Bad Wolf

i just wanted to ask if a 55 watt heater (aqua one) will heat a 60 liter (15 gallon) tank. i tried it, set the temp to 26C (78F) and the thermometer said 23C (74F).

why is this happening? it's only 5 liters off.

i now use that 55 watter in my 7 gallon nursery tank. i set it to 26C (78F) and it says 28C (84F).

why is this happening?

also i have a 200 watt heater heating a 200 liter (50 gallon) tank. i set it to 26C (78F) and it says 24C-25C (75-76F). but when i set it to 27C (80F) it says 26C (78F).

my final question is, is it the heater or the thermometer that is the problem? the thermometer is a sticker.

thanks

Iron waffle

there's many things that may be wrong. a heater is made at a room temp. of 21C(71F) and if the room temp. is colder than that then the temp in the tank will be lower than what you set it at.

also, stick-on thermometers can be inaccurate just because it's not measuring the temp inside the tank, but rather the temp OUTSIDE the tank. If this is a big concern, you should get a digital thermometer, they are the most accurate(and expensive).

keep in mind as well that temp varies throughout the tank, the water closest to the heater will be warmer because of the constant heat exchange. consider putting your heater horizontally at the bottom of the tank so that it heats more evenly.

A good guideline for heater is 5w per gallon of water. if your house is really cold,like mine, maybe even up to 10w per gallon.

good luck

Bad Wolf

my house is cold and my room is even colder, only now coz it's winter in AUS. my heater is at a diagonal position right next to the water flow from my filter (my filter is doing 1,200 liters an hour). my thermometer is at the opposite end of the tank. it is also at the bottom.

thanks any way

Regal

I don't pay attention too much to the numbers on the heater. I adjust it up or down till the thermometer says the temp I want. I can't read the stick on ones. A glass thermometer would be easier to read.

this is a little off subject but just out of curiosity when you say "winter in Australia" what do you mean by cold. How cold does it get in Australia? Here in Ohio we see 15 below.

Bad Wolf

where i live, as cold as 10C, maybe even colder. in other states, like tazmania it gets below 0C. up a bit north from where i live, it gets 5C. but in another state here, i think it was adelaide or cairns it is about 30C still. they get as cold as 20 or 15C.

Iron waffle

the temp where i live is -5C in winter and around 25C in the summer, which is similar to your climate. the heater you have is probably getting a workout. here is a site i found:http://www.aquariumpros.com/articles/heatfail.shtml

it says that heaters fail around fall or late spring. my guess is that your heater is getting worn out or not strong enough.

Bad Wolf

our previous summer was up 65C in the desert part of australia, here was 55-60C, it killed more than half of my live stock.

Regal

Wow 60c is 140f. I had to use the conversion chart at the bottom of the page. I can't imagine it being that hot. When you say live stock do you mean in your tank or actual farm animals?

harpua2002

First, I'd suggest buying a thermometer that you put in the tank. I use the cheap ones with the suction cups, but you can also get digital thermometers that have a probe that goes in the tank. Either type would be more accurate than the stickers. If your temp is still lower than you want it, try turning the heater up. I've found that heaters often aren't calibrated too accurately, but will keep a stable temp once you set it the way you like.

Then again, if the tank is in a drafty area, you may just need a more powerful heater. I once kept a 55 gallon discus tank next to a fireplace, and it got so drafty in the wintertime that I had to use 2x 250W heaters to keep the temp at 85 for the discus. I really didn't expect that when I put the tank there!

Bad Wolf

wow 500 watts for a 55 gallon tank. i would buy a second heater but i don't have much money, and with the financial crisis here my mum and dad aren't gonna give me money. i only have about $60 left and heaters here are about $32 and i still need to get a light.

suemvb, as in live stock i meant my tank, and that summer was terrible. our house was about 55C and my tank was at 40C, and i put a gallon of ice in the tank!! the tank was only 15 gallon at the time.

harpua2002

I can totally understand the lack of funds, especially when you are young and would have to ask your parents. I'd suggest buying a glass thermometer, the kind with the suction cup. That would at least give you a more accurate reading of your tank's temperature. I'm in the US and they run about $2-2.50 USD here. Just turn up the thermostat on the heater you have now if you have to.

Iron waffle

yikes! 55C is a lot! I'd probably melt if i lived in Australia(in summer). were you just going through a heat wave, or is this the norm?

Bad Wolf

it's usually around 45C in the summer max. an average of 38-42C i think. it was just a little hotter for some reason, it was the hottest AUS has been for 50 years. some people actually died, there was i think 3-6 huge fires, my auntie's house was only 1 mile away from the huge fire, thankfully the wind was going in the other direction.

Iron waffle