My heater is beyond me...

[spaulr]

I'm starting to loose my mind here. I just can NOT for the life of me figure out my Jager heaters. I have 2 - a 250W and a 150W.

I have a 40 gallon aquasystem - which I converted and removed all of the filtration in the back - only has water back there now and the 250w heater. I also have a 15-20 gallon sump with the 150W heater.

I followed the calibration instructions. My temperature was at 74 degrees this morning (5:30am). Typically it sits around 77-79. Granted, the weather has been abnormally cold here in Santa Barbara (low 30s).

Is it worth getting a temperature controller? If so, which one is a good deal. Seems like they're about $125-$200 for temp only or temp/ph. This is one item I'd spend some money on NOT to have to worry about. Bad enough that I struggle with ALk/Ca/Ph. :evil:

Maybe there is a better placement for the heaters?

 

[Anonymous]

I would not trust any heaters cheap thermostat. i had 2 fail.

i have a Ranco dual stage controller for my heater

 

[spaulr]

Rob-

I think I'm on the same page as you. That controller looks pretty good. So, how exactly do these things work? Do you turn your heater on full tilt and let the controller turn power on and off to it? Even after 10 years I still feel like a newb sometimes. FOWLRs sure are a lot less stressfull.

 

[Anonymous]

I turn my heater on 2 degrees higher than the desired temp. I set the controller for the temp I want this way if the controller should fail maybe the heater's thermostat might catch it.

 

[Unarce]

I don't why Jager heaters have gone so downhill, but it obviously coincided with the Eheim buyout.

I second Rob's temp controller recommendation. It's worth it to have the dual stage for a chiller or fans. A lot of people are converting over to Reefkeepers or Aquacontrollers, so finding a used temp controller is pretty easy.

 

[spaulr]

Unarce-

Funny you should mention that Jager got bought out. I still have my orginal 200W Jager heater from 13 years ago that works flawlessly - 5 degrees off from the marker - but I NEVER had a problem with temperature fluctuations. Both Jager heaters I'm using now are 2 months old. I'll definitely start looking for a dual stage controller.

Why are people converting over to the Reefkeeper or Aquacontroller? Marketing hype or the real deal and worth having?

 

[bleedingthought]

How much does a controller usually run?

 

[Anonymous]

I paid ~$120 for my Ranco Dual Stage Controller