How to set heater temperature and thermometer placement

I have an Aquatop heater for my 44 gallon tall pentagon tank. In the instructions, it says to put the thermometer on the other side of the tank from the heater. If I want the temperature of the water to be 76, do I set the heater to 76? Or do I set it higher so that it is 76 on the other side of the tank? Does this make sense? I assume the water right next to the heater is warmer than the water on the other side of the tank, thus they recommend the thermometer being on the other side. But I'm not sure what I am supposed to do when I am aiming for a tank of 76 degrees. Thanks!

 

IMO, I would set it at 76 and not above.

 

I set my heater next to the filter intake. I like to think the water being filtered is heating up and being dispersed back out into the tank. No science behind it though.

Definitely set it to 76 and see how accurate of a reading you get once the tank has time to warm up. Sometimes heaters need to be calibrated and adjusted but start with what's required first. For example, my heater is set to 82 degrees, but it is a big tank with an open lid so therefore the thermometer only reads 80.

If this is for your 44 gallon tank, as long as the heater has ample wattage to support the tank you will be fine. I have my digital thermometer on the opposite side of the heater as well in my 40 breeder.
No problems and when I move it closer to the heater, the temperature doesn't change.

 

I set my heater next to the filter intake. I like to think the water being filtered is heating up and being dispersed back out into the tank. No science behind it though.

Definitely set it to 76 and see how accurate of a reading you get once the tank has time to warm up. Sometimes heaters need to be calibrated and adjusted but start with what's required first. For example, my heater is set to 82 degrees, but it is a big tank with an open lid so therefore the thermometer only reads 80.

If this is for your 44 gallon tank, as long as the heater has ample wattage to support the tank you will be fine. I have my digital thermometer on the opposite side of the heater as well in my 40 breeder.
No problems and when I move it closer to the heater, the temperature doesn't change.

Thank you so much! This is helpful.

 

The chances of your heater being properly calibrated is quite small. Set the heater to 76 degrees and then check the temperature often. If the temperature goes above that level, reduce the setpoint. If the temperature does not get up to the level you desire, raise the setpoint. You may have to make several small adjustments before it holds the temperature you desire.

As SinisterCichlids said, you want the heater to be in an area of high flow rate such as near the filter intake or outlow. That will maximize the heat transfer from the heating element to the water and insure there are no hot spots and cold spots in the tank.

 

The chances of your heater being properly calibrated is quite small. Set the heater to 76 degrees and then check the temperature often. If the temperature goes above that level, reduce the setpoint. If the temperature does not get up to the level you desire, raise the setpoint. You may have to make several small adjustments before it holds the temperature you desire.

As SinisterCichlids said, you want the heater to be in an area of high flow rate such as near the filter intake or outlow. That will maximize the heat transfer from the heating element to the water and insure there are no hot spots and cold spots in the tank.

Thank you. It’s clipped to the side of my new Tidal 55 so it heats the water right by the regular intake and the skimmer intake. Hopefully that will help. Thanks!

 

The chances of your heater being properly calibrated is quite small. Set the heater to 76 degrees and then check the temperature often. If the temperature goes above that level, reduce the setpoint. If the temperature does not get up to the level you desire, raise the setpoint. You may have to make several small adjustments before it holds the temperature you desire.

As SinisterCichlids said, you want the heater to be in an area of high flow rate such as near the filter intake or outlow. That will maximize the heat transfer from the heating element to the water and insure there are no hot spots and cold spots in the tank.

Agree.

Most effective I think is in the filteroutflow so the heathed water travels through the tank and not first though the hoses / filter.

The better the flow the better heath is divided through the tank.