Question about heater

[picture_117]

If the heater is touching the substrate just a bit does it matter?

I have PFS and the heater is sort of resting on top of it, there's nothing wrong with that is there?

 

[librarygirl]

I really have no idea. If you're concerned about it you can raise it up a bit so it isn't touching the sand? Or if it's too high you can angle it so it's still underwater but not touching the bottom.

 

[picture_117]

Yeah I couldn't raise it up, I angled it diagonally.

For the first 24 hours does the heater take time to heat up the tank?

 

[George9]

If the water you put in is cold, I found it took my tank a good one and a half days to get to the perfect temperature.

After that, it will only kick on if the Water falls below the allotted temp.

 

[picture_117]

Oh okay yeah, the tank was probably below 70. It's cycling though lol. It's at 76 now set temp is 82.

 

[librarygirl]

Yes it probably could. Did you let the heater float in the water for a while before you plugged it in? I'm not sure if that's necessary, but the instructions usually say to do that. When I refilled last night my water was very very cold (fishless cycle, don't worry lol), the temp plummeted from 84 to below 70. The heater took a good hour or two to get the temp back up, so starting from scratch I guess it could take that long to heat up initially. If you can get an in-tank mercury thermometer to stick on the glass just to make sure the heater is working properly, it might be a good idea. I keep a thermometer just so I know the actual temp of the water matches what I set the heater to.

 

[picture_117]

Yes it said 30 minutes but I got side tracked so it was much longer than that. Yes I have a glass thermometer measuring the temp it seems to be working.

 

[George9]

My tank water was 40 degrees when I pit it on, no wonder why it took so long!

 

[picture_117]

My tank water was 40 degrees when I pit it on, no wonder why it took so long!

How was it that cold!

 

[George9]

I wasn't paying attention and it was February, so the cold was like mega cold. But your should heat up pretty fasa!

 

[picture_117]

Haha 40 degree water is cooold. Water is warming up. Hopefully tomorrow morning it should be set temp.

 

[George9]

Tomorrow morning the water will be perfect! I hope your fishless cycle goes well! Did you start today? Or is tomorrow the day?

 

[picture_117]

I started on the 31st! But no heater I'm thinking slowed down the cycle?

 

[George9]

It may have slowed the cycle a little. Do you have nitrite readings yet?

 

[picture_117]

Yes nitrItes are off the chart!
Also, do you have experience with the API master test kit?

 

[George9]

Yeah it's the only one I use!

 

[picture_117]

Okay well question!

On the nitrAte test, is the test supposed to be add bottle 1 & shake for a bit and then add bottle 2 and shake for a minute? I know it says it in the instructions but I needed clarification on that.

 

[George9]

I was very confused on that too. You put the bottle one drops in, then bottle two then shake.