single stage is aroung $145 at my LFS dual is almost $190.
 
had the medusa dual stage controller (worked great my cousin is using it)

have the reef keeper has wavemaker that i dont use but for the cash it was a good investment
 
The base model Ranco runs $60, the base dual stage runs $100.

That's all you really need.

I prefer titanium heaters over glass ones.
 
What is the difference between single stage and dual stage for a Controller.

thrlride - great to see you chime in on this - don't know if you recall but you helped me alot on a previous thread - can you recommend any brand name heaters when you say your prefer titanium - I am looking for ideas that I can further researth and brand names will help alot on this thread.
 
Controller will be used to control heaters only. I will not have a chiller and will use X-10 modules to control lights.

Any brand name recommendations on Heaters and Controllers will be greatly appreciated... thanks again for your help with this.
 
That's it for replies? Come on RCers help me out with your inputs on what I should buy for Heaters and/or Controllers- pleeeez share your inputs on this....

..... please.
 
If you are going to need fans to cool I would spend the extra $ on dual stage. In the summer putting my fans on the same timer as my lights works fine because I'm running AC, but in the spring/fall we leave the windows open. The house can occasionally get warm (80+) by miid afternoon. My tank temp rises even before lights/fans come on. A controller would keep things more stable even though I don't need a chiller...
 
I am looking for a dual stage Ranco controller, I can't find one for less than $140, anybody know a cheaper place to get them? I don't need it wired, I just need the controller and the sending units.
 
DIYReef has the dual stage Ranco unwired for $110. I've seen them on a lot of beer brewing sites also, but I belive they are all right around that price...

A couple single stage Rancos are on Ebay right now
 
ranco is probably the most well known and reliable temp controller out there. If I didn't have an aquarium computer I'd use a ranco with a titanium heater (sans the thermostat). DIYreef usually has one of the best prices around on those things.
 
Sorry besl, I didn't check back and I don't autosubscribe.

I like the WON Bros titanium heaters. I've read some threads about them burning up but I don't have any direct experience with this.

The good thing about the diyreef controller is that it is prewired. If you're handy you can add the wires much cheaper though.
 
i have a question along these lines..

i'm interested in a titanium heater that has an external control for temp adjustment.. can one of these be used on a controller??? or do you need to use a thermostatless titanium heater??

thanks,,,lisa
 
Yes you can use that on a Ranco-just turn up the temp on the heater a little higher than the maximum setting on the Ranco. Then the Ranco will turn it on and off.
 
If I was to go with a Ranco Controller (not sure if I should gety a dual or single stage - I don't have a chiller, but may want to add fans on the sump later - will the Ranco control fans?) - which heater (brand) would you recommend?

I have a 125 gal display and 30 gal sump - how many heaters and how many watts each? The sump is 12" wide so I will need heaters less than 12" long.
 
Ironic...I'm having heater problems and I find this thread.

My WON Bros titanium heater just croaked....barely 9 months old. Figured it out yesterday when the tank was at 76.1 but the heater is set for 80. Even turned the heater up to 83 to see if it would kick on but it didn't.

Any recommendations for other heaters? Tank is a 75g reef. I do have MH lights on the tank, but it's just a pair of 150w DE's with PC actinic support.

I have to buy a new one today or tomorrow so any help soon is much appreciated!
 
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