Thermometer recommendations

NumberFish · Sep 29, 2016

I know this is the time of the year that everyone checks/replaces their heaters. I do NOT currently have one in my tank. I live in south Louisiana and my tank is in a sunny room with the blinds drawn. I have a std 90 gal marine aquarium and according to my coralvue thermometer, it fluctuates from 80-83.5F night to day. I have florescent lights (4 bulb) and a return pump and skimmer pump and 3 flow pumps. My tank and sump tops are open. I do not know if the temps are correct and was wondering what the recommendation is for a really good thermometer? Can you use a kitchen thermometer to spot check? I feel like I need to know my real temp to know:

is my temp really that high
is my thermometer off
do I even need a heater

Can some of you seasoned aquarists please advise me? Thanks!

NumberFish · Sep 29, 2016

What thermometers are you guys using?

melypr1985 · Sep 29, 2016

I think a 3 degree swing is a little bit much during one 24 hours period. It never hurts to have a heater in case mother nature decides to through a curve ball at you this winter. To answer your second question, I use the apex to monitor temp.

NumberFish · Sep 29, 2016

Is there no good option if you do not have a controller?

melypr1985 · Sep 29, 2016

NumberFish said:
Is there no good option if you do not have a controller?

Well I used one of those digital thermometers for a while and it was terrible. Not especially accurate and it was secured in the tank with a suction cup which didn't stay attached to the glass at all. A glass thermometer would be the way you want to go... simple, easy, cheap and it works.

NumberFish · Sep 29, 2016

melypr1985 said:
Well I used one of those digital thermometers for a while and it was terrible. Not especially accurate and it was secured in the tank with a suction cup which didn't stay attached to the glass at all. A glass thermometer would be the way you want to go... simple, easy, cheap and it works.

Is there a glass thermometer that you feel is a quality thermometer?

melypr1985 · Sep 29, 2016

NumberFish said:
Is there a glass thermometer that you feel is a quality thermometer?

They are all pretty much the same to me. There's not really a lot of ways to make one.

NumberFish · Sep 29, 2016

melypr1985 said:
They are all pretty much the same to me. There's not really a lot of ways to make one.

Thanks for the help!

dbl · Sep 29, 2016

Before I ended up buying an Apex, I used the one below. I bought it because of the large numbers since my eyesight isn't that great. I ended up leaving it in the sump and it has always been within .2 degrees of the Apex thermo.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/big-digital-temp-alert-lifegard.html

Xclusive Reef · Oct 10, 2016

dbl said:
Before I ended up buying an Apex, I used the one below. I bought it because of the large numbers since my eyesight isn't that great. I ended up leaving it in the sump and it has always been within .2 degrees of the Apex thermo.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/big-digital-temp-alert-lifegard.html

just wondering DBL what else are you using your Apex for other then temp? just asking cause i want to get a apex just all my equipment i want to get is not compatible with Apex...

dragon99 · Oct 10, 2016

Use more than 1 thermometer if you have them and take a average reading (unless one is reading wildly different).

I used one of these for a few months before getting my Apex, and it's now being moved to the QT. It's a good backup to the heater's internal thermostat.
https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-Temp...1476128365&sr=8-4&keywords=inkbird+thermostat

dbl · Oct 10, 2016

nycluis718 said:
just wondering DBL what else are you using your Apex for other then temp? just asking cause i want to get a apex just all my equipment i want to get is not compatible with Apex...

Well, I control/monitor just above everything with the Apex at this point. Yes, some of the items are just simple on/off commands, but everything tank related (with the exception of my mixing station) is plugged in to an Apex outlet. Having said that, I still only utilize the thing to a very small percentage of it's potential!!!

To be honest, the main reason I ended up with the Apex is for the monitoring and notification features. If I'm gone and something happens and I'm notified, I can take certain steps myself. If it's something beyond what I can do remotely, I can notify one of my "fish friends" to drop by and provide on-site assistance when/if needed. It's a "peace of mind" thing I was willing to splurge on!