This is kind of a silly question but I'm getting tired of reading my little glass thermometer in side the tank. What type thermometers does everyone like/use? I was looking online and saw this digital thermometer It looks like the probe attaches to the inside of the tank and the display is outside. I'm not set on anything just looking. Of course I would prefer something acurate and practical. I'm getting older and like bigger numbers now :duh:
Thermometer question
- Thread starter hike13
- Start date
I just use one of those stick on the front of the tank ones from walmart. They are about 1.50 and are accurate. Maybe you should make this a poll.
I have a digital one like that for my big tank, a different brand though. The other tanks all have inside thermometers. I like the digital a lot, except with the inside ones it seems your temp is very steady. Not so. With the digital one you see the decimal number going up and down a bit. At first it drove me nuts. But the numbers ARE nice and big to see at a glance.
I have a bunch of coralife digital thermometers. It's calibration accuracy is +/- 1.5 degree's, so you have to check each one and take note how well it is calibrated. They only cost $5 to $8.
http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=29481;category_id=1615;pcid1=3231;pcid2=
I also have a Pentair Aquatics Big Digital Temp Alert- Fahrenheit. It cost about $30. Very accurate, but I wouldn't buy another one because they are Too expensive.
http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=29481;category_id=1615;pcid1=3231;pcid2=
I also have a Pentair Aquatics Big Digital Temp Alert- Fahrenheit. It cost about $30. Very accurate, but I wouldn't buy another one because they are Too expensive.
I have a similar digital thermometer on one of my tanks, (sorry can't remember the brand, it was on the packaging but isn't on the thermometer). I like it a lot, easy to read, has maintained a decent accuracy over the time I've had it and its been running for about a year now on the original battery.
Thermometer Calibration
An easy way that anyone can calibrate their own thermometer at least at one point, is to make an ice bath. For this you need distilled water (not tap water), a freezer, an ice cube tray and a blender. Fill the ice cube try with distilled water and freeze it. Next place the distilled water ice cubes in a blender, and crush them up very small. Mix in a little liquid distilled water. The object is to make a distilled water slushie. Place the thermometer into the slushie and give it a few minutes to change indication. It should stop at exactly 0.0°C (32.0°F). If it is correct at this point, your odds are much better that it will read correctly at aquarium temperature.
Note never exceed the range of the thermometer, because the glass ones will break, or the mercury will develop bubbles, and the digital ones can be damaged.
Another note incase your thinking about it, the boiling point of water (100°C, 212°F) does not make as good a temperature reference as the freezing point, because the boiling point varies much more with changes in barometric pressure. This value is also way above the range most thermometers you'd be likely to use on your aquarium.
The best method is to compare it to a calibrated reference thermometer at the temp you are using it at, but most people don't have affordable access to one.
An easy way that anyone can calibrate their own thermometer at least at one point, is to make an ice bath. For this you need distilled water (not tap water), a freezer, an ice cube tray and a blender. Fill the ice cube try with distilled water and freeze it. Next place the distilled water ice cubes in a blender, and crush them up very small. Mix in a little liquid distilled water. The object is to make a distilled water slushie. Place the thermometer into the slushie and give it a few minutes to change indication. It should stop at exactly 0.0°C (32.0°F). If it is correct at this point, your odds are much better that it will read correctly at aquarium temperature.
Note never exceed the range of the thermometer, because the glass ones will break, or the mercury will develop bubbles, and the digital ones can be damaged.
Another note incase your thinking about it, the boiling point of water (100°C, 212°F) does not make as good a temperature reference as the freezing point, because the boiling point varies much more with changes in barometric pressure. This value is also way above the range most thermometers you'd be likely to use on your aquarium.
The best method is to compare it to a calibrated reference thermometer at the temp you are using it at, but most people don't have affordable access to one.