Heater Controller - is it really necessary?

RaymondL · Oct 5, 2022

As the subject says, just wondering how critical it is to have a heater controller to monitor and prevent any issues with heater failures.

InkBird seems to be the popular ones, but reading mix reviews of them - ie. some say it fails, and others say E4 error code constantly.

Welcome any thoughts.

Mr. Mojo Rising · Oct 5, 2022

there are very few things "necessary" . I have a controller with my hydros on my main tank, but I ran it for many years without any controller, I dont know if I'm lucky but I've never had any kind of issue.

I also run 3 other tanks currently without a controller, again no issue's for me. But I use eheim and only eheim and they've never let me down.

Davileet · Oct 5, 2022

I have been reefing a long time, and only just recently got a temperature controller. My water was getting a bit warm due to lighting and additional pumps. I think keeping my temps steady really benefitted my corals, so I would not go back to an uncontrolled temp for my tank.

Joj · Oct 5, 2022

It makes setting temp a lot easier as the dial on heater aren’t as accurate. I run them (ink bird and other various brand from Amazon) - no issues

WVNed · Oct 5, 2022

Heaters fail in 2 ways. They fail to turn off or on.
With a heater controller it doesnt matter if they fail to turn off. The controller still turns them off at the set temperature.

With multiple small heaters on a controller it doesnt matter if one fails to turn on. You notice the tank isnt heating as quickly or is slowly cooling and find the dead one and replace it.

Both tank disasters caused by heaters are avoidable.

The_Skrimp · Oct 5, 2022

I’d call it a crucial if often overlooked piece of equipment. In the few years that I’ve had my tank running, only twice has something happened that if not caught in time would have ended in a tank crash. Both times was the heater giving out. Unless you have a controller with an alarm to alert you that the heater has gone bad, it could be too late by the time you find out. It’s one of those things people buy as a precaution but in my opinion it’s the one you’re most likely to use at some point. All heaters fail eventually. Also, I find that controllers are a lot better at keeping a stable temp than the cheap thermostat in most heaters.

exnisstech · Oct 5, 2022

I won't run a tank without one. I've used finex and inkbirds with good results. They allow the use of titanium heaters that don't have a built in control also which is a plus. Inkbird also has one that has a plug for hear and another for cool. I run that in the summer so it turns my fan on when needed. I use the others in winter so I can have two heaters for redundancy.

Tired · Oct 5, 2022

Is a seatbelt always necessary? No- most of the time you'll be perfectly fine. Doesn't mean it's a good idea not to wear one.

Montiman · Oct 5, 2022

I have been reefing for 15 years and never had a heater failure. That being said I am in Phoenix where I only need heaters a few months out of the year and the heaters are not receiving the amount of use that they would in colder climates. I have had many times where my aquarium controller has saved my tank and prevented home damage. I personally wouldn't buy a dedicated temperature controller given that there are good complete controllers for as low as $200. I have tanks without controllers and they aren't necessary but I do think they have value I just believe that the value of a $70 to $100 heater controller is a lot less than a $200 Hydros.

TheBear78 · Oct 5, 2022

Controllers can fail, heaters can fail.
I think the safest option is using a controller with adjustable (thermostatically controlled) heaters. Set them a degree or two above the controller temperature and they'll catch a runaway controller.

The biggest benefits of a controller (inkbird, in this case) for me is that it doubles as a temp display, allows the use of much shorter heaters and the App will show you temperature and raise the alarm (over/under temp) from anywhere in the world.
I had a pair of 300w Eheim heaters before my D-D titanium and they were a pain to squeeze into the sump. The were literally twice the length.

Malcontent · Oct 5, 2022

WVNed said:
Heaters fail in 2 ways. They fail to turn off or on.
With a heater controller it doesnt matter if they fail to turn off. The controller still turns them off at the set temperature.

With multiple small heaters on a controller it doesnt matter if one fails to turn on. You notice the tank isnt heating as quickly or is slowly cooling and find the dead one and replace it.

Both tank disasters caused by heaters are avoidable.

Well, they can leak too.

RaymondL · Oct 5, 2022

Wow! Lots of viewpoints here - thanks everyone.

Well, InkBird has a model that has double failsafe - ie. 2 temperature probes, so that covers that possibility of controller failure.

Anyone here using the WiFi version of the product?

TheBear78 · Oct 5, 2022

RaymondL said:
Wow! Lots of viewpoints here - thanks everyone.

Well, InkBird has a model that has double failsafe - ie. 2 temperature probes, so that covers that possibility of controller failure.

Anyone here using the WiFi version of the product?

Yes, I have the ITC 306a which is the twin probe WiFi model.

thewedge · Oct 5, 2022

I wouldn't reef without a heater controller. I had freshwater aquariums for a lot longer than I've had reefs and witnessed many heater failures. Fortunately I was lucky every time. It's a trivial expense compared all the money that we spend on the hobby. Same with an aquarium controller. I would not have a tank without one of them either. Same as I wouldn't own a home without homeowner's insurance.

Bucs20fan · Oct 5, 2022

Ive never had a terrible incident with a heater, but they do happen and they are far more common than I would like, I had freshwater for almost a decade, and thats a different story, but once I moved into corals and such, I needed a failsafe so if my tank crashes, it isnt because of a heater. So inkbird I went. No complaints and they work as advertised.

forestsofkelp · Oct 5, 2022

you can totally run a tank without one, I did for years, you just have to be ok with the entire tanks well-being depending on that heaters controller. I never had a controller until I got “serious” about my tank. Heater failures are rare but deadly.

my .02 is to run one. Small heaters have cheap controllers, so I wouldn’t trust it. Big heaters are for big tanks, big tank means more money/cleanup, so I’m not letting it depend on a built in controller.

on top of that they are easy to install, have no downside, and some permit remote temp monitoring. Remote temp checking itself is useful since temp is such an important parameter.

It also seems somewhat inconsistent to me to worry about and monitor salinity, flow, alk, skimmate, etc but not temp, which is prob the most controllable and sensitive parameter, and the easiest to check

mkmreefing · Oct 5, 2022

Definitely needed saved my tank from over heating few times, just have to make sure the temperature sensors are secured they tent to float even with the suction cups

ReefGeezer · Oct 5, 2022

RaymondL said:
Wow! Lots of viewpoints here - thanks everyone.

Well, InkBird has a model that has double failsafe - ie. 2 temperature probes, so that covers that possibility of controller failure.

Anyone here using the WiFi version of the product?

I been using an Inkbird for about three years. Not a wifi version and only one probe though. I have a fan and heater plugged into it. It seems to work well. I think the unit is simple to operate and has reasonable quality at a good price.

RaymondL · Oct 5, 2022

I'm running a smaller tank - 13.5gallon EVO specifically, I have a 50W heater in it, so given the wattage does this mean that it can only heat the water so much even if the internal thermostat fails?