Where to get an accurate thermometer?

maveri9720 · 10-12-2006, 09:19 PM

Hey all, just wondering where I can get an accurate thermometer from, either locally or online? Right now, I have a freebie Coralife Digital thermometer and it has been reading 80.5 or so for the past couple days with no tank lid, 2 external pumps, no heater, MR-2 skimmer and a Tunze 6000 in the tank. I just started cycling my tank on Sunday.

The tank sits in my living room and I keep the A/C around 76 during the day and it gets to about 73-74 at night, but the tank temp has been staying right around 80.

I would like to get a really accurate thermometer to see what the actual temp is to see if there is really a need for a chiller, or if the Coralife is off on the high side, then being able to get by with a couple cooling fans, once I build my canopy and put MH's + VHO's on it. It is a 120g.

I hear of people getting a scientific or whatever it's called, thermometer that has a range of 75 or so to 88 or so that's made of glass, that's supposed to be really accurate, but I don't have the first clue as to where I would go to find one.

I don't want to spend alot of money on this, but I want something that is accurate. A couple degrees off would mean the difference between needing a chiller and being able to get by with a couple cooling fans.

What are you guys/gals opinions? Advice?

Thanks,

Mitch

DevilBoy · 10-12-2006, 09:21 PM

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_...ter.asp?CartId=

Fly Guy · 10-12-2006, 09:28 PM

I like those as well. They are NOT the most accurate...but they are within two degrees and you can figure out exactly how much with a cup of icewater and then you will just know. One great thing abouot them is if you have more than one tank, you can actually run 4 different probes off of one unit, and it reads all 4 in one convenient place

maveri9720 · 10-12-2006, 09:37 PM

I would prefer more than 2 degrees accurate. The Coralife is supposed to be 1.5 degrees accurate. I tried putting the probe in a plastic cup filled 1/2 way with ice cubes and some water and it read 30.7 degrees, which is almost exactly 1.5 degrees off. Granted it wasn't RO/DI water, but it should be close enough.

My only concern from doing this test: Does this mean the therm is 1.7 degrees low? If so, that would mean my tank is 82+ degrees and I really don't think that is right at all. Or could it be off at the extremes, meaning at the cold extreme, it is off on the colder side and on the hotter extreme (I know 80 degrees isn't extreme, but bare with me) it is off on the hotter side?

I just can't see how my tank would be at 82+ degrees with only a Tunze 6000 in it and 2 external pumps with an open top and no lights on it. And in a room that is climate controlled to around 76 in the day and 73 or so at night.

Anything more accurate out there???

Fly Guy · 10-12-2006, 09:53 PM

I kind of look at it this way.....the digital thermometers that have been mentioned ARE accurate....its the calibration that varies from unit to unit. Once you know that, you just adjust your equipment accordingly.

As far as your heat,what kind of lighting are we talking about??? nevermind...you said NO light.

??? I dont know...what kind of external pumps??? Something is adding quite a bit of heat to your system it sounds like

maveri9720 · 10-12-2006, 10:00 PM

Yea, I know. I have 2 Blueline 55HD's as my return and skimmer pumps.

The stand it sits on has the back open and I cut a big rectangle out of the right side of the stand to be able to get some things in and out and the door I made there is off too, so it has plenty of circulation.

My wife checked the temp a couple hours ago and she said it was at 78, but that's b/c I opened the windows in the house to air it out and it was breezy and cool out, so that lowered the tank temp some.

But since I set it up on Sunday, it has been between 80-81, never below that. Definitely not something I was expecting. I specifically got external pumps to reduce heat added to the water and I thought I would be around 77-78 degrees throughout the day and alittle cooler at nights.

Just trying to see if I have an accurate thermometer and might need to add a chiller, or if it is off on the high side and I am actually fine temp wise.

Fly Guy · 10-12-2006, 10:05 PM

If you are 80-82 WITHOUT lighting...once you put MH on there youre gonna HAVE to get a chiller.

The PCI 1/10 is probably the most economical one that would work for you and it is a good chiller. I use one each on my 90 and my 225 and it handles them both no prob.

The bonus to a chiller like that is not only to chill your water, but it has a controller on it to run your heater as well, virtually eliminating a heater malfunction from ever cooking your tank. Which is huge plus as it happens to people all the time regardless of what heater they use. A little extra insurance if you will

maveri9720 · 10-12-2006, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

If you are 80-82 WITHOUT lighting...once you put MH on there youre gonna HAVE to get a chiller.

That's what I am thinking. So that's why it's important for me to find out whether this cheap digital thermometer is giving me accurate readings or high readings. Accurate = chiller / Not accurate = cooling fans will suffice.

maveri9720 · 10-13-2006, 12:56 PM

Bump.