Heater / Thermometer / Thermostat? - Aquarium Advice

pairustwo · 02-15-2007, 09:57 PM

I am currently trying to treat Ich with heat while at the same time trying not to boil my fish's brains.

I've got one of those glass thermometers with a suction cup reading 90 degrees.

I have a 20 gallon tank with a 100w heater.

The weird thing is that the thermometer reads 90 and the heater is set to 86 and is still coming on from time to time. I had the heater cranked up higher but I backed off because I didn't want to go above 90 degrees. Now that I've backed off to 86 degrees I still see the red light come on.

I guess I'm wondering which piece of equipment is most likely in error.
I would guess that a mercury thermometer is a time tested and simple technology that is probably accurate vs. a piece of probably cheap electronics that is my heater.

Thanks for putting my mind at ease.

pairustwo

dont155 · 02-15-2007, 10:06 PM

Trust the thermometer. If you want get another thermometer to be sure.

**Fishyfanatic** · 02-16-2007, 08:32 AM

Don't go by the dial on the heater, go by the thermometer.

02-15-2007, 09:57 PM	#1
pairustwo Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 99	Heater / Thermometer / Thermostat? I am currently trying to treat Ich with heat while at the same time trying not to boil my fish's brains. I've got one of those glass thermometers with a suction cup reading 90 degrees. I have a 20 gallon tank with a 100w heater. The weird thing is that the thermometer reads 90 and the heater is set to 86 and is still coming on from time to time. I had the heater cranked up higher but I backed off because I didn't want to go above 90 degrees. Now that I've backed off to 86 degrees I still see the red light come on. I guess I'm wondering which piece of equipment is most likely in error. I would guess that a mercury thermometer is a time tested and simple technology that is probably accurate vs. a piece of probably cheap electronics that is my heater. Thanks for putting my mind at ease. pairustwo

02-16-2007, 08:32 AM	#3
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,303 Images: 15	Don't go by the dial on the heater, go by the thermometer. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

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02-15-2007, 10:06 PM	#2
dont155 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 32	Trust the thermometer. If you want get another thermometer to be sure.