Heater Help Please

[mostlycichlids]

I have a 55 gallon freshwater tank just fish two hang on filters and pump with airstones. Just a couple of days ago I noticed my heater was on more I kept an eye on it. The temp was set at 76f i noticed the temp had risen to 80 then to 82 the heater light still on so I turned it down to 73F on the heater. kept an eye on it it appeared to stay 76-78f for two days. woke up this morning and temp was 82 heater still running. I bought a new heater today set it to 76 watched it and the same result heater stays on even when water is 78. I have 2 thermometers one glass and one digital at opposite ends of the tank so I know my readings are correct. Any suggestions do I have two bad heaters this is very stupid I just cant figure out why. Please Help

[OrionGirl]

How did you install the heaters?

[mostlycichlids]

they are fully sumersible I used the suction cups and hung them verticle so the bottom of the heater was about an inch or inch and a half from the bottom of the tank

[nerdyguy83]

How's your water circulation? If it isn't great, the water won't be a uniform temperature and the heater could go one extreme or the other by being isolated in a hot or cold spot.

[mostlycichlids]

I have pretty good circulation I have had this tank set up about 6 months with the heater in the same spot and have had no problems in the past with this.

[raymgnz]

Whenever I install a new heater I turn it to the lowest setting, put it in the tank for about 20 mins then plug it in. After 24 hours I see what the temp is then turn it up 1 notch every 8 hours untill it gets to where I want it. What kind of heater did you buy some are much better than others.

[mostlycichlids]

its a hydor Theo heater 200 watt it has a it has a temp setting with deg on the selector i set it in the tank unplugged for 20 min set it to 76 and then plugged it in I will try turning it down to see if that works.

[justintoxicated]

the settings on the heaters always seem way off in my experience as well,

My Theo is set for 73 and it keeps the tank at 80.

My Stealth is set around 75 and keeps the tank at 78.


That is untill My lights heat the tanks up beyond this durring the day...

[mostlycichlids]

That is what i wanted to hear I feel better now that someone has the same problem. I will experiment with that good thing I am not seeking 73 or 74 I would not even be able to turn it down anymore crapy heaters anyway.

[webcricket]

I use the marineland submersible neptune heaters - they were recommended to me by a friend who keeps a couple of 55 gallon tanks so they do work in larger tanks as well. They don't have the precise temperature markers to turn the dial to, but as the manual says, if it's at the center line, the temp is 78 - a few degrees turn towards the plus or minus raises or lowers the temp. It was pretty easy to get my tank regulated to 76 degrees within a 24 hour period and I've not had any fluctuations since then. By and far the best experience I've had with a heater!

[mostlycichlids]

Thanks for all the great advice I looked at my 120 gallon and its a steady 77 I have 2 heaters one set at 75 the other 73 if I get a new on maybe ill try the marineland neptune I guess if you have one with no refrence of degrees then you would not have to worry as much. sometimes the old school way is better adjusting from off and going up from there

[naps]

the settings on the heaters always seem way off in my experience as well,

My Theo is set for 73 and it keeps the tank at 80.

My Stealth is set around 75 and keeps the tank at 78.


That is untill My lights heat the tanks up beyond this durring the day...
I feel ya!! I'm batteling getting my new tank at the right temp too. I had the temp set at 80 on the thermometer and I was going up to 85-87 with the lights. Too hot!!!

[mostlycichlids]

I recently fixed my heater problem my theo I actually took back at the lowest setting it held temps at 78 and I could not turn it down anymore. I retrurned it for a marineland neptune it was the best thing I could of done. I dropped it in set it to the middle and guess what temp is between 75-76. I would reccomend this heater to anyone thanks webcricket the heater is great.