Inkbird = Terrible

[shaggydoo92]

I was really excited to put this inkbird temperature controller on my system but honestly this is the most unstable temperature I've ever had

 

[AnteVanjak]

Make sure your deviation is fixed on it. It comes standard with a +\- 2 degree deviation. Fixed mine and my tank stays between 78.4-79.1

 

[shaggydoo92]

I could only set it for 1° f deviation so it's set at 77 and 78

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Possibly a dumb question but did you fix the temperature variance on the inkbird? You can set it to turn on/off within 1 degree of your desired temp, or 2 degrees, and so on... just asking the obvious.

Also, where is the temp sensor? Is the apex probe in the same place as the inkbird sensor?

 

[shaggydoo92]

Possibly a dumb question but did you fix the temperature variance on the inkbird? You can set it to turn on/off within 1 degree of your desired temp, or 2 degrees, and so on... just asking the obvious.

Also, where is the temp sensor? Is the apex probe in the same place as the inkbird sensor?

Yeah I could only set it to 1° Fahrenheit difference so I think it's set to 78 and 77 and I have the Apex probe right next to the anchored probe at the downpipe coming into the sump

 

[UncommonSense]

Yeah I could only set it to 1° Fahrenheit difference so I think it's set to 78 and 77 and I have the Apex probe right next to the anchored probe at the downpipe coming into the sump

You want your heater controller probe to be in the same compartment of your sump as your heater!

— separating them as you have can be very dangerous in the event of a return pump failure or similar!

 

[billysprout]

variance should be a minimum and a maximum in case your heater thermostat fails, not literally one degree. if you have a powerful heater too close to the probe this will happen.

 

[shaggydoo92]

Yeah I could only set it to 1° Fahrenheit difference so I think it's set to 78 and 77 and I have the Apex probe right next to the anchored probe at the downpipe coming into the sump

You want your heater controller probe to be in the same compartment of your sump as your heater!

— separating them as you have can be very dangerous in the event of a return pump failure or similar!

If I put it in the same compartment as my heater it won't have an accurate reading because I could think the water in there is warmer than the water in the tank because it's in the water that's getting heated first

I also put backup codes to shut the heater off anytime that return pump is off or failed

 

[shaggydoo92]

variance should be a minimum and a maximum in case your heater thermostat fails, not literally one degree. if you have a powerful heater too close to the probe this will happen.

The temperature probe is right where the pipes come into the sump and the heater is in the chamber after that so that it accurately reads with the display take temperature is

 

[UncommonSense]

If I put it in the same compartment as my heater it won't have an accurate reading because I could think the water in there is warmer than the water in the tank because it's in the water that's getting heated first

I also put backup codes to shut the heater off anytime that return pump is off or failed

Oh I’m talking about just the heater control probe for the inkbird! — put it in the same compartment, upstream of the heater!

The apex probe is in a good spot already!

 

[X-37B]

You want your probe down stream from the heater and not in the same compartment.
I run an Aqua Logic controller. With a Tunze fan on the surface I can keep temp within 0.5 easily.

 

[X-37B]

Oh I’m talking about just the heater control probe for the inkbird! — put it in the same compartment, upstream of the heater!

The apex probe is in a good spot already!

Upstream works also. On my 15g nano the probe is attatched to the
Return in the tank.
Basically you need some distance from the heater and the probe.

 

[billysprout]

The temperature probe is right where the pipes come into the sump and the heater is in the chamber after that so that it accurately reads with the display take temperature is

oh okay, is your heater oversized?

 

[shaggydoo92]

The temperature probe is right where the pipes come into the sump and the heater is in the chamber after that so that it accurately reads with the display take temperature is

oh okay, is your heater oversized?

No it's the brs 300w heater for a 100 gallon tank and that's what i have

 

[Gone Reefin’]

I’m a bit surprised it will not allow a variation lower than 1 degree. I have the ITC-306A and it allows 0.5. I have my T1 set at 78.2 and T2 at 78.7.

 

[exnisstech]

I’m a bit surprised it will not allow a variation lower than 1 degree. I have the ITC-306A and it allows 0.5. I have my T1 set at 78.2 and T2 at 78.7.

Mine will allow half degree if I switch to Celsius.

 

[shaggydoo92]

The temperature probe is right where the pipes come into the sump and the heater is in the chamber after that so that it accurately reads with the display take temperature is

oh okay, is your heater oversized?

No it's a 300w and a waterbox marine 110

 

[Ziggy17]

I agree that the ink bird isn’t the best for the fine tuning control. I have it set at 77-78 like you do, then I use the apex set at 77-77.4. This way the apex is actually controlling the temp, and the ink bird is a fail safe. All of my heaters are set to 79, so it would take a failure by all 3 before the tank gets hotter than 79. The inkbird is fine for those not using controllers, but for those with an Apex, I’d use the apex to get your half degree variance.

 

[Patx]

ITC-306A
T1 76 ⁰F - T2 77 ⁰F

76f = 24.4c⁰
77f = 25c⁰

0.6c⁰ is not that bad.

 

[Ziggy17]

ITC-306A
T1 76 ⁰F - T2 77 ⁰F

76f = 24.4c⁰
77f = 25c⁰

0.6c⁰ is not that bad.

Some of us don’t want that large of a variance. Some prefer .5 F