Need help with heater…

[fellerr]

40g breeder tank. 150watt eheim heater, finnex digital controller. Temp set at 79. I calibrated the heater…it was off a bit, so i adjusted and had it holding at 78-79 according to the digital controller.

I just swapped tanks, so i pulled this out and put it in the 40g. Temp set at 79. I cant get it to go past 77 and it shuts off. Is it the heater position? Sensor? Calibration issue? Do i need to recalibrate after having shut it off and plugging back in?

Sensor is in top right corner, heater bottom left.

 

[mike550]

@fellerr if you move the sensor to another location in the tank does the temp change?

 

[fellerr]

I ended up moving it to the top of the tank above the heater. Now it says 76. Im going to unplug it and try my other heater and see how it works.

 

[EricR]

For clarity, is the heater turning off on its own too soon or is the controller turning it off?

If you "calibrated" (adjusted the pointer) on the Eheim heater in a smaller container then moved it to your real tank, it may just need to be turned up higher. (You have it on a controller anyway so turn the heater up until it stays on at least until the controller hits the high setting you want and shuts it off)

 

[fellerr]

I have the controller set to 79…only hits 77 and the heater shuts off. I did bump it up a couple notches but maybe will try a touch more.

I wouldn't think it would lose calibration when being unplugged but maybe it does?

 

[PeterC99]

How old is the heater and what is the temperature of the room?

 

[fellerr]

New. 3 weeks?

 

[PeterC99]

Does the digital controller have a max temp set?

 

[fellerr]

Yes. Max is set at 80 and low at 76.

Planning on throwing the second heater, also new, in tonight and trying to recalibrate this one in a bucket.

 

[EricR]

I have the controller set to 79…only hits 77 and the heater shuts off. I did bump it up a couple notches but maybe will try a touch more.

I wouldn't think it would lose calibration when being unplugged but maybe it does?

In that case, I say just turn the Eheim up higher.

I use the Eheim glass heaters also (((2x 100 watt in 40 gallons)))

My experience with them is that it seems to take them some time (days, a week?) to really settle in but, after that, they hold consistent temperature well,,, although you're using a controller so that part doesn't even matter.

 

[mike550]

Not to pile on but it may take more than overnight for a 150W heater to stabilize a 40G tank — especially depending on whether your tank is open on top or has lids, room temp, etc.

 

[fellerr]

Room temp is 66…open top as well. Probably need to get that second heater going and report back…
Thanks for the opinions!

 

[fellerr]

Ok…cranked up eheim heater to 83. Controller set at 79…reads 78.

Added a second heater with digital controller. Right now i set it in and am just reading the temperature on it to see how well it matches the 1st controller.

Does my heater and sensor positioning look ok?
Eheim heater is parallel to the bottom of the tank, sensor above it. (Far side). New finnex heater is closest in picture.

 

[fellerr]

Well the 1st thermostat is set at 78…now it wont go under 79. The 2nd thermostat is set at 77.5 and hangs about 77.4.

Why is nothing in this hobby accurate? Lol id say i am safe with what i have going here.

 

[vetteguy53081]

40g breeder tank. 150watt eheim heater, finnex digital controller. Temp set at 79. I calibrated the heater…it was off a bit, so i adjusted and had it holding at 78-79 according to the digital controller.

I just swapped tanks, so i pulled this out and put it in the 40g. Temp set at 79. I cant get it to go past 77 and it shuts off. Is it the heater position? Sensor? Calibration issue? Do i need to recalibrate after having shut it off and plugging back in?

Sensor is in top right corner, heater bottom left.
View attachment 3063916

Move heater away from path of flow and sensor away from heater area. The flow is pushing the heat from finnex towards the sensor

 

[Sebastiancrab]

I have the controller set to 79…only hits 77 and the heater shuts off. I did bump it up a couple notches but maybe will try a touch more.

I wouldn't think it would lose calibration when being unplugged but maybe it does?

Just an fyi, I have had my Finnex controller sensor probe go bad twice and had to send it in for repair... It may be the sensor.

I run with 2 Inkbirds now.

 

[fellerr]

Looks like the finnex is doing most of the work. Haven’t seen the eheim orange light turn on all evening. I bumped up the temp on the finnex to see if that bumps uo the temp on the other controller.