In Need of Advice: Struggling With Heaters/Temperature

Hello all,

I have a 75 gallon tank that I just can’t cool down! It’s winter here the house is cool (68F-75F) yet this tank is too warm. The tank has too heaters a 150 watt and a 300 watt. Both are turned down to about 72F but the tank is sitting at 78.5-79F which is a bit too hot for my fish. I need the tank to be about 76-77F. I’ve put cold water in (not too much) and the heat kicks on and brings the temp right back up. I believe the 150 watt may be the one malfunctioning they are Fluval m series. Does unplugging them and plug-in them back in reset the computer in them? Is there anything else I can try, I may just have to remove the 150watt for now but m still trying to be sure that’s the one having troubles. Has anyone else experienced this problem?
Also I know I’m taking the correct temp because I’ve tested with a few thermometers and tested the thermometers in an ice bath to know their degree of error.

 

Are the heaters adjustable? If so, just turn the temp lower. The heat won’t turn on, and it’ll be fine. If they’re not adjustable, just take out the one you think is malfunctioning. A way to test which one it is would be to remove one of them, test the temp after a few hours, and see what happens.

 

Are the heaters adjustable? If so, just turn the temp lower. The heat won’t turn on, and it’ll be fine. If they’re not adjustable, just take out the one you think is malfunctioning. A way to test which one it is would be to remove one of them, test the temp after a few hours, and see what happens.

They’re adjustable and set to almost the lowest setting available they’re heating the tank a good 8 degrees hotter than they’re supposed to. I think I’ll remove the 150w and see what happens.

 

Just unplug the 150 for a few days and see how the other performs on it's own and maybe vice versa.

 

I think I’ll have to unplug it then. Has anyone else had this issue with the Fluval m series though? Because even before they have always had to be set a few degrees cooler than I wanted it just seems the problem is becoming more extream.

 

If you can afford it, look up "inkbird" on Amazon. They are about $50 Canadian and what they do is make it so your heater will only turn on when it gets to a temp of your choice, and it will turn off when it gets to the setting of your choice.

For example I have my 75 gallon Oscar tank set at 78°F with a cool down of 1°F. Which means once the water heats to 78 it automatically turns the heater off until the temp reached 77°F and then the heater comes back on. The inkbird has a temp probe and simply chooses when to send power to the heater.

So I have them in all my tanks, I just turn the heaters to 80°f and set the inkbird to whatever i want and it gives you piece of mind about malfunctioning heaters cooki g your fish.

TLDR; buy ink bird Now

 

If you can afford it, look up "inkbird" on Amazon. They are about $50 Canadian and what they do is make it so your heater will only turn on when it gets to a temp of your choice, and it will turn off when it gets to the setting of your choice.

For example I have my 75 gallon Oscar tank set at 78°F with a cool down of 1°F. Which means once the water heats to 78 it automatically turns the heater off until the temp reached 77°F and then the heater comes back on. The inkbird has a temp probe and simply chooses when to send power to the heater.

So I have them in all my tanks, I just turn the heaters to 80°f and set the inkbird to whatever i want and it gives you piece of mind about malfunctioning heaters cooki g your fish.

TLDR; buy ink bird Now

Oh wow, I want one of those now. There are a ton there when I look it up, do you know a good one? Could you link it?

 

Ill lo

If you can afford it, look up "inkbird" on Amazon. They are about $50 Canadian and what they do is make it so your heater will only turn on when it gets to a temp of your choice, and it will turn off when it gets to the setting of your choice.

For example I have my 75 gallon Oscar tank set at 78°F with a cool down of 1°F. Which means once the water heats to 78 it automatically turns the heater off until the temp reached 77°F and then the heater comes back on. The inkbird has a temp probe and simply chooses when to send power to the heater.

So I have them in all my tanks, I just turn the heaters to 80°f and set the inkbird to whatever i want and it gives you piece of mind about malfunctioning heaters cooki g your fish.

TLDR; buy ink bird Now

I’ll look into that! Thank you

 

Oh wow, I want one of those now. There are a ton there when I look it up, do you know a good one? Could you link it?

I don't know how to link things on the app, also in in Canada so I'm not sure if its different, but the ones I bought were the Amazon choice one for 49.99 Canadian. Look up"Inkbird ITC-308 Temperature Controller 1200W"

 

I don't know how to link things on the app, also in in Canada so I'm not sure if its different, but the ones I bought were the Amazon choice one for 49.99 Canadian. Look up"Inkbird ITC-308 Temperature Controller 1200W"

I’m in Canada too I’m going to take a look thanks for the help!

 

Oh wow, I want one of those now. There are a ton there when I look it up, do you know a good one? Could you link it?

Oh you can also set an alarm temp for both high and low. For example in my oscar tank again, I have it set at 78 but I set it up so an alarm will sound if it reaches under 72 or over 82. Just so I know something is wrong

 

Oh you can also set an alarm temp for both high and low. For example in my oscar tank again, I have it set at 78 but I set it up so an alarm will sound if it reaches under 72 or over 82. Just so I know something is wrong

Good to know! I think I’m going to get one they seem pretty handy!

 

You don't need two heaters for a 75 gal. 300W is enough. The heaters work by going on a timer, and if you have two of them their timer will overlap and screw up the temperature.

 

I agree you should get an inkbird 308-S (make sure it’s the one for aquariums). I am just loving mine.

I had a Fluval heater. It broke in my tank and is the probable cause of death of half of my fish. Never again.

 

You don't need two heaters for a 75 gal. 300W is enough. The heaters work by going on a timer, and if you have two of them their timer will overlap and screw up the temperature.

Are you sure about this? Are there really heaters out there that work on a timer? I can't see how something like that could keep a set temp. Everyone I have ever had are temp controlled. The temp drops, the heater comes on. Once up to the set temp it turns off.

I do agree two heaters are not necessary in this size tank though.

 

Fluval heaters are really no good. I use Aqueon, mostly because they’re cheap and available, and they’ve worked fine for me. They’re not ideal, but they work better than fluval. I also use Boxtech heaters. Those work really well. You just have to position them by the filter outflow, though, because they tend to only heat the water around them and then shut off. If you have them by an outflow, the warm water gets pushed into the rest of the tank and the cooler water back to the heater. Those ones also have a system in place that shuts the heater off if it starts to overheat, so that’s a bit more reassuring than some brands. Sorry to be rambling about heater brands.

 

Are you sure about this? Are there really heaters out there that work on a timer? I can't see how something like that could keep a set temp. Everyone I have ever had are temp controlled. The temp drops, the heater comes on. Once up to the set temp it turns off.

I do agree two heaters are not necessary in this size tank though.

IIRC when they turn on/off there is a delay before they can be switched on/off again because rapidly turning on/off can reduce a heater's life expectancy. Don't really know the details but that's just something I've read about when researching to buy my own heater

 

Here's a thread by Montecarlo, who is conducting a study of heaters. He understands this stuff a lot better than me

Tank Thermodynamics | Heater Forum | 479796

 

Montecarlo knows a ton about that sort of thing.

Here's a thread by Montecarlo, who is conducting a study of heaters. He understands this stuff a lot better than me

Tank Thermodynamics | Heater Forum | 479796

 

Here's a thread by Montecarlo, who is conducting a study of heaters. He understands this stuff a lot better than me

Tank Thermodynamics | Heater Forum | 479796

Interesting experiment, seems like his heater has a 13min on/off cycle

 

Hi guys,

Sorry to be late to the party. Megaanemp's experience seems consistent with the construction of most heaters and what I've seen. They use a bimetal or other temperature sensitive switch and the duty cycle changes the operating temperature. I'm noticing the reverse - when it gets to 58 F downstairs, the tank temperature drops noticeably from when its 68-70 F in the room.

I don't have an Inkbird, but they have the right idea.

Selfishly, I have to mention... TankBrain is going to have a Kickstarter in January. But delivery will be a few months after that.