Temperature Controller

SeahorseKeeper · Nov 30, 2013

What would you recommend to be a safeguard to prevent a heater from being stuck on? I know there is Apex, but I'm not convinced that it is something I need (you could prove me wrong). My biggest concern is not cooking the tank.

Thanks! :)

TJ's Reef · Nov 30, 2013

Most any of the controllers will act as a redundant to your heaters own thermostat. There is even specialized controllers for heaters like the Ranco single and dual stage for a lot less $'s but are not capable of all the other functions.

Cheers, Todd

mike007 · Nov 30, 2013

Apex is the way to go and you have so much more options to control whatever else you have. I just got mine and i love it.

nova423 · Dec 4, 2013

Stc 1000 DIY build

redfishbluefish · Dec 4, 2013

Krista, if you are not currently using a reef controller (ReefKeeper, Apex, Reef Angel, etc), I’d highly recommend picking up a temperature controller just for the heaters. As mentioned above, Ranco is a known and trusted controller. A number of years ago I cooked a tank with about 300 fish in it because the heater got stuck ON. And no matter what brand, your heater will eventually fail....and the "stuck on" is the tank killer, unless you control it with one of these units.

redfishbluefish · Dec 4, 2013

nova423 said:
Stc 1000 DIY build

I have never seen a DIY controller before and just checked this out. If you are a DIY kind of person, this looks very interesting. I found THIS instruction link to show how to put one together….it’s for a beer refrigerator, but the DIY part would be the same for an aquarium.

Bow · Dec 4, 2013

Another option is a few smaller heaters. This way if one sticks it's not able to cook the tank. The others just won't turn on. I guess they could all stick but the chances of that are probably pretty low

pickupman66 · Dec 4, 2013

Whether it is an Apex, Reefkeeper or an aftermarket controller, I would not want to run a tank without one. The Apex or DA products are better because they offer alarms and notification abilities.

SeahorseKeeper · Dec 4, 2013

redfishbluefish said:
Krista, if you are not currently using a reef controller (ReefKeeper, Apex, Reef Angel, etc), I’d highly recommend picking up a temperature controller just for the heaters. As mentioned above, Ranco is a known and trusted controller. A number of years ago I cooked a tank with about 300 fish in it because the heater got stuck ON. And no matter what brand, your heater will eventually fail....and the "stuck on" is the tank killer, unless you control it with one of these units.

Currently, I am not running a controller. I know all to well that a controller will most likely fail in the on position. I have been very fortunate that when my heaters failed I was home and noticed it before the temp spiked too high.

As far as the Ranco goes, I found this one: Ranco Single Stage Electronic Temperature Controller: Aquarium Controllers & Monitors. It says it needs to be hardwired? Do they all have to be hardwired?

As far as a DIY, I am not a DIY type of person when it comes to this type of thing.

redfishbluefish · Dec 4, 2013

Ranco’s come hardwired or prewired. Although the wiring is relatively simple, with your comment about the DIY, I think you should go for the prewired one.

And that price on the link you gave is a rip! You should be able to find a single for 45 to 50 bucks. Try Amazon, and make sure you include “prewired’ in your search.

MechEngineer · Apr 9, 2014

I use ETC controllers on all my tanks; heaters always go bad, and this keeps my chiller in check too. Make them myself, directions they give are horrible so you have to know some basic electrical.