Dasha

Hi,

I've just set up a 33-ish gallon tank I got second hand. It came with a good size heater and stick on the side of the glass thermometer.

I set the heater to 76F but the thermometer is showing between 82(paler color) and 84F. My tetras need 74-79 (based on literature) so I'm afraid I'll cook them.

What is more likely - the heater is wrong or the thermometer is wring? Any suggestions for a relialble thermometer? Should I replace the heater and keep th original as backup?

How far out the the "recommended" range can tetras go without dying?

Thanks,
Dasha

cichlid seeker

you ave to hve the heter and thermometer on seperet sides of the tank. If they are something is probebly wrong with the termometer.

Kevin

unplug your heater...then tell us what the temps in your room and tank are
if they are around 74-78 then you should be good

i unplugged my heater b/c it was heating room temp water...and making it 80+o

Dasha

Thanks so much, I'm sure the room temp is around 74F. I thought the heater would have a thermostat and only start up to keep the temp constant.

I'll get a second thermometer and if that one reads high, I'm going to unplug the heater. Maybe I'll need to run it only when the room temp goes down in the fall, I didn't think about that.

Dasha

vin

It could very well be that the heater's calbiration is off slightly. I know mine is off by a degree or two. I use two thermometers all of the time. One inside the tank and one outside.

COBettaCouple

Do you have the heater in the middle of the tank? I'm not sure what kind of heater you have, but if it is the wrong wattage or not working properly, then you might want one of these:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113767

On a tank that size, i'd have 2 thermometers, 1 on each side. We did that on the 30g tank. It helps monitor the temp better in a larger tank.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113769 - we get the removable temp. strips. It's nice to be able to move them sometimes.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113769 - one of these digital thermometers is great to have on hand.

Dasha

Thanks guys, problem resolved. I bought another thermometer - internal - and figured the calibration on the heater was off (by 8 degrees!) so I turned it down and it works perfectly.

armadillo

Am having trouble with my thermometers/heaters too. All of our thermometers say it's a different temperature, even the digital ones. We place them right next to each other, and nowhere near an outlet or machinery or anything. I just have no idea what temp my tanks are now, as I don't know which to trust.

Fishgirl672

Right there with you armadillo... darn thermometers.... darn heaters.... GAH!

vin

Time for new thermometers...

Cody

the heater that came with my tank was terrbile it was always off at one point i would have it on its lowest setting and it would reach 87....i got a new heater it was one of the most expensive...but its always with in one degree.....and i always bought a thermometer that sits in the tank and its more accurate than the one on the glass

vin

I think I mentioned that I have two. One inside and one outside. They are within a degree of each other. The ones on the outside will be a little less accurate because of the conduction through the glass. It always pays to have a back up. This way you can tell if something is wrong.

armadillo

Yep, I think so too. Only I wouldn't know which to get, as these were brand new. All I know is not that brand. Any recommendations?