Cheap DIY tempering bath for E6/C41 film processing

If you want to process your own E6/C41 you need a way to keep water at precisely 100F temperature. There are many dedicated solutions, like the Delta Eco 1 Basic Unit Thermostatic Water Controller and if you have the resources, get that.

But if you are on a tight budget, like me, here's a much more cheaper solution. Get a fish tank heater, set the desired temperature, put it in a cooler, fill it with water and turn it on. The only caveat is that most fish tank heaters top out at 93F so you won't make fish soup... But it's not all lost, the WON Pro-Heat IC Heater 50 W can be easily modified to go higher then the 93F it was designed for, see this link on APUG for instructions. This is what I will be using for the ATL-1000 I just purchased. I'll add pictures once it's all setup.

If you have a little more cash, the Won Brothers D-58 LED Digital Display Temperature Controller and Won Brothers 3 Prong Titanium Heating Element 350 Watt Heater will set you back $120 but it doesn't need to be modified and it's way more professional.

Happy processing!