Hey there,

Seeing as I'm upgrading the lighting on my 418w I'll be needing to keep a closer eye on the temp.

At the moment I've put a fan on a timer and although it works a treat in keeping the whole tank from overheating it does sometimes create a bit too much of a temp fluctuation.

I'm thinking of using a Habistat Cooler Controller instead of a timer so that the fan only switches on when the temp reaches a preset max. & switches off at a preset min.

They only cost about £30 so I think it might be worth a try rather than spend £s on a chiller - esp as it supposed to reach over 35c in London this week!

Has anyone used one of these controllers before?

Do you know if the temp sensor is water proof or will I need to silicone it? (it's made for vivariums I think)

I haven't used anything like this myself but it seems like a good idea.

If its made for vivariums then chances are that it would be damp proof but not waterproof so you will probably have to make some sort of housing for the sensor.

i believe that the sensors are ok in water, i think someone e-mailed the manufactors. I have just ordered one myself as the tank is getting very hot at night now. I am hoping with the cool controller i will be able to reduce evaporation as the fan should be on for less time overall. Maybe not but i can try

My Cool Controller arrived this morning.

Good job too as my tank is getting really hot at night too nowadays.

Anyway, I called the manufacturers & they say although you can use the sensor in fresh water, salt water might react with the glues used to seal the probe at the factory.

So for marine tanks we'd need to seal up the joins between the probe & the wire attached to it with silicone before using it it our tanks.

Well time to get a tube silicone then I guess!

Cool Controller working a treat.

I've set it at 25c but any evaporation issues are still there as the tank has yet to drop below that so the fan stays on all the time.

At least even in the 36c weather we're having today the tank is never higher than 26c - just seems to be constantly hovering around the 25.5c mark.

Well worth the £30 IMO

Let me know how you get on with yours.

good job, i am waiting for mine to arrive. DId you silcon up the joints?

yep,

I silconed the join between the probe & the wire and also the top edges of the probe itself.

Tank still running at a steady 25.5c