Innovative Marine Helio Universal Aquarium Heater Controller

The Innovative Marine Helio Universal Aquarium Heater Controller manages standard aquarium heaters with its own remote sensor. Note that no heating elements are included. It requires 2/3 prong heating elements and will NOT work with Helio PTC smart elements.

Factory presets

Out of the box, the Helio is set to 77°F, with a low alarm at 74°F and a high alarm at 80°F. Those are sensible reef defaults, so many keepers can plug in and go.

Ranges

• Temp set range: 59° – 95°F
• Low alarm range: 57° – 93°F, at least -2°F from the set temperature
• High alarm range: 60° – 96°F, at least +1°F from the set temperature
• Calibration range: ±9°F

Accuracy

Accuracy is < ±1°F with 0.1°F resolution, tighter than most heater dials. That matters in reef tanks, where corals respond to small temperature swings.

Load and size

The controller accommodates a combined total of 1000 Watts, enough for two large heaters. The controller measures L 3.133 x W 1.313 x H 53, and the remote sensor is L 2.33 x D .313. Its own draw is 100W 120V / 0.83amps.

Setup tips

Place the sensor in good flow, away from the heaters, such as in the return section of a sump. Set the heaters’ own dials a little above the controller’s set point so the Helio does the switching and the heater thermostats act as backups.

Compare

Innovative Marine also makes all-in-one tanks; see the NUVO Fusion 15 mesh screen cover for that line. For a controller that also runs a chiller, the Inkbird ITC-308S adds a cooling outlet.

Who it suits

Reef keepers who want tight temperature control, sensible preset alarms and fine calibration, using the heaters they already own.

The alarms are the real value. A heater failure in a reef can bleach corals within hours, and an early warning gives you time to act. Test both alarms after setup by adjusting the set point briefly so you know what they sound like.