R
RetBioTchr
Guest
Recently, I installed two Aqueon Pro 150 watt heaters in the 55 gallon tank with a ITC 306t controller by Inkbird. I've read how so many people using this controller use the controller to determine and maintain water temperature constantly turning on and off ones heaters. I am using my controller as an insurance plan. I decided to set my Temp. Set (TS) on the controller to 81 degrees. I set my two heaters at 78 degrees. With this, my controller is constantly 'on' providing power to the heaters until 81 is reached which it should not. The two heaters do their thing with their own internal thermostats to heat the tank to 78. The heaters can go on and off because the controller is allowing power to the heaters as though it is trying to get to 81. But the controller TS is never reached because the the two heaters shut off at 78. Now....should one or both heaters go crazy and remain on overheating my tank, the controller kicks in and when 81 is reached, cuts power to the heaters.
I much prefer to have it set this way for protection. Cranking the heaters up so the controller does all the tank temp monitoring is dangerous. If the controller goes bad.....the fish might boil because the controller would allow the heaters to remain on past the 78 setting. If the heaters go bad because instead the set up is for heater thermostats to do the work, the controller will automatically cut power to the heaters if the temp reaches 81 degrees thus preventing overheating. I'd prefer to let the tank cool down without heaters on when the controller stops the overheating than coming into the room and finding a 95+ degree tank with dead fish. Replacing a heater with a new standby ( which we should all have on hand) is no big deal. Plus, if one of the two heaters goes dead, there is another one to at least keep a portion of the water warm.
These are just my thoughts and others may not agree, but my goal here is to heat the tank with no possility of overheating it. Btw.....allow plenty of time for the heaters to raise the water to heater desired temp. Mine took hours to get all that tank water set at 78. My controller sensor is located just off center with the two heaters at opposite ends of the rear tank wall set vertically as recommended by Aqueon. Moving water is near each heater for uniformity sake. My controller is set for no timing because I want a constant temp day and night. This is a heat on and off unit only....no cooling.
The Inkbird Controller directions are not ideal, but with a bit of research, one can work it ok. If many out there need a step by step, I will gladly post a detailed step by step.
I much prefer to have it set this way for protection. Cranking the heaters up so the controller does all the tank temp monitoring is dangerous. If the controller goes bad.....the fish might boil because the controller would allow the heaters to remain on past the 78 setting. If the heaters go bad because instead the set up is for heater thermostats to do the work, the controller will automatically cut power to the heaters if the temp reaches 81 degrees thus preventing overheating. I'd prefer to let the tank cool down without heaters on when the controller stops the overheating than coming into the room and finding a 95+ degree tank with dead fish. Replacing a heater with a new standby ( which we should all have on hand) is no big deal. Plus, if one of the two heaters goes dead, there is another one to at least keep a portion of the water warm.
These are just my thoughts and others may not agree, but my goal here is to heat the tank with no possility of overheating it. Btw.....allow plenty of time for the heaters to raise the water to heater desired temp. Mine took hours to get all that tank water set at 78. My controller sensor is located just off center with the two heaters at opposite ends of the rear tank wall set vertically as recommended by Aqueon. Moving water is near each heater for uniformity sake. My controller is set for no timing because I want a constant temp day and night. This is a heat on and off unit only....no cooling.
The Inkbird Controller directions are not ideal, but with a bit of research, one can work it ok. If many out there need a step by step, I will gladly post a detailed step by step.
