Hello, New User

[Mthomas93]

I signed up to this site due to the fact i have just set a tropical tank up.

Most my family have tropical tanks and i had one previously before i moved out.

However i just brought a small aquarium for in the dining room, its only a 1.5ft tank and i have put a 50w heater in, i have set the heater at 21, and the internal thermometer is already in the "green" section reading 25c.

yet to touch the water feels quite cold.
Could this be a dodgy thermometer?
Any help greatfully received.

 

[Curiosity101]

People feel temperature in a 'relative' sense. Anything colder than your skin temperature feels cold to the touch, something the same temperature as your skin temperature feels the same, warmer feels warmer etc.

I've found 25C often feels cold, it shouldn't feel cold cold, more cold at first touch but relatively ok/tepid if you submerge your full hand. Eitherways I would trust the thermometer.

Have you decided how you plan to cycle the tank? As you've had a tank before I'm assuming you know about cycling, so it's just a case of fishless or fish-in?

And welcome to TFF

 

[Carlovel1]

I dont trust paper thermometer only glass ones. I find the paper ones inaccurate too.

 

[GhettoFish]

yes the glass thermometers are accurate and the manual heater controls are never so you have to go by the thermometer eg: the heater may be set to 24c but in actual fact the water temp will be 26c

 

[Curiosity101]

... the internal thermometer is already in the "green" section reading 25c.

Although I agree with you both, after reading that I was under the impression it probably was a glass themometer. The paper ones really are rubbish, I have used them before but I always test them with a glass thermometer first so I have a note of how far out they are.
So they are useable, but I definitely wouldn't choose to stick one to my tank.

 

[Flagtail]

Hello and welcome to the site.

 

[OldMan47]

25C is plenty for most tropical fish to be comfortable MThomas93. Have you looked into the thread that would help you understand the fishless cycle yet? I have a link to that thread in my own signature area. If you have any questions about the fishless cycle process, please feel ready to return here with your questions.