i do understand convenience, technology and todays modern world, BUT...
why do so many people think that a heater setting on a very simple dial with tiny little numbers printed on it is supposed to tell you what your water temp is? i just don't get it.
i've seen some of the more experienced aquarists even complain they set their heaters to whatever and the temp actually comes out to... whatever. i could see if you're using a digital temp probe to set with, but a dial with numbers printed on it... REALLY??? i mean i've worked with electronics, computers, manufacturing AND printing. there just simply is no way yet to print numbers around a dial and know for sure that those numbers are in the exact spot proportionate to the temps they refer to. not gonna happen cap'n...
too many variables on a rheostat. too many variables in printing. too many variables with human error. i mean even in mass production with a machine intricately doing everything for you a person still has to tell the machine what to do, maintain it, set it, clean it, turn it on, etc.. one groggy eyed morning after a good concert or a bachelor party and thousands of those little printed number sets could easily be on the wrong side of the dial. what's the manufacturer to do, eat the cost of every single one... think not! business works by the bottom line. if every business trashed every product that wasn't perfect our entire country would fail.
i am sorry i felt compelled to write this on your thread. this by no means is aimed at anyone in particular. i have just seen too many threads lately (and not just on this site) by people who have had fish way too long to not know better complaining that their setting is off on their thermometer. no doubt this is probably brought on by more legitimate gripes with newer heaters on previously trusted brands and models. most of the complaints/gripes are completely understandable and i'd want compensation if they were to happen to me also... especially if i opted for a brand because of it's reliability. complaining about a print on a temp dial being off a little in one direction or the other is a little petty imho though. thermometers are a necessity in the event of heater failure anyway so why not go by that and give it a couple days before you add fish... or set it and test it in a bowl or another tank that doesn't already have occupants?
i'm going to end this here so i don't get too far under anybody's skin...
definitely have a regular old glass thermometer first. definitely make sure it shows the same temp as most of the others on the shelf at the very least before you buy it. whether floating or affixed to the glass would be more preference than anything but affixed is simpler. if you want digital i'd say keep it as a backup. batteries dying can cause readings that are way off. if you already have an old fashioned glass one it can always be double checked for accuracy on a digi.
happy hunting and good luck.
