View Full Version : Marina Aqua Minder accuracy?
Mdsuave13
06-21-2007, 03:25 AM
I have a Marina Aqua Minder, it shows the tank temp at 80.9 F, yet my cheapo strip thermometer says its at 78 F deg. Which would be more trustworthy? I haven't had a chance to check it with a more accurate thermometer yet, but i was wondering if anyone had a problem with theirs? Thanks.
cocoa_pleco
06-21-2007, 03:34 AM
those strip thermometers a junk and a half. they are worthless after a year and are very inaccurate
Mdsuave13
06-21-2007, 03:37 AM
Ok, i just checked it with a radio shack indoor outdoor thermo with a outdoor probe. It said the tank was at 78.8 deg. So the aqua minder is off by almost a degree and a half. Thats pretty poor. I will give further update and see if i can do further testing with it.
cocoa_pleco
06-21-2007, 03:39 AM
the best thermometers are the glass ones that stick to your tank with suction cups. they last long and are accurate
the best thermometers are the glass ones that stick to your tank with suction cups. they last long and are accurate
I find these the best as well. Mind you, there are some digital thermometers out there that are supposed to be very accurate. But, at $2 a piece, the glass ones are tried and proven to work.
cocoa_pleco
06-21-2007, 05:45 AM
i have a digital too, 15$ at petsmart. goes to the nearest .1 of a degree, i use it on my salt tanks
genitor
06-21-2007, 05:55 AM
The only problem with the glass ones that suction cup to the inside is that large fish tend to keep knocking them off. I had tinfoil barbs that would always dislodge mine.
cocoa_pleco
06-21-2007, 01:47 PM
when that happens i just take off the suction cup and let it float.
Mdsuave13
06-22-2007, 04:14 PM
I got a glass thermometer from Wallyworld and threw it in the tank..
Now i have 3 thermometers. One cost 69 cents (plastic strip type) one cost 94 cents (glass thermometer) and a digital aquaminder that cost me 15.99.
aqua-minder reading current= 78.9 F
glass= 76.5 F
plastic strip=76 and 78 are both dimly illuminated....
All three are in the same location of the tank. same depth, opposite side from heater.
Which of these do i trust? haha. The water feels a bit colder then usual so i'm going to assume that its around 76ish...
cocoa_pleco
06-22-2007, 04:28 PM
definitely the digital one is more trustworthy
I've been struggling with thermometers for a while now, and have a number of different types. Electronic, LCD and glass of different brands and types.
In my experience, none of them are terribly accurate. All of these come with no more than a specified +/- 1 degree accuracy anyway. Even the $300 Hanna combo instrument says +/- 1 degree in the specifications.
This is easily proven by placing a few identical thermometers next to eachother (electronic, glass or strip). You will find that they more often than not, vary by a degree or so.
In my guppy fry tank I have four thermometers right next to eachother, they are currently showing (celcius):
Marina Aqua-Minder: 27.4
Marina Digital: 26.5 (electronic sensor, not to be confused with the strip below)
Hobby glass: 27
Marina LCD strip: 26/27
Aqua-Minder is always a bit off, showing a higher temperature than all the others.
However, the Marina Digital ones appear to have very good accuracy. I've decided to get one for each tank.
High precision thermometers are available, but they are quite expensive.
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