Heater help

[Milkman420]

Hey guys so I just had an eheim nuke my tank like 2 months ago. Since then I’ve decided to get a jbj true temp heater package with the controller. I also purchased a 300w cobalt neotherm. Way I looked at it was the jbj is the best at setting an exact temp and the cobalt is the best at fluctuations so this way I can have the jbj get to temp then the cobalt keep it there. How should I go about setting these up. Would I need to purchase an ink bird with dual heaters capabilities or if I just plug both in and set temps would I be good to go. If possible I would like to avoid having to purchase another controller since I already have the jbj and an apex. Without another controller tho how would I set it up so the jbj is the main heater to set temp and the cobalt kicks in to keep it from fluctuating. If I just plug them in they would just both be on at all times. I’m not sure which is the best setup/path to take

 

[PBnJOnWheat]

Hey guys so I just had an eheim nuke my tank like 2 months ago. Since then I’ve decided to get a jbj true temp heater package with the controller. I also purchased a 300w cobalt neotherm. Way I looked at it was the jbj is the best at setting an exact temp and the cobalt is the best at fluctuations so this way I can have the jbj get to temp then the cobalt keep it there. How should I go about setting these up. Would I need to purchase an ink bird with dual heaters capabilities or if I just plug both in and set temps would I be good to go. If possible I would like to avoid having to purchase another controller since I already have the jbj and an apex. Without another controller tho how would I set it up so the jbj is the main heater to set temp and the cobalt kicks in to keep it from fluctuating. If I just plug them in they would just both be on at all times. I’m not sure which is the best setup/path to take

Not too sure but I’m sure with the apex you could fix them up to have one run to a certain criteria then the other constant or on a smaller increment.

 

[Alchameth]

So the catch is that you don't want the Apex using the outlet as a heater switch. The high draw on and off will burn out the plug faster. So typically you'd use a controller like an InkBird, and if you wanted to control them independently you'd want something like the 608T with 2 temp probes. The 306T turns both outlets on and off together. Either way the main set and heat variance is set on the InkBird, the heater dial is set 1deg higher, and then the Apex would be 1 deg above that. I know some of the InkBirds allow for day and night differences, don't know how that ties into the 608T or if it would have any benefit.

So with using a dual controller or 1 separate controller for each of those you'd be pressed to do anything like your asking. At best, individual controllers for each heater and you could do something like a time of day alternating the plug on the Apex to run each of them half the day.

I overthought it last year, this year when I first got my Apex, then I simplified and have 2 300W titanium heaters without controllers running through a 306T InkBird as primary; with some safety settings on the Apex outlet. For my backup I have a 500w titanium on an outlet directly into the Apex that will email and alarm alert me if that outlet ever comes on.

 

[Milkman420]

Ok so I’m better off selling the jbj controller and buying a 608t ink bird is what you’re saying then use the apex as the final redundancy

 

[Alchameth]

No need to sell that one, just telling you what I do. You can run the JBJ controller and heather through the Apex and have the Cobalt doing the same.

I was replacing my heaters every year, I've since decided to go with heaters without a thermostat/switch and use the InkBird to control that and the Apex to back that up. I feel a little better letting the heaters go longer than a year this way seeing as the heater switch is usually the first weak point that fails. With the Apex you can monitor and have alerts for the draw of the heaters wattage, alarms for temperature. Last winter I was able to catch a heater failing before it did and get a replacement.

I'd keep what you have, no reason ditching good equipment. Reevaluate it in a year or so. I'd say the real decision is do you want to alternate the 2 heaters on day/night cycles or use one as a backup if the other fails or runs to long.