Watch your heaters!!!

D

Desert Aquarium

New member
Got home today, did my standard tank inspection to check for progress in my wet universe. Noticed the heater was on. 4PM, and the heater was on. Not normal so I decided to check the temp.

Yup, heater stuck ON!!! Nearly 90*F :(

Unplugged it. Opened the lids to allow some slow cooling. Everyone survived, this time. :mad2:

Need heater suggestions. I saw one for like $57 that was remote, with LED Tank Temp display and a nice control knob. Can't remember where I found it.

What would you suggest?
 
I looked at those, but they're only accurate to 2*F, where the other was accurate to 1*F.

How important is that?

Also, I don't have any means of checking temp other than a hot old style thermometer, so I like the idea of having a display.
 
Stay away from that Won heater! I have heard they are very faulty and have had the same thing happen as your last heater. Read the reviews on the link you posted about that product.
 
I would seriously look at the heater Sean referenced to with a pinpoint. Don't reall know what your budget is but a Aqua Control is a good idea as well. They are made by Neptune systems and you can find them on marinedepot.
 
at some point, most heaters will fail. I've got two ti Won bros that failed within a few months of purchase. I'm eventually going to pick up a controller for some redundancy but for the meantime i've got them on basic, barebones timers and have managed to keep my temp stable with no high temp. problems.
 
I would suggest a seperate controller for your heater. My heater is turned to full blast. It only kicks on when the controller tells it too. I have found the heaters with the "built in" thermostats are not very accurate and very prone to failure. Be it algae buildup, tank placement, or whatever. AllenFord_SC mentioned the Neptune Aqua Controller. I have the ACII and my heater turns on at .5 degrees below my target temp (only because I set it that way, will do whatever you set it too). The AC will also automate a wide variety of tasks.

JR
 
I agree with having a separate controller. I use two heaters in my tanks, and a DIY emergency shutoff (plans at seabay.org). The Ranco controllers also look interesting, although I haven't tested one yet.

I actually set the controls on the heaters and on the shutoff. Guess I'm not a trusting type, anymore. I've had 4-5 heaters die on me. :( I don't trust any of them.
 
i have had the Won heaters running for years and never had a problem. i also have never had a rio pump fail..lol it may just be me, but a few bad reviews cant mean there all bad.
 
So what's the conclusion here?

I also hate my heater, I set its collar to 79 and it heats my tank to 82. I set it to 75 and it doesn't ever come on anymore.

What is the best heater/controller to get. I don't mind paying good money. I just need an answer.

Thanks
Josh


Sorry for stealing this thread. I have the same question.
 
I have an Aqua Controller II and I personally think it is the best investment I have made to my tank. does just about everything and then some.
 
The only reliable heater is the sun. I use Tronic brand because they fail "off" rather than try to cook the tank, <b>most</b> of the time.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6589690#post6589690 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JR719
I have an Aqua Controller II and I personally think it is the best investment I have made to my tank. does just about everything and then some.
Click to expand...

So I should buy an "Aqua Controller II", and what heater do I buy?

Thanks
Josh
 
Like I stated Ealier, If money isn't a problem, Aqua Controller by Neptune Systems. This thing is amazing. It can be set to controll your lights, heaters, chillers, pumps, you name it. My favorite feature is if your tank gets to hot you can program it to turn equipement on or off depending on thetank temp. Like so:

If temp is <79 then heater 1 off
If temp is <80 then heater 2 off
If temp is <81 then Chiller on
If temp is <82 then light 1 off
and so on.....
this way you can set your heaters to max temp and the controller turns them on and off as necesary. This thing is paid for itself tenfold on my tank.
 
Mine is set for the heater to come on at 78.6 and turn off at 79. the chiller comes on at 79.5 and off at 79. I just set the thermostat of the heater to full, won't turn on unless the ACII tells it too. It is the best thing out there. You can make it a wavemaker, control Calcium reactor, lights, you name it, it will prob control it.
 
Then maybe that can help my condensation problem from my other thread. I could program it to turn heater on once below a threshold and turn fan on above a certain threshold. That would certainly be better then now where the fan runs 24/7 competing against the heater at night.

Josh
 
Yep, you can add a line in there to turn on your fan at a set time or temp. Prior to getting the ACII my chiller and heater would compete. Almost never got it figured out just right. Since the AC, they work great and my electric bill has dropped a couple of dollars. there are more factors but not hearing the chiller running all the time I think really helps on the bucks to the electric company. Just be sure to spend a couple more bucks and get the ACII and not the jr. And definately get the backlit model. It is worth the extra. Nice to look at it and see in "REAL TIME" the temp, PH and Orp without having to turn on the room light or squint. And if you are running Icecaps or other electronic ballasts for halides, you can get their great high dollar plugs but my X-10's work just fine. It's up to you. You can program the thing to do just about whatever you want. Heck, I have mine programmed for many light times, I only have 2 Icecap MH and a Icecap 660 VHO on the tank, but have it programmed to turn on a light in the house just cause. You can add all sorts of functions to it. Heck, have it turn on your coffee pot at whatever time if you want. I'm about to order another few X-10's and I'll have the coffee pot hooked up to one. Just need a fairly inexpensive rectifier to cross over circuit breakers. It will control that plus... calcium reactor, kalk reactor, heater, chiller, lights, wavemaker, you pretty much name it.... Well worth the dollars to get one, best investment I've made to the "tank".

JR
 
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