My Heaters are pizzing me off

[Scherb]

Hello all. so i got 2 new via aqua 300 watt heaters about a month ago for my 55g. the 55g is in the wall and the other side is in the garage, it is completely framed insulated and dry-walled around the tank. but the garage does get cold. and the lid is left up a crack for air exchange. and it seems to get a good steady air temp in there. anyway the heaters sometimes fail to keep the temp at night. and then get to high in the day. i got to figure the heaters are crap but not sure. the heaters are mounted to the back wall and i wonder if the back glass got cold if the heater could sense this even though the tank is warmer. I look forward to your reply's. Cheers

[2wheelsx2]

Are the heaters mounted where there is good flow? If not, they could just be affected by localized hot/cold spots. The other thing a lot of folks do (I have this in 3 of my 5 tanks) is controllers. The probe is a in a spot away from the heater, so that the temp is measured more accurately.

[gklaw]

If you garage is not heated, pretty sure something funny would happen unless you have 4" of styrofoam insulating the tank. 1" or so of the white coffee cup type is hardly any insulation at all, especially with 1" air gap on top.

I was moving something around in my heated garage last night but have to open the garage door for 10 minutes. I thought I was going to get frost bites. At one point, I have to put my hands right on the 4800 btu heater to ease the pain.

[Scherb]

Are the heaters mounted where there is good flow? If not, they could just be affected by localized hot/cold spots. The other thing a lot of folks do (I have this in 3 of my 5 tanks) is controllers. The probe is a in a spot away from the heater, so that the temp is measured more accurately.

I never herd of controllers, how much do they cost ? i have seen the Hagen steel looking heater has a probe built in, but it's around 80 bucks.

[Scherb]

If you garage is not heated, pretty sure something funny would happen unless you have 4" of styrofoam insulating the tank. 1" or so of the white coffee cup type is hardly any insulation at all, especially with 1" air gap on top.

I was moving something around in my heated garage last night but have to open the garage door for 10 minutes. I thought I was going to get frost bites. At one point, I have to put my hands right on the 4800 btu heater to ease the pain.

Yes it has been really cold lately. but the tank surrounding is built like a house, it has a air tight vapor barrier and about R 30 insulation value and 1/2 inch drywall, taped inside and out. and the gap on the lid is about 1/4 inch. i was concerned about the could so i put a thick quilt over it and didn't notice any difference.

[hp10BII]

I never herd of controllers, how much do they cost ? i have seen the Hagen steel looking heater has a probe built in, but it's around 80 bucks.

This is where I got mine, stay away from the Pro Heat model - piece of junk. Went through 2 of those when I could have bought an ETCI-1R from the start. I think these are rebadged Ranco commercial grade temp controllers.

Temperature Controller

[gklaw]

300W Via-Aqua at JL is around $36. Titanium with external controller.

[2wheelsx2]

I never herd of controllers, how much do they cost ? i have seen the Hagen steel looking heater has a probe built in, but it's around 80 bucks.

I use the DA controller in 2 of my tanks that are running a lot of equipment: Digital Aquatics Reefkeeper Lite Aquarium Controller (L1)

For my 125 running 2x 250 W Ebo's, I'm running the Jehmco ones, which are rebadged Rancos: Temperature Controller

The ETCI-1R as someone else mentioned. Never had a problem since I started doing that. I have one more tank to get a controller for and I'll sleep better at night after that.

[tony1928]

The DA controllers are a bargain. They control alot more than just heaters. Lights, pH and ORP probes...etc. I'm just using titanium heaters (with no internal control) and just plugging it into an external controller. Also, heaters will fail over time, but the controllers are pretty bulletproof...especially the Ranco which was designed for commercial HVAC(?) use. The Ranco though is a heater control only.

[Scherb]

Hello. does anyone know if a lot of air bubbles might make the heater malfunction ? Cheers