Whats a good thermometer to use?

reice05 · 07/13/2009, 05:12 PM

From what i been hearing people say i made a mistake and bought one of the coralife digital thermometers. I've heard they are in accurate so i was curious if anyone could suggest a good thermometer??

Superstretch18 · 07/13/2009, 05:29 PM

I know that not everyone is going to agree with me, but unless I owned a temperature controller or needed an alarm, I would never waste electricity / an outlet on a thermometer. I have two different brands of liquid crystal thermometers on my tank; one on the sump and one on the tank. They both read the same, so I'm OK with the measurement that they offer.

In your case, I would probably double check the one you had with a $2 glass thermometer. If your particular thermometer is accurate and you are happy with it, I wouldn't even worry about it...

lotusstar · 07/13/2009, 05:47 PM

Couldn't agree more with this. Wasting an outlet or anything seems rather unnecessary. I also use just 2 simple thermometers and they both stay very very similar in range so sure I am good.

lmsmith · 07/13/2009, 05:50 PM

I use one cheap thermometer and my fingers. I also have 3 heaters with thermostats. I can tell pretty quickly if the fish are looking strange. It might be different it I was not going to be home everyday, but while I am, I'm happy with my cheap, manual read thermometer.

Aquarist007 · 07/13/2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lmsmith
I use one cheap thermometer and my fingers. I also have 3 heaters with thermostats. I can tell pretty quickly if the fish are looking strange. It might be different it I was not going to be home everyday, but while I am, I'm happy with my cheap, manual read thermometer.

I use my finger for testing temperature

As far as heaters go--I just don't trust them and only use them in the winter time. I had heaters explode, release stray voltage and outright give me a good shock.

Crustman · 07/13/2009, 06:36 PM

Get a good digital one at a Refrigeration supply store. I have a pocket one from Cooper that is guaranteed accurate. Model DT 300

SC Trojan · 07/13/2009, 07:02 PM

+1 on the simple floating glass thermometer, another than the occasional bulid up of coralline algae on it one of the cheapest most reliable pieces of equipment ive ever purchased.

dots · 07/13/2009, 07:09 PM

A controller tends to be at the top of the list for most. Ranco, American Marine, a Neptune, Reefkeeper, and Octopus are common ones.

As far a the LCD's, some I haven't seen too many issues with are the Rainbow Lifeguards.

Biggest thing to remember, they are all going to be off a little in accuracy and precision, so have multiple and either average them, pick one you trust and set your temperature in a middle range for wiggle room.

Personally, I got tired of all the "digital" numbers, and wanted a "measuring stick" I could trust, so I bought a glass thermometer that is NIST certified and has a resolution of .1 degree Celsius. I use it to calibrate my digitals.

So guess what, I have a controller and an American Pinpoint......guess which is the most accurate?

Neither, it turns out the digital controller on my worn out Polar Bear Chiller is the most accurate out of the three.......Food for thought.

Superstretch18 · 07/13/2009, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lmsmith
I use one cheap thermometer and my fingers...

Quote:

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
I use my finger for testing temperature

I'm glad I'm not the only one that double checks temp with their finger...

07/13/2009, 05:12 PM	#1
reice05 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 341	Whats a good thermometer to use? From what i been hearing people say i made a mistake and bought one of the coralife digital thermometers. I've heard they are in accurate so i was curious if anyone could suggest a good thermometer??

07/13/2009, 05:29 PM	#2
Superstretch18 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 571	I know that not everyone is going to agree with me, but unless I owned a temperature controller or needed an alarm, I would never waste electricity / an outlet on a thermometer. I have two different brands of liquid crystal thermometers on my tank; one on the sump and one on the tank. They both read the same, so I'm OK with the measurement that they offer. In your case, I would probably double check the one you had with a $2 glass thermometer. If your particular thermometer is accurate and you are happy with it, I wouldn't even worry about it... __________________ -Shaun- ...like making a pen that works in space. Yes, you spent $1 billion NASA and got it to work, good job. But totally impractical when the Russians spent a few cents and simply used pencils... Current Tank Info: TBD

07/13/2009, 06:36 PM	#6
Crustman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 941	Get a good digital one at a Refrigeration supply store. I have a pocket one from Cooper that is guaranteed accurate. Model DT 300 __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: 65 gallon reef with 8 T-5's, ATI Blue Plus, Blue Special, KZ Fiji Purple, Vertex IN 100, phosphate and carbon reactor Coralife Turbo Sea Pump

07/13/2009, 07:09 PM	#8
dots Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 6,258	A controller tends to be at the top of the list for most. Ranco, American Marine, a Neptune, Reefkeeper, and Octopus are common ones. As far a the LCD's, some I haven't seen too many issues with are the Rainbow Lifeguards. Biggest thing to remember, they are all going to be off a little in accuracy and precision, so have multiple and either average them, pick one you trust and set your temperature in a middle range for wiggle room. Personally, I got tired of all the "digital" numbers, and wanted a "measuring stick" I could trust, so I bought a glass thermometer that is NIST certified and has a resolution of .1 degree Celsius. I use it to calibrate my digitals. So guess what, I have a controller and an American Pinpoint......guess which is the most accurate? Neither, it turns out the digital controller on my worn out Polar Bear Chiller is the most accurate out of the three.......Food for thought. __________________ ~Doug

07/13/2009, 05:47 PM	#3
lotusstar Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: temple, TX Posts: 327	Couldn't agree more with this. Wasting an outlet or anything seems rather unnecessary. I also use just 2 simple thermometers and they both stay very very similar in range so sure I am good.

07/13/2009, 05:50 PM	#4
lmsmith Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 323	I use one cheap thermometer and my fingers. I also have 3 heaters with thermostats. I can tell pretty quickly if the fish are looking strange. It might be different it I was not going to be home everyday, but while I am, I'm happy with my cheap, manual read thermometer.

07/13/2009, 07:02 PM	#7
SC Trojan Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: perris, cali Posts: 137	+1 on the simple floating glass thermometer, another than the occasional bulid up of coralline algae on it one of the cheapest most reliable pieces of equipment ive ever purchased.