Heater Controller? Please give input.

[Apheoxx]

Hello! I am setting up a 35 gallon DT and an 18 gallon sump (approximately 55 gallons of total volume). Eheim states that I should go with a 150w heater for this tank size, but I am wondering what controller or safeguard would be the best or most reliable. Thank you!

 

[MnFish1]

Hello! I am setting up a 35 gallon DT and an 18 gallon sump (approximately 55 gallons of total volume). Eheim states that I should go with a 150w heater for this tank size, but I am wondering what controller or safeguard would be the best or most reliable. Thank you!

Check out Inkbird. If you are wanting to 'control' other things - check out apex. There are also multiple other controllers out there - each with their advantages and disadvantages.

 

[Billldg]

Hello! I am setting up a 35 gallon DT and an 18 gallon sump (approximately 55 gallons of total volume). Eheim states that I should go with a 150w heater for this tank size, but I am wondering what controller or safeguard would be the best or most reliable. Thank you!

A 150w is pretty big for that size tank. I use 75w heaters for my 40gal QT tanks. You can go with a oversized heater, BUT, I would recommend a Ink Bird or BRS controller. I would use the controller as a primary control and the t-stat on the heater as secondary back up.

 

[Apheoxx]

A 150w is pretty big for that size tank. I use 75w heaters for my 40gal QT tanks. You can go with a oversized heater, BUT, I would recommend a Ink Bird or BRS controller. I would use the controller as a primary control and the t-stat on the heater as secondary back up.

Are you sure 150w is enough? I’ve been reading it’s not enough. I have 100w on my 20g right now.

 

[Billldg]

Are you sure 150w is enough? I’ve been reading it’s not enough. I have 100w on my 20g right now.

It differs in your location and what you normally keep your house temp at, but, I used 300w's on my 120 gal tank and now use 600w's on my 225 gal tank. Neither one had an issue with raising the temp in under and hour. I keep my house at 64 degrees during the winter, so yea, pretty cool. I would just use a controller to have some safety in the heater as it probably is the most common failure. You said that your total water volume will be roughly 55 gals, you have to remember that rock and sand subtracts from the total water volume. I currently have a 225 gal tank and roughly a 60 gal sump. My actual total water volume is still 225 gals. I also do not like to keep a single heater. I break them up and use pairs of heaters for further safety. I currently use 2 300w BRS titanium heaters on a BRS controller with my GHL as a backup.

 

[Apheoxx]

It differs in your location and what you normally keep your house temp at, but, I used 300w's on my 120 gal tank and now use 600w's on my 225 gal tank. Neither one had an issue with raising the temp in under and hour. I keep my house at 64 degrees during the winter, so yea, pretty cool. I would just use a controller to have some safety in the heater as it probably is the most common failure. You said that your total water volume will be roughly 55 gals, you have to remember that rock and sand subtracts from the total water volume. I currently have a 225 gal tank and roughly a 60 gal sump. My actual total water volume is still 225 gals. I also do not like to keep a single heater. I break them up and use pairs of heaters for further safety. I currently use 2 300w BRS titanium heaters on a BRS controller with my GHL as a backup.

Thank you for the input. I plan on using a 150w Eheim with an Inkbird. Is this good for you?

 

[Billldg]

Thank you for the input. I plan on using a 150w Eheim with an Inkbird. Is this good for you?

I feel it is good, but, you also need to feel it is good. Please look up heater back ups on You Tube, it will help you feel better.

 

[Apheoxx]

I feel it is good, but, you also need to feel it is good. Please look up heater back ups on You Tube, it will help you feel better.

Thank you very much!

 

[Pistondog]

Thank you for the input. I plan on using a 150w Eheim with an Inkbird. Is this good for you?

Perfect, set the eheim (jaeger) 2 degrees above the inkbird, let the inkbird do the switching.
If the inkbird fails to shut off, the eheims will shut off a little higher than normal.

 

[Acros]

Weren’t there a lot of post about inkbird loosing calibration and causing issues? Is that a thing of the past?

 

[Ryde]

Hello! I am setting up a 35 gallon DT and an 18 gallon sump (approximately 55 gallons of total volume). Eheim states that I should go with a 150w heater for this tank size, but I am wondering what controller or safeguard would be the best or most reliable. Thank you!

I run two 50-watt Eheim heaters on a 32 gallon. I do this so neither of the heaters can fault and cook my tank. If you're wanting a safeguard two heaters might be the way to go. To do this your heaters need to be half of the recommended wattage for your tank, so two 50-watts = a 100-watt.

Hope I help!

 

[Apheoxx]

Perfect, set the eheim (jaeger) 2 degrees above the inkbird, let the inkbird do the switching.
If the inkbird fails to shut off, the eheims will shut off a little higher than normal.

Can you provide an example?

 

[Pistondog]

Can you provide an example?

Example of what?

 

[Apheoxx]

Example of what?

I am I need of 200watts. I can only fit an Eheim 150watt heater. How would I do what you said?

 

[Pistondog]

I am I need of 200watts. I can only fit an Eheim 150watt heater. How would I do what you said?

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[Snoopy 67]

I would go with a Ranco industrial controller.