Looking for a Heater controller

[pgolnick]

I want to be able to control my heaters (3) and provide some safety to the tank. I'm looking at the Aqua Medic Biotherm Temperature controller ($50) and Ranco ETC Single Stage Controller ($80) at DIY Reefs. Not ready to go with a whole system controller yet. I do not have the money to do a proper set-up.
Any advise? Any one have a controller for sale?
Also looking for a container to mix saltwater. I want something smaleer than a 33gal trash can. Looking for something about 15-25 gals.
Let me know if you have these for sale or just advise.
Thanks,
Phil

 

[vivek]

I have had an aquamedic temp controller that has worked well for six months now. the only problem is the temp has to fall one full degree below the set temp for it to start heating the water. so if i set my tank temp at 78 the temp has to fall to 77 before it will work. also there are horror stories of it having fried tanks because of malfunction. Having said that there is no heater you can absolutely trust. the best way is to have a controller controlling a heating element that has its own controller. Rancos have great reputation and i am myself looking for one.

 

[itZme]

Just an FYI for you guys. The Ranco single stage (heat only) is usually around $80 and the dual controller (heat and chiller) is about $120. You can get an AquaController Jr kit with backlight, serial port option and DC8 for $219 and it can control 8 devices out of the box. I have been using one and like it a lot. There are also guys getting rid of older Reefkeeper controllers cheap. I think I saw a used one for $150 at Salty Critter last time I was out and it was a complete set up.

With the ACjr you can set it so if the temp climbs past a set point you can have a fan or chiller kick on and then of it goes higher it shuts off some lighting and then if it goes even higher to another point you can have it shut off all of your lighting.
Nice feature for another $120 ... one coral is worth that safety.

Just thought you would like to know.

 

[pgolnick]

Good advise about controllers.
Thanks,
phil

 

[vivek]

i have a ac3 jr. there has been lot of complaints about its temp probe being very flaky. i have had this controller for 3 months now without any problems. i would still not trust it completely and so i have a heating element connected to it that has its own controller. so in case the ac3 jr malfunctions or the temp probe goes bad it cannot fry my tank. yes the rancos are way overpriced unless you can get a used one.

 

[itZme]

vivek do you have the AC3 or the ACjr? I have heard about some people getting bad probes with the Junior (I think MJAnderson had 3 bad ones in a year) but mine is within a tenth of a degree of the other 2 digitals that i have. It hasn't given me any trouble but all the heaters I have plugged into it (3x 300 watt) have their own thermostats so, like you, I don't put 100% trust in any one device. I also have a single 300w heater plugged into the wall directly in case the controller does fail the single heater will almost keep up with heating my tank by itself so the drop won't be drastic.

Phil, I forgot I also have one of these Finnex HC-0800 controllers that is only $20 from Premium Aquatics. It will control up to 800w heater. HERE'S a link.----> http://www.premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/FI-HC-0800.html

 

[vivek]

i have the ac3 jr. and i have done exactly like you. my second heater is a aquamedic controller.

 

[sohal1025]

Its either the AC3 or the Jr.

 

[vivek]

sorry for the confusion. it is a jr. my bad

 

[sohal1025]

You pretty happy with the Jr. I am going to get one maybe this weekend and didn't want to make the wrong decission. Any regrets with the Jr. at all(maybe it does not do something that other controllers do) ya know?

 

[vivek]

sohal

i am very happy with the Jr. so far for 3 months that i have had it, it has worked flawlessly. there are a lot of thing that can be done with it. It has a terrible user guide that accompanies it. Will give you a very sketchy basic guidelines to set it up. but every time i call their customer support i find out two or three new functions it can perform which are not mentioned in their user guide.

here is the product comparison of the three.

http://www.neptunesys.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=40

the biggest advantage i find of the ac3 and the pro is the remote access to your setup if you are out of town. you can monitor your system thru the internet.