Welp ink bird failure

[klr0808]

Come down and check on my tank and the temperature gauge is completely off. I look at my app and there was a notification sent three hours ago when I was in the dead of my sleep that the device was off-line. immediately put in my heater and thankfully, I don’t have anything living in it right now.

Not sure I would buy another ink Bird so any other recommendations for a fail safe because it obviously was not safe and failed.

 

[twentyleagues]

Come down and check on my tank and the temperature gauge is completely off. I look at my app and there was a notification sent three hours ago when I was in the dead of my sleep that the device was off-line. immediately put in my heater and thankfully, I don’t have anything living in it right now.

Not sure I would buy another ink Bird so any other recommendations for a fail safe because it obviously was not safe and failed.

For the most part inkbirds are pretty reliable and better than most. I dont use the wifi notifications though. I do look at my tank regularly and check the readout. I know thats not the best but wifi seems unreliable for the sole purpose of notification on pretty much any device. At least it did notify you of an issue you just didnt get it right away.

 

[klr0808]

For the most part inkbirds are pretty reliable and better than most. I dont use the wifi notifications though. I do look at my tank regularly and check the readout. I know thats not the best but wifi seems unreliable for the sole purpose of notification on pretty much any device. At least it did notify you of an issue you just didnt get it right away.

Well, I went with it because it seemed to be pretty reliable, but I haven’t even had it a week for it to completely die

 

[Fish Fan]

That's unusual, usually they are pretty solid.

Other options would include Helio, Ranco, Aqua Logic (rebranded Ranco), and Finnex comes to mind, but there's likely more.

 

[twentyleagues]

I have used ranco, finnex and inkbird all performed as expected.

 

[EricR]

I've had 3 different InkBirds and never had a problem,,, but I haven't been in the hobby for decades like some on here.
*many say Ranco is better long-term (industrial vs hobby grade) but I've been happy with InkBird

Offline notifications to InkBird app (on iPhone) do take a couple of HOURS to happen on mine so that would be my one potentially major complaint.

 

[exnisstech]

I've had one inkbird fail and it was so long ago I can't remember what the failure was but it wasn't catastrophic. If you don't get notifications when your asleep it wouldn't matter what brand your using.
I keep things simple and don't rely on notifications and actually block all that I can. I have 3 inkbirds running currently.
I'm of the mindsets that everything mechanical and electrical is going to fail. Its just a matter of when and how inconvenient it will be.

 

[klr0808]

I've had 3 different InkBirds and never had a problem,,, but I haven't been in the hobby for decades like some on here.
*many say Ranco is better long-term (industrial vs hobby grade) but I've been happy with InkBird

Offline notifications to InkBird app (on iPhone) do take a couple of HOURS to happen on mine so that would be my one potentially major complaint.

Well, even with it sending me a notification of it being off-line I would not have imagined that the entire system just die so soon. It won’t even turn back on.

 

[klr0808]

I've had one inkbird fail and it was so long ago I can't remember what the failure was but it wasn't catastrophic. If you don't get notifications when your asleep it wouldn't matter what brand your using.
I keep things simple and don't rely on notifications and actually block all that I can. I have 3 inkbirds running currently.
I'm of the mindsets that everything mechanical and electrical is going to fail. Its just a matter of when and how inconvenient it will be.

What heaters are you using on the inkbird

 

[Tamberav]

Failing in the off position isn’t a huge deal. My frag tank doesn’t even have a heater right now and I live in northern MN and house is usually low 70s. The temps flux around but within safe levels.

They are generally reliable but anything can fail.

 

[exnisstech]

I have BRS titanium heaters on two and glass eheims on one.

 

[ColoradoReeferman]

I bought one of those WiFi Inkbird but on setup I just didn't trust it. So I returned it for one of the older non-wifi models. Those older models have worked well for years for me in this hobby and a couple of other hobbies too.

 

[klr0808]

What heaters are you using on the inkbird

Nicrew 100 watt

 

[klr0808]

I bought one of those WiFi Inkbird but on setup I just didn't trust it. So I returned it for one of the older non-wifi models. Those older models have worked well for years for me in this hobby and a couple of other hobbies too.

Which model did you get?

 

[Subsea]

I have 10 systems running with no heaters. Because I run systems < 75 degrees, I use evaporative cooling to bring temperature down.

What temperature are you maintaining? Is your 100W heater on 20G tank?

 

[Fish Fan]

I bought one of those WiFi Inkbird but on setup I just didn't trust it. So I returned it for one of the older non-wifi models. Those older models have worked well for years for me in this hobby and a couple of other hobbies too.

Which model did you get?

I had the InkBird ITC-306T non-wifi, and it worked, but I felt like the temp drifted too much. I'd see a 2 or almost 3 degree drift over a fairly short period of time. I replaced that ITC-306T with the ITC-306A wifi model, and it's working great. It's usually right on with no more than about a half a degree drift.

 

[klr0808]

I have 10 systems running with no heaters. Because I run systems < 75 degrees, I use evaporative cooling to bring temperature down.

What temperature are you maintaining? Is your 100W heater on 20G tank?

Was maintaining it at 79° during the cycle. The hundred watt heater was what I was using for a 20 gallon.

 

[klr0808]

I had the InkBird ITC-306T non-wifi, and it worked, but I felt like the temp drifted too much. I'd see a 2 or almost 3 degree drift over a fairly short period of time. I replaced that ITC-306T with the ITC-306A wifi model, and it's working great. It's usually right on with no more than about a half a degree drift.

The Wi-Fi model is the one that failed for me

 

[Fish Fan]

The Wi-Fi model is the one that failed for me

I did read that, but I've had good luck with mine. I wonder if you got a lemon. Is it totally dead, it won't power on?

 

[Subsea]

Was maintaining it at 79° during the cycle. The hundred watt heater was what I was using for a 20 gallon.

Why 79?

I have found elevated temperatures make things happen fast, especially bad things.