Temp controller recomendations?

[bad coffee]

I want a temp controller on my new tank. I'd like it dual-stage. Any recomendations? What are you guys using, and are you happy with it?

B

 

[inline6]

Ranco dual stage model, best investment I've made in this hobby.

 

[masterswimmer]

Tagging along. Brett, I'm in the market too. If we find one we both agree on, maybe a group buy would be in order.

BTW inline, what are your fish addicted to? Or is that ziplock baggie for your use :biggrin:

swimmer

 

[prattreef]

I think Ranco is the way to go too. RD

 

[jhale]

i have a 2 stage medusa that's broken now, my fault water damage.
when it worked it was great.
I got a ranco from paul recently, it's not set up, but it looks well made.

 

[RGibson]

Ranco is the best have used them for many years.

 

[FRY]

ranco is a commercial unit used mostly for refrigeration and air conditioning controls cant remember ever seeing one go bad

 

[masterswimmer]

Great info guys. Frank, nice to know. Thanks

 

[ming]

How much do one of these ranco things go for?
I like how all the wires are labelled, I should do that

 

[inline6]

How much do one of these ranco things go for?
I like how all the wires are labelled, I should do that

http://diyreef.com/shop/index.php?cPath=76&osCsid=d42e67fe3f4d1f2a20a90cc066ec4b83

This was the cheapest I found for a dual stage new.

 

[Deanos]

How much do one of these ranco things go for?

Here you go, I did the search for you : Temp Controllers

 

[inline6]

I'm surprised Dean, I beat you to it??
Slacking??

lol

 

[Zoous]

I might be interested in the group buy depending on what kind of price u can get on a dual stage.

 

[Deanos]

Slacking??

Yeah...and it's not the 1st time today either :screama:

I must be getting old

 

[Deanos]

Here's what happened to the last Ranco Group Buy. At least you know there's interest.

 

[Zoous]

What happened with the previous group buy?

 

[Deanos]

What happened with the previous group buy?

Previously posted:

Here's what happened to the last Ranco Group Buy.

 

[ShaunW]

While we are on the topic I have a few questions :
1. Would I need to use a Ranco if my chiller has the same function, i.e. turns on at a specific temp and turns on the heater at a specific temp.
2. What is a good electronic devise that will shut down my lights if my temp goes too high? as a protection if my chiller fails.
3. What do you guys do to account for a chiller failure?

 

[herman]

Im the past and present I have used a lot of controllers and nothing beats Runco followed by Medusa. They may be expensive but worth its weight in gold.

Plug your heater in the Runco and set the Runco 1 degree higher than the heater. If the heater ever malfunctioned the Runco will shut it off.

As for the chiller, set the Runco 1 degree lower although chances are the chiller will stop working b4 it gets stuck. For that the best thing you can do is to get a cheaper full controller such as the ReefKeeper and set it up so that the lights go off after a certain temp is reached and the fans kick in.

In the worst case scenario you will be home soon enough to catch the temperature rise b4 any serious damage is done. (keep frozen bottles of water in the freezer to throw in the sump) With your water volume the temp change will take longer. As for smaller and nano tanks - uh........ well, I cant help you there. If despite all the redundancies your **** still fails, then luck is simply not on your side.

 

[Zoous]

Hi Deanos:

I read the thread but there was no conclusion. Did u guys get it from diyreef.com or reef exotics?