Is having a heater on a timer okay?

[Adamson]

I have a 300w Marineland heater (https://www.amazon.com/MarineLand-Precision-Saltwater-Freshwater-Aquariums/dp/B00NETRY44) which of course seems to get stuck on and never really turn off. Even though I have the thermostat set to 73 degrees, the tank is always at 80-83 degrees.

As a workaround, can I just put this on a timer? Currently I have it turning on/off every hour or so. So an hour on, an hour off, an hour on...

Will this harm the heater at all? Or are there any consequences I am missing here?

 

[Rocksor]

The best thing to get is a heater controller like the blue inkbird. Set it to turn on after it drops by 1 degree, and it will turn off at the desired temperature.

https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-Aquarium-Temperature-Controller-ITC-306T/dp/B07KC24CKD/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3D9V3US7WPYKA&dchild=1&keywords=inkbird+temperature+controller&qid=1613077136&sprefix=inkbird%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-5

You Marineland is probably not working that well anymore, so I would replace it as well as get the controller. It will stop future problems like that from happening.

 

[Ogertron3000]

It sounds like the heater is faulty so I would just replace it. I think having it on the timer wouldnt give a very stable temperature in the tank.
Heaters are almost a disposable item, you have to accept they break down and need to be replaced every so often.

 

[BIG-G]

I will add a faulty heater isn’t anything to try to work around.
I’ve seen them explode. Granted these were older models. One blew so violently that it busted the back glass out.

 

[Adamson]

The crazy thing is I have not had this thing very long. I ordered it on January 14, 2020. I guess the Marineland heaters are as crappy as legend has it.

Rocksor I appreciate the heater controller suggestion. But I wonder if for $30 I should just put that toward a new, higher quality, heater.

 

[Rocksor]

The crazy thing is I have not had this thing very long. I ordered it on January 14, 2020. I guess the Marineland heaters are as crappy as legend has it.

Rocksor I appreciate the heater controller suggestion. But I wonder if for $30 I should just put that toward a new, higher quality, heater.

Entirely up to you. A heater controller is a good investment if you plan to be in the hobby more than a few years

 

[FESHMAN]

The best thing to get is a heater controller like the blue inkbird. Set it to turn on after it drops by 1 degree, and it will turn off at the desired temperature.

https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-Aquarium-Temperature-Controller-ITC-306T/dp/B07KC24CKD/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3D9V3US7WPYKA&dchild=1&keywords=inkbird+temperature+controller&qid=1613077136&sprefix=inkbird%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-5

You Marineland is probably not working that well anymore, so I would replace it as well as get the controller. It will stop future problems like that from happening.

+1 on that
I've been using inkbirds in conjunction with cheap heater for years with no problems. You can get the prewired one or the itc-1000 they both work great. the stc has an alarm, at least the inkbird brand does.

 

[TwoHedWlf]

I have a 300w Marineland heater (https://www.amazon.com/MarineLand-Precision-Saltwater-Freshwater-Aquariums/dp/B00NETRY44) which of course seems to get stuck on and never really turn off. Even though I have the thermostat set to 73 degrees, the tank is always at 80-83 degrees.

As a workaround, can I just put this on a timer? Currently I have it turning on/off every hour or so. So an hour on, an hour off, an hour on...

Will this harm the heater at all? Or are there any consequences I am missing here?

First thing, don't trust the gauge on the thermostat. They are inaccurate at best. If the tank is a steady 80, turn the heater down.
And replace the heater if that doesn't do it. Inkbird and similar are great backups, but it's stupid to rely on that to cover for a faulty heater.

 

[Oughtsix]

Inkbird time/temperature controller for only $24. You can ignore the time settings and use it solely as a temperature controller.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01486LZ50/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1RUFFFCQ74BCW&psc=1

 

[FESHMAN]

Inkbird All-Purpose Digital Temperature Controller Fahrenheit and Centigrade Thermostat with Sensor 2 Relays ITC-1000F for Refrigerator Fermenter: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

Inkbird All-Purpose Digital Temperature Controller Fahrenheit and Centigrade Thermostat with Sensor 2 Relays ITC-1000F for Refrigerator Fermenter: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.com

This one is also cheaper at $15 but you can fit it to your stand to monitor the temperature. You have to do the wiring but it's really simple and well explained in the manual.

Either this one or the prewired one, better than the idea you had in plan