My only surprise with this unit was that you can not have both channels set to the same temperature, they have to be .5 degrees celsius apart. I divided the suggested heater size in two thinking 2 x 150 would be safer than 300, but, the lower set point is on so much more and trips the continuous heating alarm. Still a great product at this price point and the mistake was mine for not researching first. I did get an email alert while on a mini vacation a few weeks ago. I was able to reset while I was away as it was just the continuous heating alarm. I honestly believe this belongs in the essential equipment list if you do not have a controller for your system.
Dear, the ITC-306A is an on/off controller, which maintains a temperature range, so there needs to be a temperature difference between the heating on and off values. In addition, please note that the two heating outputs of the ITC-306A will be switched on and off at the same time, they cannot be set separately. If have any question, please feel free to contact us by email support@inkbird.com
I have two of these, one on each of my systems. I recommend getting one. I like knowing when the tanks temp is off its normal setting. I can check my phone and see what is going on. Not bad for 60 bucks. I haven't had a heater fail for me and with this controller hopefully never will experience that pain. If your new to the hobby pick one of these up, it is a good investment.
Thanks for this Spotlight! A controller is next on my list...probably should have been higher than now, but my heaters are pretty new. I would certainly hate to have one fail on me and not be aware!
I’m mew to this. What’s a tank crash and when you say I have no idea how this works nor how to install it. Why would it turn off? My water is heating up because we don’t have AC in the area where the tank sits😢
We hear you on the BRS heating element stock issues. Good news is that this controller works with just about any titanium heating element. Plus, BRS heaters should be here in about 2 weeks 🙂
Quick question - if you're using this with a heater that already has a thermostat built-in, would you just set the temperature on that heater to something higher than what I want my tank? So basically then the heater will run continuously until the InkBird shuts it off, thus bypassing the heater's internal thermostat shut-off?
@BRStv I know this post is old, but, would you do that with both heaters if they're both plugged in to the inkbird 306A? Set the heaters at a higher temp than your target temp for the aquarium? Thanks!
I have had one of these protecting/controlling my nano with two 50 watt heaters. It works great. I had issues with it dropping WiFi and then the app wouldn’t receive the alarm conditions but updates fixed both of those issues. I bought one as a backup to have just in case of failure. They’re not expensive, easy to have a second on hand.
T1 will always be the left outlet and T2 will be the right. 78-degrees is where we target our tank temps, so if you were using T2 as a backup, I would set it slightly lower than that to ensure the tank temp doesn't fall too low.
The only thing I don't like about the ink bird is the suction cup. It's white when almost every aquarium background is black and they don't work at all my probe is always floating around. I wish they made it magnetic!
@@markpaulson1346 ya I got frustrated with using the two plug ins on the inkbird so I started using just one of the two provided(t1 I think)…and I use a finnex titanium heater with it,I kept breaking glass heaters….and in another plug in on the other side of the room I run another heater..my target is 85 so I run my finnex(inkbird) heater at 85 and the other heater that’s plugged in on the other side of the room at 84..it’s been doing it’s job
@@cael7919 yeah that one is not Wi-Fi and the probe is metal not good for reef tank I have the ITC 308s and it comes with an aquarium probe, but is not wifi.
@@saramarie516 innovative marine helios is peobably one of the best. Theres also the industrial style Ranco controller. Both are very good options with very great reviews.
doesn't mention how it also works with some wifi plugs in your house so it can also do cooling etc. see this video for more info ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-y4pscdWHRlk.html