Hydros Heater Output Issue

pgooden · Feb 24, 2025

BeanAnimal said:
Your heater and temp probe should be in the same compartment and the probe should be on the upstream side of the heater. This should be a relatively high flow area of the system that has a fixed water height, so that the heater can never run dry or partially submerged.

The heater is at the bottom of the sump, under everything and the temp probe is in the return chamber, right before the water goes into the tank.

BeanAnimal · Feb 24, 2025

pgooden said:
The heater is at the bottom of the sump, under everything and the temp probe is in the return chamber, right before the water goes into the tank.

The temp probe should be in the same chamber as the heater, upstream of it. It will be more accurate this way, but more importantly, it will be safer. In the event the return pump fails, you forget to turn it back on, etc. Separated, there is a chance that you literally boil the water in the sump in a situation like that.

n2585722 · Feb 24, 2025

pgooden said:
Sorry, I was referring to the Red Sea Max Nano XL. It has a power distribution center that the skimmer and return connect with a proprietary connection and has on/off toggles for the pump. The distribution center then plugs into the XP8.

Ok, so it is not an issue with the Hydros. I agree that they should be powered separately or at least have a separate way to control them with a external control signal.

pgooden · Feb 24, 2025

BeanAnimal said:
The temp probe should be in the same chamber as the heater, upstream of it. It will be more accurate this way, but more importantly, it will be safer. In the event the return pump fails, you forget to turn it back on, etc. Separated, there is a chance that you literally boil the water in the sump in a situation like that.

I can move the probe close to the intake but they are in the same area. The tank is an AIO with both in the rear sump.