Tank temps

[Chad]

some fluctuations in temp are normal in nature, as well as salinity. I think if you let your tank be too steady in temp/sal, when/if something does happen they are just way to sensitive. My tank temps and salinity varies quite a bit and everyone is always happy as can be (SPS, LPS, Zoa's and Anenome). Of course, I am not talking about when a heater gets stuck on and it jumps 10 degree's. Oxygen diffusion is another matter all together when it comes to temps.

Perfect stabilty is not always where it is at, you do want some movements but not wild fluctuations.
Some fantastic data can be viewed here

http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/GTSPP/gtspp-home.html

and

http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/oisst/index.html

BTW, you can get that RANCO controller much cheaper. You do have to wire it on your own, but for most people it should not be an issue to do. Here is a good link to a supplier who will ship to Canada.

http://www.allthermal.com/Merchant2/...&Category_Code

[Willow]

im actually going to be selling my ranco controller soon when i upgrade to a computer controller.

[StirCrazy]

a temp controler is a good idea but they are useless unless you have a chiller also. also event a ronco has a dead band so you will still get a 1 or 2 degree swing. a couple degrees is fine, mine at onepoint used to swing about 6 degrees and I never had an issue.. now with a chiller and a heater I only get about a 1 degree swing.

[TheReefGeek]

Why is it useless without a chiller?

Say I have 4 heaters and hook them up to a controller, would that not help keep the temperature more constant even without a chiller?

[seashells]

Most controllers have a percentile range of accuracy. Say +/- 1%. Unless you are willing to pay megabucks for a laboratory grade controller or thermometer then allowing a 1 - 3 degree difference should be acceptable. If you are using a digital thermometer then make sure its a good one and have it calibrated or test it against a calibrated reference.

Doug

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

Why is it useless without a chiller?

Say I have 4 heaters and hook them up to a controller, would that not help keep the temperature more constant even without a chiller?

just using heaters will only keep your tank from getting to cold, when the lights come on and they start heating your tank hoter than the set point on the heaters then you need a chiller to keep it cold.

for what it is worth I have never heard of anyone not being able to keep there tank warm, but rather not being able to keep it cold.. to do this you need fans (for small temp rises) or a chiller to do a real good job. befor I had my chiller the tank in the winter would move 2 or 3 degrees, in the summer about 5 or 6, and during the heat waves it would go up by about 12 or 13 degrees, with the chiller set at 79.0 and the heaters set at 78 I range between 79 and 81.

Steve

[TheReefGeek]

Any way to activate fans with a controller based on temperature?

[mr_alberta]

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

Any way to activate fans with a controller based on temperature?

You plug in the fan to the side of the controller that controls the chiller....