Don't take short cuts!

[JoJosReef]

PSA, so to speak. I am setting up my new 83g and almost had everything running full blast and then found a small leak in the return pipe. Shut down the pumps for a day and a half but still had the MP40 running in the DT and the nano pump running in the sump which has macroalgae in it. DT has brand new corals. Sump has Hydros monitoring temp. Figured "what could go wrong" and threw two heaters into the DT. They usually just turn themselves off after 78F, right!? WRONG. My 300W Finnex Titanium either doesn't have that function or the function is broken, and the heater continued full blast. While I was adding pods and amphipods today, I noticed that the water felt like bathwater and the corals, especially my new centerpiece Elegance, were shriveled up. Normal thermometer out, and I find out that the water temp is 89F.

I should have put the DT heaters on an inkbird (I have a spare one!) even if it was only going to be two days to get the parts. What an idiot! Don't take shortcuts!

 

[PharmrJohn]

Well, these things happen. Sorry you're going through it man. Thanks for the PSA. Just remember that we've ALL done something like this in our past.

 

[steveschuerger]

Hope everything makes it. I have noticed that ofttimes corals can survive our stupidity (and yes I’ve been guilty of many stupid things) so I think things will be ok in the end. And yeah, I have a heater right now that has a 78 degree pre set . But I’m still going to get the Inkbird hooked up.

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Well, these things happen. Sorry you're going through it man. Thanks for the PSA. Just remember that we've ALL done something like this in our past.

When we thought our flame hawkfish had disappeared I texted my wife "Aye, well, these things happen." She asked. "What's that from?" I replied, "All Creatures Great and Small."

 

[Jimbo327]

Reefing is very similar to engineering, it's getting 100+ things all going right (temp, elements, valves, knobs, pipes, lights, flow, temp, etc etc). So it's actually strange if you don't have any oopsies.

Normal Finnex heaters don't have heat controls, you will need a separate controller. Once you get that inkbird and hydros hooked up, you won't have to worry as you will have multiple redundancy.

 

[backbayreef]

Never procrastinate in this hobby and build enough redundancies in core components.

My Eheim 300W heater died 3 days ago at 30min past midnigh and I was dead asleep (unusual for me - lol)! The temp got down to 75F. So far, no casualties since I run around 77-78F. I’m going to get another heater and yes, need more Inkbirds. I got them flying around everywhere around the house, except the SPS tank in the kitchen!!! Dual heaters, dual controllers!

Also, looks like the return pump is going to die soon so will need to consider doing dual returns on this tank.