New Heater Help

[fishkeeprian]

Hello
I’m running two 300 W heaters in my aquarium, plugged into an Inkbird temperature controller, and I’m wondering why I have to turn the heaters all the way up to max for them to work when the tank temperature is low. I only wanted to set them a little higher than my Inkbird, but the heater thermostats kick in and switch them off before the tank is up to temperature.

Is this normal?

 

[wvned]

It could be. Some heaters have moveable rings with the temperature numbers so the heater can be calibrated. If you dont calibrate them the numbers can be meaningless.

 

[Uncle99]

Hello
I’m running two 300 W heaters in my aquarium, plugged into an Inkbird temperature controller, and I’m wondering why I have to turn the heaters all the way up to max for them to work when the tank temperature is low. I only wanted to set them a little higher than my Inkbird, but the heater thermostats kick in and switch them off before the tank is up to temperature.

Is this normal?

Yup, slightly higher, I do exactly that with the same set up as you. Works great.
If not, the heater turns off but the INKBIRD turns the power on, but heater is off.
I’ve ran that set up 7 years no fail, but, I do replace heaters once every two years.
This way if heaters get stuck on, INKBIRD will turn them off, and if the INKBIRD fails, the heaters will turn off at a slightly higher heat.

 

[fishkeeprian]

Yup, slightly higher, I do exactly that with the same set up as you. Works great.
If not, the heater turns off but the INKBIRD turns the power on, but heater is off.
I’ve ran that set up 7 years no fail, but, I do replace heaters once every two years.
This way if heaters get stuck on, INKBIRD will turn them off, and if the INKBIRD fails, the heaters will turn off at a slightly higher heat.

I have to have my heaters on max for them to stay on long enough to heat my tank. The thermostat calibration must be way off

 

[griss]

What brand heaters?

 

[fishkeeprian]

What brand heaters?

Deltatherm

 

[wvned]

Sounds like they are defective. Are you just starting a tank?
I would place one of these heaters in a 5 gallon bucket set to 80 and check the temperature after 24 hours. I see the Deltatherm is one that has the red barrel that is supposed to indicate how it is set. I have one like that and it is inaccurate.
I run 9 heaters at a time and use Eheim Jager. They are plugged into 3 ports on different power strips controlled by my Hydros that has 2 temp sensors for control.
A 300 watt one is only $40 at Bulk Reef Supply.
I would get out of the habit of shopping for stuff on Amazon. Look on BRS or Premium Aquatics. It is fine to buy stuff on Amazon once you know what you are getting but there are so many pop up Chinese brands with bogus reviews on Amazon.
Eheim Jager has been around since I started in the 80s. Can you get a bad one? Yes, anything manufactured can have a defective. I have read posts that some people have. I have used dozens over the years and never had one fail out of the box.

Something that makes me suspicious of the Deltatherm is this. A fully submersible heater should be able to be used in any position as long as it is covered in water. I have never had a heater that was supposed to be only mounted diagonally.
I just throw mine into the sump.

 

[Uncle99]

Deltatherm

Ok, how much water volume are you heating and are you sure they are both 300w?
In my case, my INKBIRD will say 78.x and the heaters need 82 setting, so basically max to inhabitants.
I use digital heaters, so I can see a “number” it’s not more accurate, just easier to read.
Sure, calibration is a real issue with heaters of all types. I calibrated my INKBIRD by taking 3 different readings, the INKBIRD, a glass thermometer and the heater itself, then averaged the result.

I’ve experienced up to 5 degrees variations between heaters.

I’d run the heaters alone for a day to get them running without controller.
Then, while in the water, increase slightly both. Then wait for them to turn on.
Now plug both into INKBIRD.

Of course, carefully watch the process and ensure you’ve set high temp notifications on your phone. Add this app to your “do not disturb” list of things that CAN disturb you anytime, heating being chief.

Good luck%,

 

[wvned]

Heaters didn't used to have any numbers on them. You twisted the knob and checked them with a thermometer. I ignore the numbers on them.
I run 1200w of heaters all the time and add 400-600 watts more that run all the time if winter is really cold.
We size heaters by the tank size from charts. But room temperature the tanks sit in matters a lot. The greater the difference between the room temp and the tank temp greatly affects the size of heaters you need.