High Tide Aquatics

Aqualogic Controller - The King is dead

Alexander1312

Alexander1312

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At least to me.

I have two Aqualogic controllers with a titanium probe - one in the nano tank and one for the IM 150.

The IM 150 titanium probe connected to the Aqualogic is reading 76 (approx 2+ years old) - as per below - the Hanna temp checker calibration device is at 79.4, as well as the other three heaters I have connected (which were all calibrated to the Hanna checker two weeks ago.

It only happened just now, after it had to refill a bit more than usual cold RODI so I could lower the slightly elevated salinity. Initially I thought it was temporary, but it already reads 75 - so the probe is dead. Disappointing, I thought this thing was a tank.

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Alexander1312 said:
At least to me.

I have two Aqualogic controllers with a titanium probe - one in the nano tank and one for the IM 150.

The IM 150 titanium probe connected to the Aqualogic is reading 76 (approx 2+ years old) - as per below - the Hanna temp checker calibration device is at 79.4, as well as the other three heaters I have connected (which were all calibrated to the Hanna checker two weeks ago.

It only happened just now, after it had to refill a bit more than usual cold RODI so I could lower the slightly elevated salinity. Initially I thought it was temporary, but it already reads 75 - so the probe is dead. Disappointing, I thought this thing was a tank.

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I'm not saying the Ranco/aqualogic controller is right or wrong, but if you calibrated all your other devices to what the Hanna thermometer is reading, what did you expect? And how do you know which is correct?
 
So, here is why I rule out the thermometer:

Every 4 weeks I calibrate all my devices against the Hanna thermometer.

For the IM150, this means the following devices:

Helio controller
Hydros temp probe
Inkbird
red sea ATO temp
Aqualogic (only reasonable check since no true temp offsetting is possible)

Fast forward two weeks later, all devices still show the same temperature, except the Aqualogic - also refer to the chart.

I am not saying that Hanna is the ultimate device but based on the above, I rule it out. What am I missing?
 
The Hanna Checktemp is also NIST traceable (aka calibrated). I have one and it as or more reliable than the club’s NIST traceable thermometer (which I also bought), at least in my experience. I’ve tested them in a lot of permutations, though it was a few years ago.
 
Alexander1312 said:
So, here is why I rule out the thermometer:

Every 4 weeks I calibrate all my devices against the Hanna thermometer.

For the IM150, this means the following devices:

Helio controller
Hydros temp probe
Inkbird
red sea ATO temp
Aqualogic (only reasonable check since no true temp offsetting is possible)

Fast forward two weeks later, all devices still show the same temperature, except the Aqualogic - also refer to the chart.

I am not saying that Hanna is the ultimate device but based on the above, I rule it out. What am I missing?
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That you're trusting a single device versus another. You may be correct and the Hanna may be closer to the accurate temperature. but without another device to verify (a device not calibrated to the Hanna Checker), you don't exactly know which is correct and which has fallen out of spec. If you're making decisions based on this, I'd double check it.
 
I am still not clear. There is an assumption that all devices rely on one device to be accurate, i.e., the Hanna thermometer. On the surface, this seems to be true.

But what I tried to describe above was that all other devices stayed within their calibrated amounts after two weeks vs one, which, within a couple of hours, deteriorated significantly.

Also, all the other devices have an offset point, correct? So they were pre-calibrated but can be further adjusted. I am only about 0.3F or less different from the 0 point of the respective device's pre-set temperature. But the issue here is a 3F temp difference. So I struggle to follow why the thermometer is a likely the reason in this specific scenario.

Lastly, their customer support just responded with this: "Has the sensor been submerged past the label that is right where the shrink wrap is? If so that would cause it to go bad over time. New sensor S1 is $116."

The sensor in my sump, which had a rubber cap, was (almost) fully submerged. So I assume this is the root cause, and I will need to replace this now.
 
Still following up. Their latest update:

“If you follow the sensor cord towards the controller, the part should not be submerged beyond where the shrink wrap stops around 24” (there should be a warming sticker that states the it should not be submerged beyond this point).”
 
Latest description of how deep it can be placed into the water. Does not look like this is a problem in general:

If you were to follow the black shrink wrap towards the controller, it stops and turns into a gray cord and that is the point that should not be submerged. Anyways if it is only a few inches that shouldn’t be a problem either.
 
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The back and forth with their customer service is a bit painful. Also, a sensor cost 116 USD, without any warranty.

Looking at the Helio heater, which I am currently using as a back up heater, this might be a better value if there is additional safety through another device (in my case the hydros). They have a 5 year warranty except for the controller fuse and magnet.

After all, I bought the aqualogic to not have to deal with these sudden temp issues (unless the heater element breaks down), and 2 years for the probe to last is not better than the competition, while also using old school technology without any offset point and a cumbersome programming.

Will probably switch to Helio now for both backup and main heater controller.
 
Alexander1312 said:
Latest description of how deep it can be placed into the water. Does not look like this is a problem in general:

If you were to follow the black shrink wrap towards the controller, it stops and turns into a gray cord and that is the point that should not be submerged. Anyways if it is only a few inches that shouldn’t be a problem either.
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Ok, mine only has like a couple inches of shrink wrap in the water.

Alexander1312 said:
The back and forth with their customer service is a bit painful. Also, a sensor cost 116 USD, without any warranty.

Looking at the Helio heater, which I am currently using as a back up heater, this might be a better value if there is additional safety through another device (in my case the hydros). They have a 5 year warranty except for the controller fuse and magnet.

After all, I bought the aqualogic to not have to deal with these sudden temp issues (unless the heater element breaks down), and 2 years for the probe to last is not better than the competition, while also using old school technology without any offset point and a cumbersome programming.

Will probably switch to Helio now for both backup and main heater controller.
Click to expand...
That's unfortunate, I'll have to keep a better eye on mine.
 
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