Temperature related question....32 gallon Biocube using a Neo-therm 100 watt heater and an Inkbird ITC-308S. I had it set to keep the temp at 78 but the tank gets down as low as 76.7 by early morning, climbing up to around 78 by evening. Changed the setting on the Inkbird to 79, hoping it would avoid the lower temp and maybe keep it staying around 79 by evening but not lower than 77.6 by early morning. It is already at 79.4 right now. Should I go with the 76.7 to 78 temps or the setting that brings it up to 79.4 by evening? House temp is 67-72, dependent upon time of day. I guess what I'm asking is what is the best temp range? 76.7-78.4 or 77.6-79.4? Fish, rock, soft corals, variety of CUC.
Help with tank temperature
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The Aquatic Arsenal
2500 Club Member
Either temp range is alright. Honestly the temp swing will simulate a natural reef environment, but it shouldn't be swinging that much. I almost wonder if there something wrong with the probe on the inkbird controller.
xxkenny90xx
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It really isn't that crucial. I keep my reef between 78 and 79 but a couple of degrees lower won't hurt anything (some people prefer it).
ReefRy
Active Member
Mine flucuates a bit as well, depending on weather. Ideally Id shoot for 76 degrees, but in Florida thats tough without a chiller. My tank hovers around 78 most of the year and drops into the 76s when its cool outside and we open the windows. The small rise or fall doesnt worry me as temperature isnt static in nature, either.
Since there isn't a chiller in this tank, it wouldn't be able to control that upper temp but I do wonder about the lower temp when it goes below 77. This Inkbird model allows for +/- 1 degree so I can see where it could get down to 77 if it is set to 78 but I have noticed it dropping down to 76.7 the last couple of mornings. We are in IL and we've had some cooler nights the past few days and since the house is set at 67, that would explain why it is dropping a little lower than usual. However, I'm surprised it isn't kicking on the thermometer sooner so it doesn't fall that low.
Right now it is up to 79.7 and if it performs like it has been when set to 78, I would guess it will get down to around 77.7 or around there by early tomorrow morning at the new set temp of 79.
Salty Lemon
Doing my best to make waves.
I'm in AZ and we have our thermostat set at about 78. My aquarium heater doesn't have to work very hard. The cooler months are coming up so we will set the house at about 75. My heater will earn its keep then.
BeejReef
2500 Club Member
Sounds like you've got the problem surrounded and are closing in on it.
What temp is your neo-therm set at? I use the same combination... inkbird and neotherm 300.
Since the neotherm can only be set to two degree increments, you may have to bump it up one setting.
The possibilities, to my mind, are that either 100 watts isn't sufficient to hold as tight a range as you would like, given how cold the house gets at night.... or, your heater isn't turning on precisely when the inkbird sends power to it bc its thermostat and the inkbird's are a little off. That's really to be expected.
Temp is more art than science. I put two thermometers in the tank and the inkbird probe, and then calibrated the inkbird to more or less equal the average of the thee readings. Another thing you can do is set the heater where you want it and disable the inkbird's temp control (just give it a huge range) and see what temp the 80degree Neotherm setting actually gets you in the tank.
What temp is your neo-therm set at? I use the same combination... inkbird and neotherm 300.
Since the neotherm can only be set to two degree increments, you may have to bump it up one setting.
The possibilities, to my mind, are that either 100 watts isn't sufficient to hold as tight a range as you would like, given how cold the house gets at night.... or, your heater isn't turning on precisely when the inkbird sends power to it bc its thermostat and the inkbird's are a little off. That's really to be expected.
Temp is more art than science. I put two thermometers in the tank and the inkbird probe, and then calibrated the inkbird to more or less equal the average of the thee readings. Another thing you can do is set the heater where you want it and disable the inkbird's temp control (just give it a huge range) and see what temp the 80degree Neotherm setting actually gets you in the tank.
