Freshwater Temperature

[Francesjane]

Can anyone tell me if I should be concerned that my tropical tank water seems to be cooler than my daughters cold water tank?

I have checked the thermometer and it seems to be working ok and is set at 78, but sometimes it feels so cold. If I test with a finger it feels cold and think it might just be because my hands are warm, but if I check with my wrist ( as it's more sensitive) it still feels cold

My fish seem absolutely fine so I'm trying not to worry, but is it strange compared to the coldwater tank?

 

[the_lock_man]

Have you got a thermometer in the coldwater tank?
 
Obviously, so long as the temperature of the water is lower than your body temperature, it will feel "cold" in absolute terms, but if you do a direct comparison, and the coldwater feels warmer than the tropical, then I would definitely suggest comparing the two with the same thermometer, to see if your body is right.

 

[DerpPH]

Have you got a thermometer in the coldwater tank?
 
Obviously, so long as the temperature of the water is lower than your body temperature, it will feel "cold" in absolute terms, but if you do a direct comparison, and the coldwater feels warmer than the tropical, then I would definitely suggest comparing the two with the same thermometer, to see if your body is right.

 
I agree with Lock man. or for a simple test, put your finger in the water of both the tanks. See if the temps are really different

 

[Francesjane]

Well the tanks are 8 miles apart but when I was helping my daughter with her tank I said that her water seemed warmer than mine!!! There isn't a thermometer in her tank no. But only last night I was getting a snail out if my tank and thought how cold it seemed. I wil get a thermometer for my daughters tank and compare I guess.

 

[star4]

It does depend on your body temperature. Get a bowl of water and using a thermometer get it to 26c and put your hand in, then run your hand under a cold tap and put it in the bowl, it will feel warm. Then run your hand under a hot tap and try again, the water will feel cold, but it should still read 26c. Trying to test tank temperature by hand is very hit and miss unless you are very good at it.

 

[dave840f1]

You say your thermometer is set at 78 I am assuming you mean thermostat. Do you have a thermometer.? If so what is the reading? How I test my heaters to see if they are working is to unplug from the mains wait 10 min. Then put it in a tall clear bottle of cold water and then watch the heater, if it is working you will see a stream of walm water rising. Having said that your heater could still be faulty and not reach the temp. you set it to.

 

[Francesjane]

i did mean thermostat yes and I have a thermometer too...the thermometer sits in the shaded area correctly for tropical.  I am sure that my tank is fine, but it just seemed weird how the cold water tank made me even question mine because it seemed so warm!!