David R Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 Stick on ones? Digital? Floating glass ones? Best bang for bucks? etc etc I haven't bothered keeping much of an eye on my tanks temps over the years ( :oops: ), always just trusted the heaters thermostats. I want to get something accurate for the big tank to make sure the heaters are keeping up, looking for suggestions... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 i found stick on ones to be really inaccurate i use digital now they are pretty cheap on TM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reptilez Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 i use the floating glass ones which you can stick on the inside of the tank.....very accurate for my tanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 Ive tested lots. simultaneously too. I found the $60 marina aquaminder to be a few degrees out from all the others, which was disappointing. I like digitals with probes that run into the tank, and they are easiest to read at a glance IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 i used to use the digital ones but as teh battery wears down they become less accurate, i now you the glass ones & put one in each end of the tank as a check measure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 I use one of these. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Ki ... 268577.htm I find that they are small, portable, easy to use and very accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikBok Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 i use the cheap glass floating ones. The stick on colour changing ones are only accurate for a few months. Mine are reading about 1-2 degrees higher than the glass ones at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 I have a bunch that look basically like this: I've tested a couple and they're all within a few tenths of each other. I also made an ice/water slush which should have a temperature of 0°c and tested two of them, both read about .1-.2° So, accurate enough for me. I don't think you can get them here anymore though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip™ Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 I also use one of those cheap glass ones that suction on. But have always wondered if the digital ones were a better way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 i just use the normal suction cup ones. The stick on ones are useless in that they provide a best reading based on the temperature of the glass of the tank, and the external temp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 Digital, got one you can grab off me next week David(for free, just needs a new bat). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 Glass with suction cups. Always have, probably always will. Only ever broken one before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diver21 Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 floaty glass ones, but i keep braking them.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 glass with the suction cup. easy as, cheap as, no battery to worry about and all that jazz, and probably the most accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 I have an electronic digital thermometer that is accurate to 0.1 degrees C. and it is the only test kit I have used for years. Good for checking fish tanks, incubators, enclosures etc. It is the same model we used for years testing fridges, freezers and dishwashing machines and when I had the chance to get one at staff rates through a friend I was into it big time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 I have an electronic digital thermometer that is accurate to 0.1 degrees C. and it is the only test kit I have used for years. Good for checking fish tanks, incubators, enclosures etc. It is the same model we used for years testing fridges, freezers and dishwashing machines and when I had the chance to get one at staff rates through a friend I was into it big time. but how much would a really decent digital like that cost to joe on the street? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 I bought it a while ago from Homershams in Christchurch. It is a Center 300 thermometer type k. They have a thinnish wire probe which you can leave in an incubator and continue to test the temperature till you are happy with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 so a small bomb? :lol: sounds like a good buy though... but I'll stick with ol' glassy for now, since I doubt I can afford anything that flash, or justify it to the missus... :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malevolentsparkle Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 all this talk of themometers reminded me to check my temp. its down to 21! somethings not right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikBok Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 all this talk of themometers reminded me to check my temp. its down to 21! somethings not right! how thick is your glass? I have four tanks from 20L to 160L. The two aquaone tanks have thickish glass compared to the other two . One has a Jager heater and the other an aquaone heater. The Jager heater does a superior job at keeping it at the designated temperature but both tanks stay within 1oC. My other two smaller tanks are a blue planet and splishsplash with thin glass.. these are the tanks where I see the greatest fluctuations. At night I wrap a blanket around the sides of the blue planet to prevent heat loss, and the splish splash I drape a trowel over top because the lid has a gap for the HOB filter and heater cables. This seems to keep the temperatures stable on cold nights. If I forget to do it, they are always 1-3oC lower in the morning during winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted July 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 I have a bunch that look basically like this I don't think you can get them here anymore though. Got one like that from Dick Smith a while back for my glasshouse, it measures the temperature at the proble on the end of a long wire and at the actual thermometer part eh? Hadn't even thought of that! Digital, got one you can grab off me next week David(for free, just needs a new bat). Cheers, I need three though, maybe four, and would like to get them all the same model so they're at least all consistent(ly wrong!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 I have one like Ira's as well but the battery died a long time ago. They were about $9.95 on special at Dick Smith's. I use a large (so I can read it easily) glass thermometer 30cm long and as thick as a syphon hose. Grant also has an electronic thermometer but he usually has it with him in the work vehicle and he is never here when I want to check the temperature of the tank! :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 I have one like Ira's as well but the battery died a long time ago. You know they make replacement batteries... Got one like that from Dick Smith a while back for my glasshouse, it measures the temperature at the proble on the end of a long wire and at the actual thermometer part eh? Hadn't even thought of that! The ones I have are specifically for aquariums. They have alarm settings if the temp goes out of range, tropical 24-28c or discus 28-32c. They were great, like Caryl said only about $10. I don't think Dick Smith has sold them for 5 years or more though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malevolentsparkle Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 moved my heater and it seems to have fixed the problem. was trying it in the corner by the filter but these cold nights are too much for it there. in the middle now and its 26 degrees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 I know they have replacement batteries but I have to remember to find out which ones then remember to buy a replacement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.