Heater Controller

[tvolkmann80]

Hello,

I am setting up a small saltwater tank (2G). I would like to use the Hydor mini heater but it requires an external controller. I cant seem to find anything on any aquarium supply site that just has a basic submersible probe and adjustable temperature switch to turn the heater on and off. Any suggestions in the under $80 range?

Thanks

http://www.marinedepot.com/heaters_hydor_mini-ap.html

 

[fsn77]

While each is a more than $80, a single stage Ranco controller or even a basic aquarium controller like a ReefKeeper Lite can control that. Unfortunately, either seems quite pricey for a tank as small as 2g, but you could use the ReefKeeper Lite to do other things as well (some things would require an additional purchase (auto top off, for example), but with what's included it'll certainly act as an expensive digital timer and turn on/off the lights -- even based on temperature).

 

[tvolkmann80]

I was looking at the reefkeeper, but it was hard to tell if it could source power to the heater without buying an add-on. And like you said, they aren't cheap. It would definitely be worth the money for anyone trying to control multiple functions or people trying to duplicate seasons and moon-phase for breeding, ect.

I found a $9.99 glass tube type with a built in controller that is small enough for my tank at my local fish store today. That will get me by for now. It will have to go eventually though. They are just too unpredictable and failure prone.

For anyone else trying to find the same type of thing, I found a Johnson Controls model A419 on the internets. You can check it out here: http://www.pexsupply.com/Johnson-Co...age-Digital-Temperature-Control-120-240v-SPDT

It is obviously not intended for aquarium use, but it autta work. Not sure what kind of metal the probe is made of though.