Another heater semi-nuked my tank.

[Hemmdog]

This is the controller that roasted itself on me.
https://www.marinedepot.com/aqua-logic-digital-temperature-controller-single-stage

Oh wow. Similar looking to rancos, but more expensive and catches on fire lolz.

 

[ReeferReefer]

The Inkbird controller worked great for me before I upgraded to Apex. I agree that heaters are a huge failure point and it needs to be addressed in any system.

At work we use the 3 E's of safety. Engineering, Education, and Enforcement.

Always start with engineering. Is there and engineering solution to prevent the problem from occurring in the first place? A good heater controller will take away the risk.

 

[Scorpius]

Wont take it away but reduces it to add yet another failure point. Lol.

 

[Dodgersallday]

I would never buy any colbalt heater that is more than 100watts. To have that much contained inside a plastic container is a recipe for disaster. Why would you buy that size of heater from cobalt.

 

[Dodgersallday]

There are numerous videos on YouTube of people who have used that size. Joey, King of DIY lost stingrays because they melted his tank. No offense here, but it sounds like you’re not doing your research, especially if this has already happened in the past.

 

[Scorpius]

There are numerous videos on YouTube of people who have used that size. Joey, King of DIY lost stingrays because they melted his tank. No offense here, but it sounds like you’re not doing your research, especially if this has already happened in the past.

Whoa there partner, simmer down. Cobalt redesigned the 300 watt heater. There are two separate heating elements. I'm well aware of their previous design flaws that they fixed.

 

[ca1ore]

Oh wow. Similar looking to rancos, but more expensive and catches on fire lolz.

As I recall the aqua logic IS a rebadged ranco.

 

[Hemmdog]

As I recall the aqua logic IS a rebadged ranco.

Fantastic, lol.

 

[Scorpius]

Guess I should have saved the controller and took pictures to show everyone.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Whoa there partner, simmer down. Cobalt redesigned the 300 watt heater. There are two separate heating elements. I'm well aware of their previous design flaws that they fixed.

Agree. I've been using the 300w for some time now and still runs like a top. I take them out and completely clean them every couple of months.

 

[Saveafish]

That's why I'm getting the PTC
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ghl-at-reefapalooza-ny-2019.608215/page-2

Heats and cools. No more evil heaters. But, sad thing is, Apex users can't have the cool toys.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I swear by titanium units and Inkbird does make a great controller as a safety although I prefer the units with an attached probe to detect temperature before triggering the heater

 

[Mical]

Been having lots of issues lately and was wonder why more coral was dying. Finally figured out my Cobalt Neotherm 300w heater was stuck on 84 degrees when I run 78. Thanks you worthless piece of junk. This is like the fourth heater fail on me in the on position all different brands of heaters. Might was well tear the tank down and start over now.... I just can't win lately. So disheartening. This hobby is supposed to be fun and all I've been lately is frustrated.

Sorry for the rant, I'll get over it.

tl/dr: Heaters are the devils play things. Replace them yearly.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I run Eheim 100w heaters (paired) on both my 65gal & 120 gal tanks. Both set-ups are not totally submerged and are controlled by an Apex Classic. Temp probes via Apex shut down heater outlet if temp climbs higher than preset.

 

[ZoWhat]

This is like the fourth heater fail on me in the on position all different brands of heaters

sorry for your misfortune... but.... dude.... I'll be blunt. Buy an Apex. it's the BEST thing I ever bought for my reef. Ever. Period.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/apexel-controller-system-neptune-systems.html

 

[Philt56]

I have the Finnex controller but just use it as an alarm if the temp gets too high. I have the 300w cobalt neotherm but it’s not plugged into the controller. Cobalt told me that if the heater is plugged in and is constantly powered on and off by the controller in short intervals that can lead to ruining the thermostat.

One thing weird about the controller is that it has a power indicator led and it would go off even though the temp was within range. The controller was set to always provide power below 82 so that the heaters thermostat would control temp below that. Never figured that out.

Maybe a cheap apex jr would be better to shut the power off in that case.

 

[Sailingeric]

Inkbird FTW, the are very popular for both reefing and home brew making.

 

[Scorpius]

I'll look into the ink bird. The audible alarm would be helpful.

 

[scrapz]

Got baited by r2r's facebook clickbait thumnail of a failed ebo jager.. came to the thread to see a colbalt failed, no surprise. People still use Cobalts heater after the massive disaster thread in RC.

 

[ZoWhat]

using heaters without some sort of external controller is about as sharp as going deepsea fishing with a boat with no gas gauge......

 

[jda]

Get a Ranco that is wired right. The only ones that I have ever seen fail were wired poorly by some hobbyist. Perhaps the only real downside with them is that they don't come wired.

Ehiem with the top out of the water and Ranco have never let me down in 25+ years. I have had Ehiems fail, but they just quit getting hot... which is OK since I have 5 or 6 in each tank. I have never had a tank overheat.