Heater and controller for 85 gal

[medic17]

What is a quality heater and controller for a 75 gallon reef tank?

 

[mahindra.dev]

I use 2 150W Neo Therm heaters from Cobalt Aquatics for my JBJ45. 2nd is a backup and runs 1 deg lower. I like their form factor and consistency. BRS has a good video on these.

 

[Gareth elliott]

If meaning a temperature controller the inkbird for price point and reliability. +1 on neotherm, replaced my heaters months ago with these and have been very happy with them.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

If meaning a temperature controller the inkbird for price point and reliability. +1 on neotherm, replaced my heaters months ago with these and have been very happy with them.

+1 to inkbird. Worth its weight in gold. Also using the two neo 150s but still a new build. Have been using inkbirds for years.

 

[medic17]

Seems like the colbalt 150 watt heater and inkbird temp controll is the way to go then. I was looking at the reef keeper lite as well anybody using them? Seems to be the cheaper way to go without spending the big money for apex or Neptune to monitor temp and ph accurately.

 

[medic17]

That all I am lacking is the heater to have a full setup. Have a guy coming to plumb the system in a week when the pvc comes in.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Seems like the colbalt 150 watt heater and inkbird temp controll is the way to go then. I was looking at the reef keeper lite as well anybody using them? Seems to be the cheaper way to go without spending the big money for apex or Neptune to monitor temp and ph accurately.

I considered a reef keeper as well. Will upgrade to some automation down the road. For now inkbird is great for peace of mind.

 

[Greybeard]

When I was setting up my current tank, I was looking to answer the same question. I'd always used stand alone heater controllers (inkbird or other) up until this point, but after watching some BRS videos, I decided on a ReefKeeper Lite. Loved the thing... until it started going weird on me. No support number on their website, email to their listed support address returned as undeliverable, support forums wouldn't grant me access... I wouldn't recommend one of these things to my worst enemy at this point.

Inkbird is the way to go, unless you want a full controller, in which case I'd highly recommend you get an Apex. The Apex Jr. is more expensive than the RKL, but IMHO, it's a hundred bucks well spent.

 

[Gareth elliott]

There is also the profilux mini that is ph, temp, lights and pumps. Also reef angle is another controller I dont use one to give a review but other options.

 

[medic17]

When I was setting up my current tank, I was looking to answer the same question. I'd always used stand alone heater controllers (inkbird or other) up until this point, but after watching some BRS videos, I decided on a ReefKeeper Lite. Loved the thing... until it started going weird on me. No support number on their website, email to their listed support address returned as undeliverable, support forums wouldn't grant me access... I wouldn't recommend one of these things to my worst enemy at this point.

Inkbird is the way to go, unless you want a full controller, in which case I'd highly recommend you get an Apex. The Apex Jr. is more expensive than the RKL, but IMHO, it's a hundred bucks well spent.

I like the apex jr. will have to go with the inkbird for right now but in due time I will have that implemented on my tank. Going to go with the cobalt heaters I watched the brs videos I really like the durability and slim design on top of the exact heat

 

[Bayareareefer18]

I like the apex jr. will have to go with the inkbird for right now but in due time I will have that implemented on my tank. Going to go with the cobalt heaters I watched the brs videos I really like the durability and slim design on top of the exact heat

These heaters have been the most accurate I have ever used straight out of the box.

I bought them also after seeing BRS rave about them. I read on another forum of many people having issues and not with just that bad batch of 200w

Guess it's a role of the dice but I do know how much time and effort BRS puts into equipment testing. Coupled with an inkbird I am not too concerned

 

[medic17]

These heaters have been the most accurate I have ever used straight out of the box.

I bought them also after seeing BRS rave about them. I read on another forum of many people having issues and not with just that bad batch of 200w

Guess it's a role of the dice but I do know how much time and effort BRS puts into equipment testing. Coupled with an inkbird I am not too concerned

Going to order them tomorrow. Still a bit unsure on the wattage of heater I should use for my 75 gallon plus the 15 gallons in the sump. Some say 250 and others say 150 to 200

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Going to order them tomorrow. Still a bit unsure on the wattage of heater I should use for my 75 gallon plus the 15 gallons in the sump. Some say 250 and others say 150 to 200

I'm running two 150s with probably 80 gallons total volume between 75 and 40b sump. Kind of a guess when I factor in rock displacement. Tanks maintains perfectly at 78 with house in low 70s to upper 60s currently

 

[medic17]

I'm running two 150s with probably 80 gallons total volume between 75 and 40b sump. Kind of a guess when I factor in rock displacement. Tanks maintains perfectly at 78 with house in low 70s to upper 60s currently

Thank all of you for the input I can finally purchase the final supplies to finish my build. I have a guy that owns a reef shop coming to plumb my setup next week. Will post pics. Can’t wait

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Thank all of you for the input I can finally purchase the final supplies to finish my build. I have a guy that owns a reef shop coming to plumb my setup next week. Will post pics. Can’t wait

Exciting stuff.

This is my first venture into reefing so I know what you mean. I did my whole build diy

Now I am just waiting on cycle to finish. Sucks looking at algae and nothing to do lol

Make sure to do a tank journal. You will be happy you did in a year's time

 

[medic17]

Exciting stuff.

This is my first venture into reefing so I know what you mean. I did my whole build diy

Now I am just waiting on cycle to finish. Sucks looking at algae and nothing to do lol

Make sure to do a tank journal. You will be happy you did in a year's time

I started with a fluvel 13.5 and wanted a bigger tank. Yes that’s a definite to keep a log of my parameters at the same time of day each time you test. I am going with the fritz turbo start.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

I started with a fluvel 13.5 and wanted a bigger tank. Yes that’s a definite to keep a log of my parameters at the same time of day each time you test. I am going with the fritz turbo start.

Oh ya definitely log but meant a tank build journal so that you can log your process.

I used mb7. About 3 weeks in just waiting for nitrites to drop