Light timers

[Arok3000]

I searched and didn't come up with anything much.

Do most of you just use the cheap 24 hour timers at Home Depot or wherever?
I was just going to buy the cheap Noma one, but I heard they're pretty flaky.

Or if anyone uses something a little more reliable, I'd be interested to know.

 

[jinkzd]

Currently there are probably 20 of those cheapy Home Depot 24 hr timers running in my house. If you want to go that route for 1 or 2 tanks I don't see any issue at all, just make sure you get the 3 prong jobby - you may need it even if your light or whatever you are plugging in is double insulated. Don't rip off the ground prong to make it work. If you are running a lot of tanks in one room I would step it up and get a circuit timer rated for the whole circuit. All lights on at once, all lights off at once. Little more involved but a lot more user friendly in the end. Getting ready to set up our basement like that for ease of use purposes.

 

[cchhcc]

I just used a bank of those timers on an old tank with good results. Plugged them into the side panel of the stand.

If money isn't a consideration, you could get an aquarium controller (Neptune Systems, Reefkeeper, etc.). They'll control everything you can think of........everything. But you could replace timers endlessly and still save money. So if you don't need to worry about pH levels, ORP, temp, etc. controllers aren't worth the money.

 

[FishNCash]

I use the digital timer from Target. They're about $7 and out of the four I have had for over 1 a year, once one failed. The internal switch inside the timer just stopped working. This is the cheap route and should work fine. If you want go to fancy then get an aquarium controller for over $100.

 

[EdCal]

i have probably over 10 of those cheap timers mostly running my tanks lights but some xmas lights. only had to replace 1 last year, not bad

 

[RegalAngel]

Here are two timers I am using. One on left is for two separate light sources; right is a digital timer for an ATO.

They work perfect! Many retailers have these.

 

[JakeH]

I hate the look of those bulky cheap timers, so I picked up a Coralife Power Center at PetSmart a while back. I think I paid like 30 bux for it, but its pretty sweet. It looks just like a standard power strip, but it has a digital timer built in to control 4 of the 8 outlets. It has 4 outlets on all the time (filters, heaters, powerheads, air pump), then 2 for daytime stuff (lights, CO2, etc.) & 2 for nighttime stuff (moonlights, water polisher). I can program up to 7 different on/off points per day or one different cycle per day for 7 days. Very handy.

EDIT: Yea, like those above...

 

[Arok3000]

Yeah, I think that's the route to go.
Digital timer on a powerstrip. I'll check those out and probably go that route instead.

 

[jcardona1]

if its just for your lights, then a cheap mechanical timer will work. thats what i have and it works great

 

[smpage]

Yeah, I think that's the route to go.
Digital timer on a powerstrip. I'll check those out and probably go that route instead.

Be warned, I'm on my second one and this one crapped out within three months. Not worth the money AT ALL.