Eheim External Filter Hoses Really Dirty

[gh74]

Hi guys,just back from my holidays,and when i looked at the tank when i got in the hoses are really filthy,there were all spotless when i left,and also the water level has dropped about 1 inch or so,i thought that the temp would of also dropped as it is down at 24 but still reading 28.2 etc i need it down to 26 and if i lower it again it will prob stay the same.

 

[Mothi]

You can try setting your heater to the lowest setting. I do that when it gets too hot and sometimes even turn the heater off completely.

 

[gh74]

i'll try turning it down to the lowest and see how that goes cheers Mothi

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Unless you have a faulty heater, there is no reason to turn it down and there could be a danger in some cases. Your heater has a built in thermostat which measures the water temp and tells the heater when to turn on and off. Your heater cannot cool the water.
 
If you have your heater set at 24C, this means whenever the tank is 24 or higher, the heater will be turned off. If the tank water temp drops below 24C, then it will turn on. In effect if your tank temp is now 28+, then your heater will not turn on, which is the same thing as its being unplugged.
 
However, if for some reason your tank temp drops below your desired 26C and you have the heater set at 24C or unplugged, it will not come on to hold the water at 26 or at any other temp at which it is set.

 

[fluttermoth]

As TTA rightly says, there's no need to turn your heaters off or down.

The weather in the UK has been so hot, it's not surprising your tanks is at, what is now, room temperature. But if your heaters are off, and the temperature drops suddenly, perhaps overnight, or while you're at work, the fish could get chilled. Or you might forget to switch them back on.

As these are tropical fish, they can normally handle the higher temperatures, for the short times we have them here in the UK! Just keep your lights off during the day and, if the tanks start to get very warm, raise the filter or lower the water level slightly (or add an air stone), to make sure you have plenty of water movement for oxygenation (hot water holds less dissolved oxygen than cold).

Temperate fish might suffer more, and might need lids removed or a fan aimed over the surface.

Hot weather means water evaporates much more quickly, which probably explains the level dropping, but do check for any leaks, just in case!

 

[gh74]

Cheers for the help there,i think i will buy a new heater just in-case this one isnt working correctly,i also thought that maybe the digital thermometer isnt working rite,but its only a couple of weeks old and has been in the tank while i was on holiday,could it be possible the battery could be playing up and giving the wrong reading etc?

 

[shrimply]

Also it's work noting that the temperature setting on a heater is really just a guide, and some are a lot more accurate than others. It's always best to calibrate with a thermometer.  Personally I always feel safer using a standard glass one even if it's just to check the digital one is still giving correct readings.

 

[gh74]

Thanks shrimpy,was just going to put a glass one in the tank and dropped it,so need to get one of those also lol