Inkbird never reaches temp

[mpatterson42]

Model: Inkbird WiFi ITC-308
Temp Setting: 79F
Heating Difference Value: 1F
Heater: BRS Titanium Heater 200W
Display Tank: 40G
Sump: 20G
Total Water Volume: 50G

I initially set the Inkbird up to heat the water to 78 degrees, but it was almost always under 77 degrees. I bumped it up to 79 a week ago and it did get a bit warmer but almost never reaches 79 degrees. The Titanium Heater has no temperature setting.

Indoor home temperature is between 65F and 75F.

Today's graph:

Yesterday's graph:

 

[exnisstech]

I would verify the heater is operating. The inkbird shows that it is heating so if that's true then the heater is working poorly or the inkbird is not turning it on though it shows that it is. I would think 200 watts would heat 50g? Not that it matters but I'm running three inkbirds with titanium heaters and no issues with them maintaining temp.

 

[landlubber]

my first suspect would be an issue with the thermostat in the heater and whether it is actually functioning.
I'm not sure what good a heater without the ability to adjust is anyway.

 

[Cali Reef Life]

I would also in the settings adjust the heater difference value to 1.0 or 1.3 depending on model.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Where is the heater, and where is the sensor ? The sensor should be upstream of the heater.

 

[exnisstech]

my first suspect would be an issue with the thermostat in the heater and whether it is actually functioning.
I'm not sure what good a heater without the ability to adjust is anyway.

Non adjustable heaters work fine when used with a controller. All I run are titanium heaters with controllers. Sure having a heater with an on board temp control one could say it can act as a failsafe but it can also be another point of failure. I've had too many on board heater controls fail over the years I'm not comfortable running them but that's just me.

 

[mpatterson42]

Where is the heater, and where is the sensor ? The sensor should be upstream of the heater.

The heater is in with the skimmer, and the sensor is in the return chamber with the pump (there's a refugium between the two). Should I move the probe to the section where the filter socks go which is before the skimmer?

 

[Cali Reef Life]

The heater is in with the skimmer, and the sensor is in the return chamber with the pump (there's a refugium between the two). Should I move the probe to the section where the filter socks go which is before the skimmer?

Adjust the difference value in the settings. Its probably set to 2 or 3 which explains the dip.

 

[mpatterson42]

Adjust the difference value in the settings. Its probably set to 2 or 3 which explains the dip.

I just double checked and it's set to 1F (I have that in my original post).

 

[Cali Reef Life]

I missed that my bad!

 

[mpatterson42]

Looks like moving the probe from the return chamber to the overflow chamber has fixed the issue.

 

[BeanAnimal]

The probe and heater need to be in the same chamber with the probe on the upstream side. If they are not and the pump is not running, you run the risk of boiled the water in the heater compartment,

 

[mpatterson42]

Makes sense, I'll move it to the same chamber.

 

[n2585722]

Non adjustable heaters work fine when used with a controller. All I run are titanium heaters with controllers. Sure having a heater with an on board temp control one could say it can act as a failsafe but it can also be another point of failure. I've had too many on board heater controls fail over the years I'm not comfortable running them but that's just me.

If onboard thermostat in the heater is set above the InkBird then it should not be cycling off and on and should remain on unless there is an issue. So they should last a long time doing that as long as it is not common for them to cycle on and off. I use the thermostats in mine set 3 degrees above my controller and I have only had one heater failure in over 8 years now. It failed in the open state so it would no longer heat. The controller I have now will send an alert if the wattage on the output is out of the set range when the outlet is on. So I will get an alert if the heater quits for any reason. So if it cycles on and off with it's internal thermostat I will get an alert.