Best heater with controller?

[LokiDawg]

I am setting up my first reef tank. I already have the apex system but want to run a heater controller as backup. Is there a good heater/controller combo?

What is everyone else using?
Also, trying not to spend too much if possible.

 

[VB313]

I am setting up my first reef tank. I already have the apex system but want to run a heater controller as backup. Is there a good heater/controller combo?

What is everyone else using?
Also, trying not to spend too much if possible.

Don’t have a apex system but I run jbj true temp has a nice large digital display on the controller heater guard strong magnets and temp probe separate from the actual heating element I love it

 

[LokiDawg]

Don’t have a apex system but I run jbj true temp has a nice large digital display on the controller heater guard strong magnets and temp probe separate from the actual heating element I love it

Thanks for the reply!
I was hoping not to spend $100 for a heater!.

 

[VB313]

Thanks for the reply!
I was hoping not to spend $100 for a heater!.

Yeah unfortunately you get what you pay for (most of the time) in this hobby

 

[LokiDawg]

Can the eheim be fully submerged? I may just go that route. I would need to place horizontal in my sump.

 

[VB313]

Can the eheim be fully submerged? I may just go that route. I would need to place horizontal in my sump.

Yea I believe it can be idk what eheim has for controllers though sorry but you should be able to connect it to your Neptune apex correct?

 

[D's Reef]

Can the eheim be fully submerged? I may just go that route. I would need to place horizontal in my sump.

Eheim Jagers are great for a affordable heater. I’ve run them in several tank without issue. I currently have two on my largest system controlled by my Apex.

 

[Tastee]

I run an Apex but use my heater and chiller’s internal thermostats also, to provide redundancy.

Main heater controlled by Apex with internal thermostat set just below the Apex ON temp. If Apex fails to turn it on the internal thermostat will. If the heater fails ON the Apex will turn it off. It the heater fails OFF the backup heater kicks in.

Backup heater connected to mains and controlled by it’s internal thermostat. If Apex dies completely, backup still works. If backup fails OFF main is still running. If backup fails ON the Chiller will kick in. I am thinking of the best way to configure an Apex alert of this issue.

Chiller powered by Apex but controlled by internal thermostat. If chiller fails OFF Apex will alert me to high temperature. If chiller fails ON the heaters will kick in and if temp drops too much Apex will alert me. As above I am thinking of how to configure an alert for this when the chiller is on but heaters stop the temperature drop and avoid that alert.

 

[Hemmdog]

Cheaper route but still reliable is jagers connected to a Ranco with smart switches. ranco are just a little bulky for my taste but they are very accurate. Plan B is ink bird which is cheaper.

I’m in the same situation trying to figure out which one to get, my 90 is dropping temp at night and without a controller the heaters just can’t keep up.

 

[Saveafish]

Cheaper route but still reliable is jagers connected to a Ranco with smart switches. ranco are just a little bulky for my taste but they are very accurate. Plan B is ink bird which is cheaper.

I’m in the same situation trying to figure out which one to get, my 90 is dropping temp at night and without a controller the heaters just can’t keep up.

Can't go wrong with a ranco controller. +1 on Jagers.

 

[new2reefin]

I run an Apex but use my heater and chiller’s internal thermostats also, to provide redundancy.

Main heater controlled by Apex with internal thermostat set just below the Apex ON temp. If Apex fails to turn it on the internal thermostat will. If the heater fails ON the Apex will turn it off. It the heater fails OFF the backup heater kicks in.

I have a question about this? The Apex uses the temp probe to turn power on and off to the outlet. If the Apex fails to turn on, the outlet will not have power and the heater will not be able to turn on. Your backup heater will still work though.

I run two 50 watt Jager's, both controlled by an Apex. I run two heaters in case of an individual heater or outlet failure. If the Apex fails to turn on, I currently have no backup other than an alert, if the Apex is not totally unfunctional. If the Apex fails to turn off, the internal thermostat of the heaters will turn off.

 

[Tastee]

Sorry, you are quite correct and I mis-stated my main heater setup. It is controlled by the Apex, with the internal thermostat set a little higher than the Apex OFF setting. If the Apex fails to turn it ON you are correct, it won’t do anything and my backup heater will take over. If the Apex fails to turn it OFF however the internal thermostat will turn it off.

I also failed to say my chiller outlet is Apex controlled, even though the chiller is not. If the tank temperature drops below the Apex low level it will turn the chiller OFF. This protects against the chiller failing ON.

 

[A sea K]

I'm of the Eheim Jager with a Ranco controller camp.

 

[Bighead]

I run a titanium finnex with a ranco controller
For back up I run not sure what brand a second controller with alarm in case of problem

 

[csb123]

I’m using Finnex titanium heater tubes (no thermostat) each controlled by a Ranco, and each Ranco plugged into a third Ranco. I have a cell phone enabled temp monitor which texts me if the temps are out of range.

 

[KMench]

I have the finnex heaters with the temp controller built in. They're nice and work well. Not too expensive either.

 

[LokiDawg]

Yea I believe it can be idk what eheim has for controllers though sorry but you should be able to connect it to your Neptune apex correct?

It can be plugged into the outlet strip and controlled via temp probe.. (Which is what I did) but I was trying to add a backup. (The just in case!)

 

[LokiDawg]

I have the finnex heaters with the temp controller built in. They're nice and work well. Not too expensive either.

I use the finnex lighting system on my planted. It is a nice product. I wasnt sure about the heater controller. It is at a nice price.

 

[VB313]

It can be plugged into the outlet strip and controlled via temp probe.. (Which is what I did) but I was trying to add a backup. (The just in case!)

Ohhhh I see Incase your apex for some reason crashes you have a backup smart move