Why Are Stick On Thermometers Looked Down Upon?

[Dsoto87]

Since my time that Ive been reading the various aquatic forums, it seems to me that the stick on thermometers are looked down upon.

I really dont see the reason why

I have/had 3. 1 on my 55,20,and 125. I have digital thermometers on both the 55 and 125 and the glass thermometers are the exact same temp as the digital readout which btw is the same temp that I have my heater set to.

They are as accurate as can be and for $2 how can anyone complain about them?

It seems to be more of a "got to have the most expensive equipment" thing. I myself got the digital thermometers just to make sure the stick ons were accurate. And the only reason why I believed there to be any inaccuracy was due to what people have said on other forums.

I just want to know if anyone here has had any first hand experience with inaccuracies with the stick ons or any other problems with them.

[cabrego]

Ive never noticed them being shunned upon.

I have 2 sticks and a digi, I like them all.

[Ellen4God]

I haven't used anything other than the stick ons. I'm interested to see what other people have to say as well.

Great question!

[Blue Ram]

I have one on my 10 gallon, but i prefer to use a digital. On my 38 gallon there is a digital. I think that stick on thermometors are not as accurate. That might be why people like them less.

[travie]

I put a stick on my 10g, and it never worked.

[xoolooxunny]

i have stick ons for my terrarium and my 10g. Don't have a problem with them, I have a floating/suction type on my 75g, because i want it down in the middle, on the side, and a stick on would look dumb there. Plus I move it around often.

[Levi]

sometimes they are less than accurate because they aren't actually inside the tank

[cocoa_pleco]

stick ons are bad because they go on the outside of the tank and after a year or so they wont work anymore

[sharkbite]

Dsoto83 is right... I have stick ons on my 10, 2 1/2, and 46 and digital as well on the 10 and 46 and they always have the same readings the first one I got it just to verify the accurancy and the second one because 1st. I got an awesome price and second because they look kool and thrid the kids like checking on the temperature with the digital ones so is kind of fun and I get the extra help. but my point of view there is nothing wrong with stick ons.

[A340]

Stick ons tend not to be as accurate as other thermometers. Mainly because they are, as other's pointed out, located on the outside of the tank, not being attached properly to the tank and outside influences. I've read about them being off as much as 20 degrees. Don't know how true that is though.

Digitals, just because they are expensive, may not be the best either. Personally, the good ol' mercury in a glass tube in the tank is the most accurate and reliable thermometer you can get, and it's usually cheaper than a stick on as well.

[Drumachine09]

First of all, I think they look tacky.

Second of all, I'd like to have the temperature of the water, not the glass, because that is what it measures.

[Dsoto87]

stick ons are bad because they go on the outside of the tank and after a year or so they wont work anymore
I understand that ambient temperature could have an effect on it...but like I said and others have said, their digi thermometers are giving the same readout.

I cant say anything about how long they last since I havent had them for a year so Ill just wait for someone else to respond.

It seems like everyone who had first hand experience with them have good reviews. No one has yet attested to their innaccuracy except for what they have heard or read about.

Is this just one of those things where it becomes "common knowledge" just because a lot of people have repeated what others have said?

Like ive said. Ive read a lot about what others have read about. But not actual first hand accounts

[cocoa_pleco]

yeah, ive heard lots of people say they die out within a year, the colory liquid stuff that shows you the temp. just wont work.

now i only use digital thermometers, last for years, out of the way, extremely accurate, and large fish cant break them

[Drumachine09]

If I get a digital thermometer this weekend, I'll take a picture of the readout from the stick on on my old 10g, and the probe from a digital thermometer.

[xoolooxunny]

ok, ok. I went down and took the floating mercury thermometer out of my 75 gallon tank, put it upstairs in my ten gallon tank (which has a 2 yr old stick on) and they are giving the same exact readout. 74 degrees.

[A340]

I understand that ambient temperature could have an effect on it...but like I said and others have said, their digi thermometers are giving the same readout.

I cant say anything about how long they last since I havent had them for a year so Ill just wait for someone else to respond.

It seems like everyone who had first hand experience with them have good reviews. No one has yet attested to their innaccuracy except for what they have heard or read about.

Is this just one of those things where it becomes "common knowledge" just because a lot of people have repeated what others have said?

Like ive said. Ive read a lot about what others have read about. But not actual first hand accounts
I've had them before, along with the mercury/glass tube tanks. And I agree, it's a matter of opinion (as a lot of things are) but first hand experience is the best.

First of all, I find they look tacky. They are difficult to read, "well this number is this colour, sort of and this number is this colour, well sort of, so the temperature must be xx degrees". Right there alone, you lose accuracy if you can't even read the thing.

Also, as mentioned by others, I like to measure the temperature of the water, not the glass because the fish are in the water. You'll lose a certain amount of heat through the glass, and the thicker the glass, and each tank is different, the more heat you lose. Not too mention if you're using glass or acrylic. Even more accuracy lost.

Since the thermometer is on the outside of the tank, ambient air temperature comes in to play. Not to forget, if it's attached properly or not. More loss in accuracy.

Having said all that, I still do agree that it's a mater of personal preference and experience. And I'm quite sure that there are people who have no problems with them at all, but I also believe that the most of us, out of our own experiences will tell you that they don't work.

[Ellen4God]

I've had the same one on my 10g for I don't know how long. Of course, I haven't had my tank set up for quite awhile until about January (or December...?), but it was on there before that. And it seems to be working just fine still. The colors show up just fine. Reads about 78-80 a majority of the time. I also have one on my betta tank, and it's about 80-82. Maybe I'll measure the temp using a regular thermometer one day to see what the "difference" is.

I do agree that they're pretty tacky looking though.

[Rue]

I know them to be notoriously inaccurate. They don't last long. They are unattractive.

If you lucked upon a good one, be happy!

[A340]

Also, why buy something that reads "80-82 or "76-78" when you can buy something (just as cheap if not cheaper) that actually reads "76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82"? Agreed, in most set-ups it's not necessary to be that accurate, but for the same amount of money? Why not?

[Ellen4God]

So, what thermometers do you suggest?

[Rue]

I prefer the regular glass ones. Cheap, unobtrusive, reliable.

However, do double check that they're accurate BEFORE you use it. I've noticed some of the cheaper ones have a little bit of paper stuck in them with the temperarture scale on it...and if that paper is off, so is your temperature.

[A340]

So, what thermometers do you suggest?
Me?

These ....

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

.... easy to read, easy to use, reads the temperature of the water, accurate and has worked for flawlessly for hundreds of years. Not to mention the price.

As for digital ones, I've never used them so I won't comment on them.

[Ellen4God]

Where do you put it so that it isn't so terribly obvious?

Anybody else have suggestions?

[A340]

Where do you put it so that it isn't so terribly obvious?

Anybody else have suggestions?
I put them off to the front corner, they're less obvious than a stick on. An if you want to get even less obvious, these are the ones I use ...

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

... also available in 3 inch length.

[cocoa_pleco]

i have different kinds of digital ones, from $3-$60. my 55g came with a sticky thermometer, and i have a digital one on it too. digital says 82f (NSW reef conditions), while the sticky says 78f. i put 2 other digital thermometers on and they all said 82f

the $3 digital thermometer i have is just as good as the $60 one, just my more expensive ones go to a decimal place

[jbeining75]

I use them in my small tanks. I just prefer digital in my bigger tanks as they are more accurately readable.

[tropfish]

Stick ons aren't as accurate because the essentially measure the glass temperature, not the water temperature, so if the room is colder or warmer then the tank by more then a few degrees it throws it off.

[Drumachine09]

I put my glass thermometer on the front, top, right corner of the glass. Easy to read, doesn't interfere with viewing.