im haveing issues with my aquarium heater.

[plant boy]

I have a 60g aquarium and I have a 300w visa therm deluxe heater in there.I have the heater set for a little above 86d and my thermometer is only reading 83.What should i do?

[Alfcea]

I guess the first question to be asked is why do you want the temperature so high? What type of fish do you have? Are you treating for a disease? For the most common tropical fish, temperatures in the range of mid to high twenties (Celsius) will be more than enough. For some species like zebra danios, even these temperatures may be high!

[james481]

Generally, the temperature marked on the "thermostat" of the heater is sort of a suggestion. It depends on the volume of water, the air temperature in the room, if the tank is glass or acrylic, what type of lid, lights, and pumps in the tank, and probably hundreds of other variables. My heater (though not the same brand) has the same "temperature select" feature, but they note in the instructions that this is more of a general guide, and temps should always be confirmed with a trusted thermometer. In other words, nothing to worry about.