Heater ?'s

Ok so I bought this heater today Hydor Theo Aquarium Heaters - Heating - Fish - PetSmart

It's the 50watt version.

I also bought this little thermometor (it's actually a coralife but im sure they are the same)

Zoo Med Digital Thermometer at PETCO

I also intalled it on my JBJ picotope as seen here

http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off-your-fish-tanks/ryans-jbj-pico-73040.html

When I plugged in the thermometer it read 72 so I plugged in the little heater and set it at 78 according to the instuctions they say it will turn off automatically once that temp is reached and will maintain that temp.

Well tank was getting up to 81. I have now turned the heater all the way down to 71 and it still keeps kicking on and my tank is at 80.6 according to the thermometer???????

any ideas?

 

Heaters with internal thermostats like that are notorious for failing on. I'm not sure I've heard of one failing right out of the box but it's certainly possible. I would return it.

 

Do you have another thermometer to verify the Coralifes readings? Coralifes own error range is 4 degrees from the factory, and often times they are even more inaccurate than that. I wouldn't do anything until verifying the temp with an additional thermometer.

 

sounds like the thermo is off a tad i have the same one with a glass backup and the digi is always off a couple degrees

 

Ok with that being said. I have 3 of these thermometers going right now. One on my 135g
another on my 75 and last on my picotope.

What therms are available that have accurate readings?

Im limited on choices of heaters based on the small size pico tank

 

After you buy a heater, I believe you are suppose to soak it in your tank for 24 hours without plugging it in to "calibrate" the thermostat. Or at least thats what the instructions said to do for mine. But then again I keep mine at (about) 81 but the temp stays about 77-79.

Some heaters can be off a bit. As long as you can get it stable.