Looking for a Good Timer for My Lights over Planted Tank - Aquarium Advice

LindaC · 01-30-2006, 03:31 PM

The timer I have now is horrible, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, that's providing I am setting it correctly. It's not the easiest timer to set up, the directions are very poor. Can anyone suggest a good time that is fairly easy to use and is also dependable?

Many thanks!
Linda

malkore · 01-30-2006, 04:37 PM

any of the $5 lamp timers you can find at Wal-Mart or Target. That's all I use.

fishfreek · 01-30-2006, 04:56 PM

Thats all I use aswell. Their is ones at Lowes or Home Depot that are a little more but are grounded aswell.

You dot need anything to syphisticated. I have seen battery operated ones but I figure whats the difference. After all if the powers out it dont much mater if the timmer cycles on/off. Lights still wont work.

Brenden · 02-15-2006, 11:53 PM

They have a timer/powerstripe at lowes that is very simple to use.

mrcrazypants05 · 02-16-2006, 02:24 AM

I bought that powerstrip/timer at lowes today and the 4 plugs that the timer controls is for all 4 plugs. So it would work great for a planted tank if you dont want to control multiple lights, but not if you want 8 plugs to turn stuff on at different intervals. I will be returning mine and buying a couple of timers seperate because my lights have 2 power cords. One for actinic, and the other for daylight.

fishfreek · 02-16-2006, 07:00 AM

Wal-mart, lowes and homedepot should carry a timmer that looks like this.

OR

Thats all you need. NOtice one is two prong and one is three. Get the grounded one if possible. It does not need to have the ability to have multiple on/off cycles just one on and one off cycle is fine.

savga · 02-16-2006, 11:20 AM

I got one of those powerstip timers at PetSmart and it quit after a week. I always had trouble with those rotating types also. I finally got a nice digital one from WalMart that has worked well for years. It was a little difficult to program, but it keeps its setting even when the power fails and has an override on/off switch which is nice. It is grounded three-prong and rated for appliances so can handle lots of lights. More expensive but worth it IMHO.

fishfreek · 02-16-2006, 11:39 AM

The ones I have gotten are rated for 15A so you cant get much heaver than that. The only issue I have had with these cheap units is on occasion they will stop turning on or off but this is usually after a long period of use. They are powered by the outlet so when there is no power the timmer does not run but then again is that a big deal? If there is no power do you care if the on/off cycle is continuing. When power is restored if its for a long outage you just have to turn the dial to the then current time and your back in business.

These also have a manual on/off switch.

01-30-2006, 03:31 PM	#1
LindaC Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 355 Images: 1	Looking for a Good Timer for My Lights over Planted Tank The timer I have now is horrible, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, that's providing I am setting it correctly. It's not the easiest timer to set up, the directions are very poor. Can anyone suggest a good time that is fairly easy to use and is also dependable? Many thanks! Linda __________________ 29 Gallon Planted Tank 10 Gallon Non-Planted Tank

01-30-2006, 04:37 PM	#2
malkore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nebraska, USA Posts: 6,540	any of the $5 lamp timers you can find at Wal-Mart or Target. That's all I use. __________________ Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved My other passion: TheNinja 500R - updated 9/18/05

01-30-2006, 04:56 PM	#3
fishfreek Aquarium Advice FINatic Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 971 Images: 82	Thats all I use aswell. Their is ones at Lowes or Home Depot that are a little more but are grounded aswell. You dot need anything to syphisticated. I have seen battery operated ones but I figure whats the difference. After all if the powers out it dont much mater if the timmer cycles on/off. Lights still wont work. __________________ Remember dont tap the glass, your fish will think you're an idiot -Anonymous mother Check out our articles area. 30+ Aquatic articles for your enjoyment Are you in or around the Shenandoah Valley area? If so click here to join our regional forum. Looking for affordable web hosting? Look no more We have the answer Learn more about Coral Reef Conservation. Free photo hosting

02-15-2006, 11:53 PM	#4
Brenden Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Piedmont, NC Posts: 3,876 Images: 32	They have a timer/powerstripe at lowes that is very simple to use. __________________ The fact that no one understands you doesn't make you an artist. If guns kill people...Spoons make Michael Moore fat.

02-16-2006, 02:24 AM	#5
mrcrazypants05 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kansas City, KS Posts: 458 Images: 7	I bought that powerstrip/timer at lowes today and the 4 plugs that the timer controls is for all 4 plugs. So it would work great for a planted tank if you dont want to control multiple lights, but not if you want 8 plugs to turn stuff on at different intervals. I will be returning mine and buying a couple of timers seperate because my lights have 2 power cords. One for actinic, and the other for daylight. __________________ 125gallon - 3 Giant Danios - 1 7" Jack Dempsey - 1 5½" Green Terror - 1 9" Lutino Oscar 65RR - SW - 30g Sump w/fuge - 40lbs MI LR 30lbs Base - 4-5"Sand Bed - 2 false black perculas, 1 six line wrasse, 1 peppermint shrimp, 6 zebra hermits, 6 blue leg hermits, 6 nassarius snails, 6 astrea snails

02-16-2006, 07:00 AM	#6
fishfreek Aquarium Advice FINatic Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 971 Images: 82	Wal-mart, lowes and homedepot should carry a timmer that looks like this. OR Thats all you need. NOtice one is two prong and one is three. Get the grounded one if possible. It does not need to have the ability to have multiple on/off cycles just one on and one off cycle is fine. __________________ Remember dont tap the glass, your fish will think you're an idiot -Anonymous mother Check out our articles area. 30+ Aquatic articles for your enjoyment Are you in or around the Shenandoah Valley area? If so click here to join our regional forum. Looking for affordable web hosting? Look no more We have the answer Learn more about Coral Reef Conservation. Free photo hosting

02-16-2006, 11:20 AM	#7
savga Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 280 Images: 1	I got one of those powerstip timers at PetSmart and it quit after a week. I always had trouble with those rotating types also. I finally got a nice digital one from WalMart that has worked well for years. It was a little difficult to program, but it keeps its setting even when the power fails and has an override on/off switch which is nice. It is grounded three-prong and rated for appliances so can handle lots of lights. More expensive but worth it IMHO.

02-16-2006, 11:39 AM	#8
fishfreek Aquarium Advice FINatic Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 971 Images: 82	The ones I have gotten are rated for 15A so you cant get much heaver than that. The only issue I have had with these cheap units is on occasion they will stop turning on or off but this is usually after a long period of use. They are powered by the outlet so when there is no power the timmer does not run but then again is that a big deal? If there is no power do you care if the on/off cycle is continuing. When power is restored if its for a long outage you just have to turn the dial to the then current time and your back in business. These also have a manual on/off switch. __________________ Remember dont tap the glass, your fish will think you're an idiot -Anonymous mother Check out our articles area. 30+ Aquatic articles for your enjoyment Are you in or around the Shenandoah Valley area? If so click here to join our regional forum. Looking for affordable web hosting? Look no more We have the answer Learn more about Coral Reef Conservation. Free photo hosting

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