Uh oh!!

[Hiltonc57]

So this morning my mom tells me she hears a beeping coming from the tank around 5. So I wake up and go down to the tank. I first thought it sounded like a pump or something was stuck or vibrating against something. after about 10 mins I figure it out and its my temp controller and it was reading 68 degrees. This point i freak out, look at the corals and make sure everything is good, which it looked so. I took all three heaters i have and put them into the sump. all are set to 79-80 area. thank goodness my mom caught it. hopefully everything survives the cold front!

 

[rjmayes34]

i think you might want to take out two of the heaters and start with one. You dont want to raise your temps to fast!! That can have a negative effect on your corals as well! Hope everything turns out fine!! Good thing she heard the beeping noise!!!

 

[Hiltonc57]

they are small like 10watt heaters that have to heat around 230 gallons of water

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

if you have SPS you should get temp up ASAP

 

[Willistein]

So what went wrong? Did you have other heaters that failed? Controller failure? How's everything looking now?

 

[Hiltonc57]

Half the tank is SPS and thats why I am worried. I think the finnex titanium heater is went bad. It's only 5-6 months old. Thank god I went with something that needs a controller to work properly. I'm going to the store later to get a new one.

 

[Hiltonc57]

Oh and the controller is the Finnex HC-0810. I have classes till 6:30 so I have been texting my mom about it and asking where the temp is, currently it is 73degrees. Better than the 68 it was at...

 

[Willistein]

yeah finnex = bad. It's good that it failed in the off state vs. on.

 

[Hiltonc57]

What would you guys recommend for a new heater? and is the finnex controller still ok to use or is there something better?

 

[Willistein]

I think what a lot of people would recommend is a better quality controller. People use a Ranco temp controller. I use an Aquamedic controller cause it was a good deal, but I would steer you to the Ranco or similar. A lot of people also use reefkeepers or similar, but I think a dedicated heater/controller is a good idea.

http://www.amazon.com/Ranco-ETC111000/dp/B003X01C7O

 

[spinoleo]

had the same problem last week a heater failed off position and the other slowly let the temp down and my apex sent me an email temp was 73 deg.took the heater from my tub that I make my new water and will be shopping for a new one also.

 

[Hiltonc57]

Had to buy a new heater, have it in the tank and everything thing seems ok. Im gonna call tomorrow to see what they will do for me.

 

[pascal32]

jager heaters by ehiem are popular because they work. Your SPS might suffer for a bit, watch your KH. growth rates are affected by low temperatures and instability - if you are dosing and the corals aren't consuming you could raise the KH quickly (speaking from experience on a temp drop issue)

 

[Hiltonc57]

Thank you! I will keep an eye out for that.