Ranco controller -> which titanium heater?

[fishysteve]

Can I just get a Finnex titanium tube without their controller? Will it just plug into my Ranco?

 

[liquidlunch]

I think you can and I almost went that route. I instead been using the ViaAqua + Rancho for the last 8 years with no problems. You can set the ViaAqua controller temp to the lowest temp setting. If it ever failed when on, the Rancho will always trump the controller.

 

[fishysteve]

I am trying to avoid buying a controller that I don't need.

 

[Yogre]

Can I just get a Finnex titanium tube without their controller? Will it just plug into my Ranco?

This is the setup I use. Touch wood, 4 years no issues. Well, except the one time I emptied the sump and forgot to unplug the heat tube. The Ranco powered the tube, and without water in the sump the tube fried.

 

[fishysteve]

Do you think the 300 watt tube would be enough for my setup? It's a 125 with 40 sump.

 

[Yogre]

Probably. I have 2 300 watt tubes on my 215 with a 20 gallon sump, it's 68 in the room where my tank is and the heat has no trouble keeping up. I run the tank at 77F.

Edit to add: the two tubes are plugged into a heavy duty metal power strip, which is then plugged into the Ranco.

 

[fishysteve]

Great. Thanks for the help.

 

[scuzy]

Having a temp controller on the heater will acts as a fail safe if either controller breaks you still have one controlling it.

 

[Yogre]

Here's a pretty cool (pun intended ) heating calculator to play with:

http://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/HeaterChillerSizing.php

 

[fishysteve]

Nice. That's one hell of a calculator.