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Post by Emerson on Jul 3, 2003 13:34:52 GMT -5
I have been having a hard time keeping my water temps consistent -- particularly at night. The temp usually stays around 78, 79 during the day, but at night it will drop anywhere between 74 and 76. In one case, it was almost down to 73! This is with a heater (Hagen 50-watt, over-the-top model). I have written to the maker several times, and was told that maybe I had a defective heater. So, I dutifully went down to the pet store and bought another unit just like it (seeing as how it is the only brand they carry), and plugged it in when I got home from work. After some back and forth on the knobs, I finally got it to stablize at 78 by the time we went to bed, and I checked on it around 12:30 a.m. -- still around 78. This morning, though, same thing: temps dropped down to 75/76. Why should this be? So I fired off another note to the maker, and just received this reply: If you have an air conditioner that you are running in the evening that may be making the room temperture drop, this could be the reason for the fluctuation. Room temperature fluctuations will effect the operation of any heater.
Is this true? I know that a temp or two one way or the other isn't a problem, but it doesn't make sense to me that any heater would be affected by room temperature to the extent that it wouldn't keep water temps relatively consistent. What am I missing?  |
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Post by subo on Jul 3, 2003 13:50:24 GMT -5
sef,
I love your questions - they're so like mine!
Right now I don't have heaters because everybody's in one-gallon bowls & my house is warm enough (even with A/C) due to summer heat. (My temps fluctuate slightly from day to night, too, which is understandable.)
However, I am/was considering Hagens (25W) in 2-3 gallon tanks this coming winter so that temps will stabilize... So, I am anxious to hear responses to this as well.
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Post by Betta MVP on Jul 3, 2003 14:25:45 GMT -5
sef,
You know, as much discussion as we have had about this I can't believe I never asked about where the tank is located. Is it near a vent or draft or window? This may explain a lot, but I am not real sure if this fluctuation is normal for every heater.
I'm going to try an experiment that may or may not help figure out this riddle. I have 4 tanks with heaters in them situated in different parts of the house. I will keep a very close eye on the temps during the day and at night and see if the temp on them fluctuates at all. My 5 gallon has a hang on the back heater, but I can't remember the brand right off hand. My 29 gallon and my 5 gallon fry tanks have Ebo Jager submersible heaters. And my 10 gallon hex has a penn plax submersible heater. I've got AC running and sometimes the house does get a little cooler at night. So I'll let you know the results of my test.
We'll figure it out, I know we will!
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Post by Emerson on Jul 3, 2003 18:00:50 GMT -5
sef, I love your questions - they're so like mine! Hi subo! Sometimes I feel like I ask too many questions, but the people here have all been so patient and nice, and their suggestions are always right on the mark. I honestly don't know what I would have done without this board, because my "First Aquarium" book said NOTHING about cycling, and there is so much misinformation out on the web about Bettas (not to mention our own pet store owner, who said it was perfectly all right to use distilled water! Yikes!). Anyway, I figure the only way to learn is to ask! Who knows, maybe someday we'll be knowledgeable enough to help somebody else out!  |
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Post by Emerson on Jul 3, 2003 18:26:58 GMT -5
BettaMVP, Ah, good question! Well, I placed the tank away from air ducts and away from the windows; of course, in a small apartment, you can't really escape the air conditioning no matter where you go!  No appliances over there, either; the tank just sits on a bookcase against the wall. The whole thing has me stumped. Hubby says the temp was 79-80 all day today, and that's where it is right now. We had the air on all day, although it wasn't as low as it usually is (it's on 72). We keep the house pretty chilly, but it seems the temp would flux all of the time -- not just at night. Horatio has a light on top of the tank; it's just a regular 15-watt bulb. That does heat the water surface, I do know, and at night of course the light is turned off. But even so, during the day his light is not always on, and yet we don't see that big jump in the temperature. I even tried adding more water to the tank, after the manufacturer emailed me again and said that the water "must cover the heater's water line." Geez! I didn't even realize there was a water line! We were 1/8" shy of reaching the heater's water line, and I wondered if it might affect the heater's performance in some way, but then, once again, you'd think it would be erratic all the timeAnyway, I really appreciate your offer to do some testing and see what you come up with. I'm at a loss! |
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Post by subo on Jul 3, 2003 18:45:39 GMT -5
sef,
At least you ask questions! I "snooped" this board for a month before I registered & started to post!
Yes, many helpful, experienced contributors here. BettaMVP is always willing to advise & seems particularly wise when it comes to tank situations (cycling, filters, heating, etc.).
Best of fun w/Horatio. He is one lucky, spoiled boy! : )
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Post by Emerson on Jul 3, 2003 20:53:01 GMT -5
Subo, I feel a correction is in order! When I said maybe "we" would eventuallly become knowledgeable enough to lend help to others, I should have said "I." In looking at your response to the person needing help with fin rot, you gave some really good feedback and advice. So, didn't mean to lump you in with me; just speaking on behalf of all newbies here. But I'd say you have a lot more experience in this area already than I do!  Yes, BettaMVP has been extremely helpful with tank conditions and, well, everything else for that matter. Quite a few others have jumped to the rescue, too, even though it is clear by now that I am quite the worry wort! ;D So glad to have found this place, and to have the opportunity to meet caring people such as yourself! sef |
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Post by Betta MVP on Jul 6, 2003 18:29:05 GMT -5
I just got back from our great 4th of July weekend, so now I will start my testing of the temps. I don't always keep a real close eye on them, but I really don't think they fluctuate that much. I'll write down the temps at midday, right before I go to bed, and in the morning when I get up. I'll also write down what temp the thermostat in the house is at when I take the readings.
How long does it take for you to complete Horatio's water changes? I think if the water is normally just at the water line on the heater, you might want to start turning off the heater when you take water out. Don't turn it down, just unplug it and when you plug it back in, it should bring the temp back to what you have it set for.
I'll post my temp test results tomorrow.
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Post by Betta MVP on Jul 7, 2003 10:01:21 GMT -5
The results ... drumroll please LOL.
10 gallon hex w/ submersible Penn Plax heater:
3pm - 80 Degrees
10pm - 80 Degrees
8am - 80 Degrees
5 gallon w/ hang on the back Aquaculture heater:
3pm - 80 Degrees
10pm - 80 Degrees
8am - 79 Degrees
5 gallon fry tank w/submersible Ebo Jager heater:
3pm - 81 Degrees
10pm - 81 Degrees
8am - 81 Degrees
29 gallon w/submersible Ebo Jager heater:
3pm - 79 Degrees
10pm - 79 Degrees
8am - 79 Degrees
The temp in the house at 3pm and 10pm was 75 degrees. It was 72 degrees at 8am and the only one that had any temp fluctuation was the 5 gallon with the hang on the back heater. This is the cheap heater that originally came with my 5 gallon set up. I've got a 15 watt incandescent bulb on the 5 gallon tank too, probably like yours, which may be the reason for the 1 degree drop in that tank overnight.
Perhaps if the temperature in my house had fluctuated more than the 3 degrees that it did, the temps in the tanks would have too. Maybe we could get some input from others with heaters and see if theirs fluctuate too.
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Post by Emerson on Jul 7, 2003 12:38:19 GMT -5
Wow! These results are pretty interesting. So the only one showing any flux at all is the 5 gallon with cheap heater -- similar to my situation (I paid $8.99 for the heater, but I've seen it for about $5 on the web). Our house stays a pretty constant 72 during the day, but *may* drop as low as 70 at night. 71 is about average. (Yes, we have polar bear blood). ;D
I did a partial water change yesterday evening and unplugged the heater. It eventually stablized at 80 last night before we went to bed, but was back down to 77 this a.m.
I'd be interested to see if others notice this, especially in less expensive heaters. It is the only model/brand our pet store carries, so I may need to go out on the web if I decide to invest in something more reliable (and I like your earlier suggestion about submersible models).
Thanks again for your help on this!
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Post by BettaBGood on Jul 8, 2003 14:33:54 GMT -5
Hi sef!
I just scanned this thread & didn't notice any mention of the type/style of themometer you're using. (i.e., stick-on, digital, floating, etc...)
BettaMVP - what style are your thermometers?
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Post by Emerson on Jul 8, 2003 16:50:50 GMT -5
Hi sef! I just scanned this thread & didn't notice any mention of the type/style of themometer you're using. (i.e., stick-on, digital, floating, etc...) BettaMVP - what style are your thermometers? Mine is free-floating w/ suction cup, and affixed on the opposite end of the tank from the heater. |
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Post by BettaBGood on Jul 8, 2003 16:56:40 GMT -5
Oh well, guess that rules out possible fluctuations due to your air temp... I thought maybe you had stick-ons.
Also, it looks like BettaMVP has the same type as your (from fish pics on website)...
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Post by Betta MVP on Jul 8, 2003 19:24:44 GMT -5
That's a good point about the thermometer. I can't believe I didn't think of that one (kick myself).
I use the same kind as you do sef, also placed at the opposite end from the heater.
Yeah I don't like the stick on thermometers, they are not accurate at all as they also measure the temp in the room. I have one on my ten gallon hex, but it's only there because someone gave me the tank and I couldn't get it off LOL.
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No appliances over there, either; the tank just sits on a bookcase against the wall.