tank heaters...

[bluprntguy]

Hygger titanium heaters with temp control have been solid for me. More than any other heater ive used. I have two running in tandem. My tanks temp has never drifted +/- 1degree.

This heater looks good but I notice it recommends a 100w heater in a 10 -26 gallon tank! I think these recommendations from manufacturers and other people are part of the problem. There is no way you need a 100w heater in a 10 gallon tank! I have a system that's 50 gallons and it has a single 75 watt heater in it that runs exactly 8% of the time (I know because I checked it with an energy monitor). I'm actually thinking about getting a 50w heater or maybe even a 25w. Every heater is going to fail eventually and most likely get stuck to "on". Your heater needs to be sized so that when that happens it doesn't boil your fish before you notice! There is a difference between heating cold water to 78 degrees and simply maintaining your tank at 78 degrees. Maintaining a consistent temperature requires much less energy than heating it up initially.

 

[Flippers4pups]

+1 for the Ranco controler. I've had very bad personal experiences with the Inkbird controllers drifting out of calibration.

Whichever controller you choose, calibrate it and verify its temp with a accurate temperature unit.

 

[Saltyreef]

This heater looks good but I notice it recommends a 100w heater in a 10 -26 gallon tank! I think these recommendations from manufacturers and other people are part of the problem. There is no way you need a 100w heater in a 10 gallon tank! I have a system that's 50 gallons and it has a single 75 watt heater in it that runs exactly 8% of the time (I know because I checked it with an energy monitor). I'm actually thinking about getting a 50w heater or maybe even a 25w. Every heater is going to fail eventually and most likely get stuck to "on". Your heater needs to be sized so that when that happens it doesn't boil your fish before you notice! There is a difference between heating cold water to 78 degrees and simply maintaining your tank at 78 degrees. Maintaining a consistent temperature requires much less energy than heating it up initially.

I totally agree with the ratings the manufactuers promote but it all depends on your ambient temperature for your heater requirements.
Myself, i live in fairly mild weather climate. My ambient temp stays from 55 low to 75 high year round. I have two 100w heaters on my 40B with 20L sump. I chose the size based on my ambient temp needs and wattage not the heaters promoted rating for gallons. My figures came out to 200 watts needed for my scenario and i chose to undersize and double the number of heaters in my tank for failure redundancy also if one sticks on its not gonna kill the tank before i take action. Both heaters have external marine grade temp controllers that work very well.

 

[JeepTj]

I run a 200 and 300watt Ehiem on my 135 gallon.. never see more then 1 degree variance but my ambient temp is 72 degrees or less , now I also are on a secondary controller that's set to 0.3 degree higher then the Ehiems .. maintains 78 +/- but I did find dialing in the ehiems with the fine tune adjustment it has a bit more time consuming to get it right..

having had a Fluval heater fail and stay on, I don't trust just the heater itself, atleast running 2 external inkbird controllers on the heaters gives me a bit of redundancy..

also have ability to see temp while at work, and shutdown the heating via wifi enabled surgebar

 

[dhof]

Hygger titanium heaters with temp control have been solid for me. More than any other heater ive used. I have two running in tandem. My tanks temp has never drifted +/- 1degree.

I bought a few of these hygger as well. The construction is VERY solid and you can really use the controller portion with any other heater you have laying around if the heater element is too large. It’s about the same price as an inkbird, but it comes with a bonus nice titanium heater (and a proper waterproof thermometer). The construction is solid enough that it’ll easily last a lifetime.

Very happy to use these hygger controllers on my frag tanks but my display uses an apex (with the heater that came from the hygger). The apex keeps things within 0.2 degrees Fahrenheit whereas the hygger is about a full degree.

 

[Orm Embar]

Another vote for Ranco controllers - they are industrial grade, and ETCSupply will wire them and heat-shrink PVC tubing over the probe so it is saltwater safe. I was stupid and didn't get the heater/chiller dual stage one, so I now have an InkBird for running a fan during the summer and a Ranco controlling my heater all of the time. I may eventually sell my Ranco and get a Ranco dual stage.

 

[Potatohead]

Controller aside... Did you calibrate the Eheims?

 

[seahorse_man]

Hygger titanium heaters with temp control have been solid for me. More than any other heater ive used. I have two running in tandem. My tanks temp has never drifted +/- 1degree.

Do you have them both set at the same temp or a degree or two apart?

Also, what are people's thoughts on me getting two of these AND a Ranco controller for an extra layer of protection? Overkill or nah?

 

[Bryson.bobby]

Do you think a temp controller would still be necessary if you use multiple smaller heaters?

 

[Saltyreef]

Do you have them both set at the same temp or a degree or two apart?

Also, what are people's thoughts on me getting two of these AND a Ranco controller for an extra layer of protection? Overkill or nah?

I tried running 1-2 degrees apart to avoid short cycling but since they are undersized it takes quite a bit more wattage to keep the temp graph stable and linear in my tank (open top).
Ive been much happier with the stability setting them both at 77 degrees.
The controllers are only off by .2 degrees against a NIST therm. Thermal element activates at .8 to 1 degree below setpoint.
Very happy with them but you can never have too much redundancy when it comes to the single most important piece of equipment in your tank. Might look into the smart temp security by autoaqua for an easy redundant system to the controllers so you dont have a bunch hanging in line lol.

 

[BeejReef]

If you have a decent heater you can set it to the temp you want, then set the controller to do the same thing. Both would have to fail to have a problem

Redundancy!! I set the temp controller just a touch higher than the heater is set to maintain. Keep the relay in the controller from getting used as much.

 

[russell13]

Another reason to own an aquarium controller. I didn’t have one on my tank for a long time but after installing it I wouldn’t build another tank without one. Mine ran two heaters and two sets of fans. Did a great job of keeping my tank at a stable temperature. Also had it shut off my lights when it got really hot.

 

[Potatohead]

Controller aside... Did you calibrate the Eheims?

So, I'm going to guess no then.

A temp controller with two separate smaller heaters is the safest way to go about it.

 

[NewGoby]

Does anyone have a link to a dutch site where I can buy a temp controller? I can't seem to find one

 

[JeepTj]

So, I'm going to guess no then.

A temp controller with two separate smaller heaters is the safest way to go about it.

not sure who you were refering to but if it was me, I did calibrate my ehiems on their own .. outside the tank .

 

[Wh00pS32]

Does anyone have a link to a dutch site where I can buy a temp controller? I can't seem to find one

I don't know any dutch sites but Whitecorals in germany sell this, it's the exact one i use and has been great. it comes with a double socket attached, one for the heater and one for a fan. Keeps my temps at 25.4 and stays there constantly.

https://www.whitecorals.com/en/d-d-heating-and-cooling-regulator-dd102217

 

[Pjones]

Set your heater to turn off at temp. set your controller to turn off at temp and set your apex to turn off at temp. Triple redundant.
You Are Not Paranoid if They are Really out to Get You!!! LOL

 

[Cell]

I had trouble calibrating my Eheims. Sometimes it seems like the actual temp is beyond the wiggle room it gives you to calibrate. But if you just ignore the actual number on the dial and go with the real temp as measured by your thermometer, they seem stable. I'm running 2x 150W in my 55 and the temp maybe fluctuates +/- half a degree. The tank is in a room with lots of natural lights and air so I expect some degree of temp swings from the environment.