Am I crazy to trust temp controller?

[Afrashz]

Hey guys,

So I’ve heard it time and time again how heaters are the main reason tanks crash due to cooking tanks. After hearing it enough times I went ahead and bought the brs Inkbird. The “ITC-306A”. Do you guys think these things are reliable or am I better off using my Eheim heater all by itself as I’ve been doing for a few years now?

 

[SuncrestReef]

Does your Eheim have its own built-in thermostat? If so, then leave it set for the temperature you've been using, then set the BRS controller for a degree or two higher as a safeguard. If the Eheim decides to not turn off properly, then the BRS controller will sense it overheating and cut the power to the Eheim for you.

 

[Afrashz]

Does your Eheim have its own built-in thermostat? If so, then leave it set for the temperature you've been using, then set the BRS controller for a degree or two higher as a safeguard. If the Eheim decides to not turn off properly, then the BRS controller will sense it overheating and cut the power to the Eheim for you.

Tbh with you I’m not sure whether or not it has its own thermostat lol

 

[SuncrestReef]

Tbh with you I’m not sure whether or not it has its own thermostat lol

Is the Eheim plugged directly into an electrical outlet, or is it currently being controlled by an Apex or other type of aquarium controller system? Something must be telling it when to turn on and off all this time, either its own built-in thermostat, or a separate controller.

 

[Afrashz]

Is the Eheim plugged directly into an electrical outlet, or is it currently being controlled by an Apex or other type of aquarium controller system? Something must be telling it when to turn on and off all this time, either its own built-in thermostat, or a separate controller.

Oh okay, it’s plugged into a typical outlet

 

[Tastee]

I am a fan of redundancy:

• My main heater is controlled by my Apex but has the thermostat off set just > the Apex of. This protects against a heater fail on or an Apex fail on.
• My backup heater is not controlled or powered by my Apex and set to turn on just < the Apex off. This protects against a heater or Apex fail off. If the Apex hasn’t failed I will also get an alert about this.
• My chiller is powered (but not controlled) by my Apex and the Apex is set to turn it off if temperature drops too low. This protects against a chiller fail on. I will also get an alert about this.
• My chiller also protects against a backup heater fail on (it will kick in to fight it).
• Apex will alert if temperature goes above the chiller on level, protecting against a chiller fail off or a backup heater fail on winning the fight with the chiller.

This covers a lot of possible issues. It is also important to test your redundancy occasionally to ensure it is still working as designed. For example I check my backup heater monthly to check it is still turning on and off when it should.

Good luck!

 

[Afrashz]

I am a fan of redundancy:

• My main heater is controlled by my Apex but has the thermostat off set just > the Apex of. This protects against a heater fail on or an Apex fail on.
• My backup heater is not controlled or powered by my Apex and set to turn on just < the Apex off. This protects against a heater or Apex fail off. If the Apex hasn’t failed I will also get an alert about this.
• My chiller is powered (but not controlled) by my Apex and the Apex is set to turn it off if temperature drops too low. This protects against a chiller fail on. I will also get an alert about this.
• My chiller also protects against a backup heater fail on (it will kick in to fight it).
• Apex will alert if temperature goes above the chiller on level, protecting against a chiller fail off or a backup heater fail on winning the fight with the chiller.

This covers a lot of possible issues. It is also important to test your redundancy occasionally to ensure it is still working as designed. For example I check my backup heater monthly to check it is still turning on and off when it should.

Good luck!

If only I had an apex !!! Sounds like an awesome set up you got there.