Water change temperature gauge

[twb716]

I recently posted a question about the best way to monitor the temperature of the water being replaced during water changes. I decided (after some thermometer investigation) that building something myself would be my best option. Here's the setup, total cost= less than $10:

1) Go to Home Depot and get a male and a female hose adapter. The female end should be the right size to fit on your faucet, the male adapter should be the right size to fit on your Python/refilling hose.

2) Use some 3/4" aquarium tubing to connect them together. You should cut a piece that's about 10" long.

3) Pick up a meat thermometer from Walmart (I used an analog one because I thought it would give a more accurate reading) and pierce the aquarium tubing so that the tip of the thermometer rests in the male hose adapter. Now you are done.

Please see my pics, and post threads with questions/comments. Thanks.


TB

 

[JSchmidt]

As a lover of gadgets (esp. homemade ones!) I think that's pretty cool. It's not really necessary, though. You can hand-check water temp close enough to keep all but the most sensitive fish happy, even when changing large percentages of water. Cool job, though. I wonder if there will be any problem with leaking over time at the point of insertion thru the hose?

Jim

 

[twb716]

Thanks for the comments. I am doing very large water changes, with not only sensitive fish, but lately with sick fish as well. I needed to keep the temp as close to the tank water as possible in order to not stress the fish. For under $10, I figured I couldn't go wrong. I thought about the leaking tube possibility, and have sealed the ring with aquarium sealant. Thanks again for the comments.

TB

 

[JSchmidt]

With sick and/or sensitive fish, caution is not a bad thing...

JIm

 

[beviking]

Totally agree with JSchmidt on both accounts!