The thermometer just measures the temperatures, a thermostat actually controls a heating device to reach a desired temperature.
So if you have a heat source that gets the temperatures in the right range all the time w/o control, then I'd say you wouldn't need a thermostat.
Usually this is not the case, so yeah, you'll need a stat.
Spyder Robotics makes GREAT tstats with also GREAT customer service.
I have no experience with Helix, but I've read they make good ones also.
Ranco and Johnson Controls make non-proportional tstats that are less expensive.
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