thermometer insanity!

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drnsee

New Member
OK, so I started getting suspicious of the readings of the only thermometer in my tank. It's your basic glass with mercury and suction cup to the wall thermometer. So I got one of those standing glass/mercury thermometers to place in another spot in the tank and a coralife digital one to take readings in the back chambers. K...

Well the first glass suction cup one said 82...the new standing glass one said 78...and the digital one said 80.7 I was like, "Hmmm...interesting". So I actually put them all side by side and checked back in an hour...all the same (lights off mind you).

Hmmm...uh, which one do I believe? Am I just getting some bad luck with accurate glass thermometers? I know digital ones over time can become unreliable. So can somebody recommend a good glass brand? lol. :bash1:
 
KoNP

KoNP

New Member
I'd go for the digital reading if I were you. Simply because, as an electronic device they'd be calibrated a great deal better than your standard glass-and-alcohol/mercury. I know when I changed I realised my tank had been running hotter during the day and cooler during the night than the standard thermometer had shown. Part of one of the things that went wrong with my tank, at any rate. :???:
 
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drnsee

New Member
KoNP said:
I'd go for the digital reading if I were you. Simply because, as an electronic device they'd be calibrated a great deal better than your standard glass-and-alcohol/mercury. I know when I changed I realised my tank had been running hotter during the day and cooler during the night than the standard thermometer had shown. Part of one of the things that went wrong with my tank, at any rate. :???:
Click to expand...
I trust the digital for now, ONLY because it is brand new. However, after reading reviews and doing research, I found that digitals end up being very inaccurate months down the road. I'm going to ask my local LFS for a recommendation here. I think it is critical I find the correct reading and down the road accurate reading of my tank at any given moment. I'm just at a loss and very distraught over how the glass ones can be so off on calibrations! What an eye opener!
 
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reefman23

New Member
The coralife digital thermometer's accuracy range is +-1.5 degrees, just FYI. That isnt a very accurate range.

Jesse
 
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davenia7

New Member
From what I've experienced, the glass/ alcohol seem to be the most accurate over the long term. If u read them right. But really, in reefing, exact temp isn't as important as stability.
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
Quite true about the stability. But I would like something to calibrate against. For prosperity's sake at least. :lol:
 
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reefman23

New Member
The AC Jr works great. The best thing is that it will control the heater AND a fan/cooler so that it minimizes temp swing. Plus, if the heater gets stuck on, it doesnt matter because the AC Jr will turn it off. Also, if the tank does get above a specified temp, you can program it to turn off the lights, pumps, etc automatically to cut heat sources.

And I agree with davenia that the glass/alcohol thermometers are probably more accurate. but also like mentioned above temp swings are more important to avoid than any specific temp.

Jesse
 
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