- I'm Thomas
and this is Aqua Logic's digital temperature controller.
Is it pretty?
Not really.
Is it fancy? Nope.
Does it have an industrial appearance in quality
that makes it deceivingly basic while being one of,
if not the absolute best and most reliable heater
and chiller controllers for home aquariums
that money can buy?
I'm thinking just maybe.
Swinging aquarium temperature is caused by faulty heaters
has got to be the number one killer of reef tanks.
Whether they get stuck on and the temperature skyrockets,
or they fail to turn on during cold winter months,
a heater that isn't doing its job
is a huge problem for our tanks.
Having redundancies in place is a critical step for sure.
But having the most reliable equipment possible right
at the beginning is a huge step in the right direction
when it comes to protecting our tanks.
Aqua Logic is entrenched in commercial
and industrial aquatics from restaurant lobster tanks
to public aquariums and even aquatics research.
They produce some seriously heavy duty gear
that's built to get the job done right
and last the test of time.
And while of the majority of their products
are well beyond our needs as home aquarist,
their heavy duty temperature controllers are exactly
what reefers like myself are after to keep our tanks safe.
You won't get any fancy packaging
or lavish unboxing experiences here.
You're also not gonna get any frilly features,
just a solid digital temperature controller
with a weatherproof housing, titanium sensor,
built-in memory, and simple onboard controls
that way larger and more expensive systems
with a lot more to lose have been relying
on for years and years.
There are actually two models of this temperature controller
that you can choose from.
A single stage unit meant for a single heater or chiller,
as well as a dual stage unit like the one
that I've got here meant for both heating and cooling
using a single controller.
They can both support up to 1,000 Watts or 9.8 amps
meaning you can easily use a 600
or even 800 Watts titanium heating element
which should cover the vast majority of heating needs
for the average reefer.
For cooling that works out to roughly
a half horsepower chiller
but it's always best to play it safe
and double check the amperage of the chiller
that you wanna run rather than just relying
on the horsepower.
They offer a wide set temperature range
of 30 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit
with a differential of as little as one degree
up to 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can choose between Celsius and Fahrenheit
if you prefer one over the other.
Plus, it allows you to lock the keypad so curious
or fumbly fingers don't accidentally change the settings.
Like I was saying earlier,
these controllers are made in the USA
and they are built to last.
From its NEMA 4X waterproof enclosure
for indoor-outdoor use
to the titanium enclosed temperature probe,
all of the components inside and out are industrial quality.
The controllers also use non-volatile memory
to save and protect the settings you've entered
in the event that there's a power outage
and also offer that keypad lockout
I was talking about earlier to prevent accidental changes
from button bumps.
Again, you're not getting like fancy, freely features,
you're getting exactly what you need
in a robust piece of equipment to get your temperature
where it's supposed to be and keep it there long term.
Programming this temperature controller
is also very straightforward.
When you first enter the menu, you'll be able to choose
between reading the temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit.
Next, you'll be able to change the set temperature
which is the temperature you'd like
to keep your aquarium at.
Next, you'll set the temperature differential
which is how far the controller will allow the temperature
to drift before activating the heater or chiller.
So for most of us out there,
we're gonna leave that differential at one degree
so that if we have a set temp of 77 degrees,
the controller will activate the heater
the moment the temperature drops into the 76-degree range.
So that way our tanks are always within roughly one degree
of that set temperature.
Lastly, you'll select between heating or cooling
which tells the controller what you've plugged into it
and how to respond to changes in temperature.
In other words, whether to turn on when the temp falls
or to turn on when the temp rises.
If you do wanna add another layer of redundancy
because why not?
It's our reef tanks,
we gotta keep those corals and fish safe.
You can always use a simple heater
with a bimetal thermostat like an Eheim Jager,
set it to the temperature you want the tank at
and then set the Aqua Logic a degree or two higher
so that it acts as the backup
to that heaters built-in thermostat.
When bimetal heaters fail,
it's overwhelmingly common that they fail on, not off.
So from that point forward,
your Aqua Logic can make sure that your temp
is in skyrocketing
and you still have a working heating element.
Then you can go ahead and replace the heater
because you've noticed your tank
has gone up a degree or two.
Now I'm personally pretty confident in the quality
and reliability of these controllers.
I've used them in the past.
I've never heard of one failing.
I mean, Ryan just changed over,
the heating system on the 360 to this
even though it feels rudimentary compared to
some of the fancier heating options that are out there.
So I'm literally just gonna throw a titanium heating element
on this one, not worried about setting up a backup for it.
But I will be using my aquarium controller
to send me notifications
in case the temperature does drift at all
just so I know right away, that's my redundancy here.
I'm super confident in these.
They work really, really well.
And for those who just want basic functionality
that they can count on to keep their tank temperature stable
for their fish and corals, Aqua Logic is money well spent.
You can check them out for yourself by clicking right here.
(upbeat music)