Thermometer placement and backgrounds

[Finzzup]

I honestly tried searching for this info but can't find it, so am asking here again. :)

Where does the thermometer go in the tank? I have it right next to the heater because that's where it's convenient to me, but am worried I might get too high of a reading there. It'll be a hassle to change it, so before I do, I just want to know if it's okay in it's current spot or if it should be moved away from the heater.

And this is probably a really dumb question -- but if I were to buy a background for the tank, does it go IN the tank or somehow taped to the back of the tank? If it goes in, I guess I'm out of luck! If it goes on the outside, how would I get it on there smoothly??? Tape would show.

THANKS again for the help to this obvious newbie! :p

[Anton Wernher]

I would locate the thermometer on one of the two sides. This makes for easy readings and will probably give you a better gauge of the avg. temp.(though hopefully there isn't much variance between the area around the heater and the water further away. If there is you probably should place the heater in area with more water current.

The backgrounds you are refering to go on the outside of the tank. You can get it to stick to the back by placing some sort oil(for example cooking oil) to the between the background and the glass.

[Finzzup]

Thank you Anton!!!

[JSchmidt]

I place thermometers (or probes for external models) about 1/2 down the tank (with regards to height) away from the heater. Close placement to the heater will definitely give you falsely high readings.

Jim

[NJ Devils Fan]

Of course you shouldn't have it near the heater. You put the background outside of the tank, you tape it on.

[TnCgal]

Finzzup,

Some people Super Glue their backing in place. Tape is good, but it can get moist underneath and stop sticking after a while ! :)

[gcvt]

Another method is to smear some petroleum jelly on the 'image-side' of the background, stick it to the outside of the glass, and use a squeegy (or credit card) to smooth out the bubbles and distribute the jelly. This will allow you to remove the background later if you want to change the look of your tank,

Oh, and I place my thermometers at the opposite end of the tank as the heater.

HTH! :)

[Finzzup]

Thanks again for the help!!! I'm sorry to ask such 'new' questions! :rolleyes:

I've moved the thermometer and it still reads the same; and will continue to search for a background. The only one the LFS has looks kinda cheesy to me -- like an underground ocean with fish and even little divers.

[Elmo]

Take a look at the back side of the background that your LFS has. Often they are black or a blue that you might like.

[beviking]

As Elmo said, most have a backside and if you're wondering (as I did) who would put a plain background on the tank (especially black!), the answer is many of us! Mine happens to be black. I slid mine between the frame and glass at the top and bottom and used little pieces of tape for the sides. Good luck!

[NJ Devils Fan]

Yea, a black background is cool.

[NotGumbel]

My HOB filter does a good job of holding the background in place ... assisted by a few rolled up pieces of clear packing tape on the ends, as needed.

HTH
Dude

[johnnyxxl]

I free float one thermometer and have one in the front corner of the tank. I taped my background to a thin piece of viener plywood and slid it on the back of the tank using the hob filter to hold it in place.

[steveywinet]

I've been lurking around here for many, many weeks. I don't have many posts, but have been learning quite a lot. I did quite a bit of checking into backrounds before I got my tank started and here's what I found: Most of the officiados go with either a solid blue or black background. I had been looking into something more of the photo type backgrounds (rocky, planted, etc...) but with some research decided on a solid dark blue back ground. The one I got has a self adhesive that is activated by water and so it can only be easily applied to a tank that has not been setup. I have heard of several accounts of people using mineral oil, vegetabale oil, etc, to adhere a background. What I would pass on to you is this... Had I had it to do over again, I would go with a black background.

[daveedka]

Oceanvisions self adhesive background !!!! IMO the best available as far as a good looking background, that actually sticks to the tank and stays there. I've tried paint, I've tried prints, I've tried posterboard, I've tried plain plastic backgrounds, I've tried mineral oil, petroleum jelly, spray adhesive etc, etc. The oceanvisions stuff is flat out awesome. I spray it with glass cleaner place it and squeegie it until all bubbles are gone. The glass cleaner will go away and the background will be stuck tight and look great.

As far as thermometer, put a stick on away from the heater if you want, in a handy to read spot, and then buy a $3 floating thermometer and let it float around wen you really want to check things close.
dave

[steveywinet]

OcenVisions -- that's it!! Couldn't recall the name, but my LFS carries it so it shouldn't be that hard to find.

Off topic: BTW Daveedka, I was following your thread on problems with Vals and I think between yourself and the other memebers who contributed, you have solved a big problem for me -- thanks a bunch!

[judgemax]

I have several different tanks and use several different backgrounds i have all black on my twenty and for my 29 i have a planted scene which looks very similar to the scene i created in the tank ..on my ten i use solid blue because it enhances the enviroment there i recomend the double sided background from any lfs because you tape or stick it to the back i like to change my tanks everynow and then and prefer not to have a permanent background because the original may not go with the next design its fairly cheap and then you can try it out ..and for future reference the background is returnable at most stores because it is cut to genaric sizes take it home look and if you dont like return and get a new one .. :D

[homerHart]

My background is on the inside of the glass i.e. between the water and the glass - I read up about the one that I had and it stated that you could do both - when I tried it on the outside you could not see it due to the mirror effect of the water and the glass - on the inside it is perfect - the shop even had special pads that stuck it on the inside in the water but I didn't bother with them as the water pressure holds it in place.