Need a new heater controller following inkbird failure

[t5Nitro]

Looking to replace the inkbird. Classically the weekend I leave the controller fails, lol.

Debating between aqua logic or ranco, photos attached. Is there a difference in these two? The AL is about $100 more than the 2 stage ranco.

Or do I just go with the hydros control 4 now that I have the opportunity to need a new heater controller? I just assume something like ranco is better at its job than cheap hobby grade controllers.

Let me know your thoughts and I'll 2 day air something in for this week. Luckily the temps outside have been near 80 yet where I haven't really needed the heaters. Kind of uneasy not knowing the tank temp, though. Currently heaterless.

 

[t5Nitro]

If ranco is the better option please let me know im looking at the correct one. Seems like a lot of options to choose from. And I would add a few feet of the waterproof coating.

 

[Scorpius]

Get the dual stage Aqualogic. I use it myself and it works great.

 

[zuri]

I don't get why these are even a thing I see these wipe tanks so often

 

[t5Nitro]

Sounds good! I was just going to ask if it mattered to use the titanium probe on the AL vs the heat shrink wrapped probe of the Ranco.

I can grab the AL and just be done searching. I can probably get it shipped a bit faster through BRS that way.

 

[t5Nitro]

Ordered. Dual stage aqua logic. Turns out if you spend more than 249 with brs right now you can choose from a selection of freebies. I took a tropic marin pro nitrate kit valued at 30$. In case anybody else needs anything.

 

[Scorpius]

Ordered. Dual stage aqua logic. Turns out if you spend more than 249 with brs right now you can choose from a selection of freebies. I took a tropic marin pro nitrate kit valued at 30$. In case anybody else needs anything.

With the dual stage you bought you can now hook a fan for evaporative cooling or a chiller. My tank stays 77-79 all year long with how I have it setup.

 

[t5Nitro]

How do you have yours set up? I've currently 2 eheim heaters, a 200W and 150W that I could add with splitter to the heat channel and have the fan to the cooling channel. Otherwise I'd just have both channels to heat and individual heaters plugged in to each of the two channels and run the fan all the time in summer. At least that's how I've had it set up with the inkbird.

 

[Scorpius]

How do you have yours set up? I've currently 2 eheim heaters, a 200W and 150W that I could add with splitter to the heat channel and have the fan to the cooling channel. Otherwise I'd just have both channels to heat and individual heaters plugged in to each of the two channels and run the fan all the time in summer. At least that's how I've had it set up with the inkbird.

I like redundancy so I run 2-100w heaters. If one fails my tank won't cool off so quickly. I used a 3 way splitter to run two heaters on the heating channel .

My Aqualogic controller settings are set to keep 78 degrees with a one degree differential on the heat and cool settings.

For heat its set at 78. Heat goes on at 77 off at 78.
For cooling it's set at 79. Fan on at 79 off at 78.


Hope this helps.

 

[t5Nitro]

That works. Appreciate it. I'll set it up like this when it comes in.

 

[Scorpius]

Forgot to mention. Keep the main Aqualogic controller away from all humidity. I had one years ago in with my sump and it failed on me.

I now keep the one I currently have mounted on the outside of my stand.

 

[t5Nitro]

I can do that. Can add some velcro to it and attach outside the stand. Don't want this one to fail.

 

[t5Nitro]

I was also looking at the innovative marine 400W helio heater set up. Any reason to add that to a ranco or is that overkill? Looked into the helio a few weeks ago.

Helio is probably meant to be run as an independent system. Also probably too new to compare to the longevity of aqua logic or ranco.

 

[Scorpius]

I was also looking at the innovative marine 400W helio heater set up. Any reason to add that to a ranco or is that overkill? Looked into the helio a few weeks ago.

Helio is probably meant to be run as an independent system. Also probably too new to compare to the longevity of aqua logic or ranco.

All you need is a standard heater with its own thermostat as a backup incase the aqualogic sticks in the ON position. I use eheim heaters. Replace every two years or so to be on the safe side. Heaters are wear items.

 

[jhuntstl]

I use a ranco with a couple eheims. You definitely want the redundancy of the extra thermostats. I think a helio would be overkill cost wise. I would save that cash for a controller(apex, hydros, etc) that you could eventually put behind the ranco.

 

[t5Nitro]

Sounds like a plan. I'm planning to pick up a cheap glass aquarium mercury thermometer tomorrow. Then I can at least know what the temp is doing in the tank until the AL arrives and also calibrate my eheims.

 

[C_AWOL]

Ranco is made for industrial use and thus has my vote for reliability and accuracy.

They even have one intended for outdor use which should be the nema-4 model (a lot more ideal for dealing with the our end of the hobby)

 

[t5Nitro]

Got it connected. To compare, the old school mercury thermometer matches the temp exact. So I can keep a fan connected to the chill setting and split the heat outlet into 2 to power both heaters? I'm only running up to 400W total heaters. Suspect that's easily handled by one outlet.

 

[Scorpius]

Got it connected. To compare, the old school mercury thermometer matches the temp exact. So I can keep a fan connected to the chill setting and split the heat outlet into 2 to power both heaters? I'm only running up to 400W total heaters. Suspect that's easily handled by one outlet.

Thats exactly my setup. I use a 3 way plug splitter so I can run 2 separate heaters

 

[KStatefan]

Ranco is made for industrial use and thus has my vote for reliability and accuracy.

They even have one intended for outdor use which should be the nema-4 model (a lot more ideal for dealing with the our end of the hobby)

I have them on our spot welder chillers at work going on 10 plus years with no issues operating in a dirty weld shop.

I also use two on my tank hooked to separate electrical circuits.