Heating Problem

[Denorios]

I'm having a very hard time keeping my tank at a consistent temperature. My tank is, by necessity, in a room with three outside walls and because of poor air circulation and rapid weather changes the rooms temperature fluctuates dramatically making it almost impossible for me to keep my tank temperature consistent.

I have one of those everyday heaters that stick on the side and have a temperature gage on the top. But the setting on that gage seems to have little effect on what temperature the tank is. If it's too hot I can turn it down, but then it gets too cold.

I'm looking for a heating system that works more like a home system, you set the thermostat and the heater engages whenever necessary to keep a consistent temperature. I'm willing to spend some money on this if I know it will address my problem.

[Fishguy2727]

Visi-Therm Stealth.

[cocoa_pleco]

ditto with reptileguy. Best you can buy, top of the line.

[Denorios]

thanks guys, I'm going to try to pick one up this weekend.

[Lady Hobbs]

I had those stick-on thermometers and got rid of all of them. Couldn't figure out why my heater keep running when thermometer already read 80. I put in a glass thermometer and my reading was 6 degrees less than I was getting from the stick-on's. I find them very inaccurate.

[gm72]

Agreed with the above. The stealth heaters are very accurate once set. I also have a few ebo-jagers that are accurate, but I do like the stealth better. Also agree with those horrible stick-on thermometers. They just don't work.

[Lady Hobbs]

YUP. Problem may not be the heater at all but with the temp "thingie." My heater was trying to get the tank up to what it was set at and all the while I was dumping ice in the tank trying to cool it down.

[gm72]

That brings a very funny picture to my head. I can see someone continually going to the store to buy bags of ice, the guy at the store asks "you keep coming back, must be a great party!" Response: "No, no, it's for my fish, they're too hot." Guy at the store: Just stares at you.

[Fishguy2727]

Those little stick on thermometers are on the outside of the tank, I need to know what the temp is inside the tank.

[cocoa_pleco]

yeah. Im sure the actual tank glass screws up sticky readings

[gm72]

I think those stick-on thermometers actually measure the temp of the glass, therefore not giving at all an accurate temperature reading of the water. They should be outlawed!

[Denorios]

Thanks Hobbs, but I don't think that was my problem, I don't have the one that sicks on the outside of the tank, I have two of the glass ones. So I'm pretty sure the problem is with the heater.

[Lady Hobbs]

Sounds like crummy heater then for sure. How come I thought you were using those dumb stick-on's? *grin

[Shanni]

I do not have a heater in my tank and it stays the same temp. all the time. I have a little sticky temp. stick on the glass at the bottom of he tank, which i think is the best place for it.

I you are having problems with heat, you can just add hot water like i do.

[Chrona]

I do not have a heater in my tank and it stays the same temp. all the time. I have a little sticky temp. stick on the glass at the bottom of he tank, which i think is the best place for it.

I you are having problems with heat, you can just add hot water like i do.

Not all of us are as fortunate as you when it comes to ambient temperature. Try pulling that off in New England weather without running up your heating bill ;) Most tropical tanks are at about 77-78 degrees, so if you wanted to maintain a constant tank temperature using only room temp, you would have to heat your house to 80+ (tank water is usually cooler than room temp)

In any case, hot water should never be used to maintain water temperature, because 1) the hot water doesn't stay hot for very long and you would need to keep adding it, 2) fish hate constantly changing temperatures, and 3) Unless you took the temperature of the tank water and the water you are adding and pulled out a calculator, you really would have no clue how much you will change the temperature. Again guess and check is not really a viable option unless you plan on keeping only extremely hardy fish. Even then, it's not good for them. The only time hot water is used to maintain water temp is during a power outtage.

[gm72]

Hobbs, funnier than the fact that you thought it was a stick-on is the fact that I blindly followed you!