debabelz

I was just trying to see if the water would heat up any, there is no fish in there at the moment, and when I just had one heater going the water was stone cold now that I have both going it is back up to 25-26

I have 2 sunsun 200w heaters in my tank, no fish at the moment... I have them both set at 32 but the temperature is only 24-25 degrees shouldn't it be 32? I unplugged one of them to see if one would do the job but the temperature wasn't even registering on the thermometer ( a stick on one) I would have thought that having them set at a high temperature they would be going all or most of the time but the light is only on briefly. I have no idea how many liters it holds but it is 31cm x 35 x 123 can anyone help???

I bought a sunsun submersible heater a couple of days ago followed the instructions to a T and it isn't working properly! I also tryed to adjust it as it is set on 26 but the dial won't move at all, when I feel it in the water its coldish, unplug it and take it out the water its hot.... theres a button on the top which in the picture shows popped up what is that for....what is going on?

Yes exactly I do want to do it right this time.... I will get an ammonia test, have tested the pH and it is 7 thats good right? what else do you have to do to cycle a tank? I have plants in there at the moment so have the filter and heater on 24/7 what else do I need to do? I want to mostly have tetras but would like some gouramis too

A few years ago I got given a 140 liter fish tank, it had 6 angels, 3 sharks 2 gouramis and about 4 other can't remember what they weres in it, I cycled the tank before putting them in but never tested the water or anything... after about a year my filter packed up and I never got around to getting another one and I only did 'water changes' when the water evaporated so low that I nearly had to refill the whole tank, the poor fish survived like this for over a year until my heater also packed up and they died... so how did they live so long and seemingly happily in such conditions? I have no idea what the pH of the water was or the ammonia level or anything else but surely it couldn't have been very good especially without a filter, is it normal for fish to survive in these conditions or did I just get lucky? anyway after having no fish for a couple of years now i want to start again but properly this time... I have a big filter and am letting the tank cycle, I have quite a few rocks, driftwood and plants in it and a silica sand substrate.... when should I test the water and do I have to test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates or will a pH test be enough?