Help With Heater

[K3lly]

The heater I have in my tank works great, but I'm unable to control the temp myself.
It is one of those self adjusting heaters. I just want to make sure my Mollies dont overheat, but everywhere I look they are all self adjusting!
Everything I have read said to keep the water at around 65 degrees, but I notice it is closer 70....is that too warm?

 

[rdd1952]

Actually, 65 is too cool. Most articles list temp range from a low of about 68 up to the low 80s. Something in the mid 70s is probably best. A heater that only heats to 70 really isn't doing much unless the room is extremely cold. Usually, without a heater and the tank just at room temp, they will stay in the low 70s as the filter and lights give off some heat. What type thermometer do you have? It could be faulty. Most are inaccurate anyway and could easily be off by 2 or 3 degrees.

 

[bitteraspects]

a standard heater should put you around 78

 

[fatheadminnow]

a standard heater should put you around 78

Agreed

I have one of those "fixed" thermostat heaters and it keeps the water right around 78 + or - 2 degrees.

-FHM

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum K3lly.
The non-adjustable heaters that I have seen are pre-set at 78F, about 25C. I try to keep my mollies at about 75F or 24C. If your heater has trouble reaching its pre-set value, it may be too small for the tank and its environment. The typical heater for a reasonable room temperature is 5 watts per US gallon of water, about 4 litres. If you have a 10 gallon tank and a 25W heater, you might see numbers like you have, but a good sized heater will move the temperature higher. If the room the tank is in is allowed to get cold, not comfortable, you may well need more than 5 watts per gallon of heat.

 

[K3lly]

My thermometer right now is at 76F, so thats good right?!?!
I was worried they would be too warm! I forget the brand name of the heater, but I got it at Walmart.
The box said best for a 5-10gal, or 10-15 gal, cant remember which. But I got that one because I have a 10gal. tank.

 

[bitteraspects]

76 should be ok.
If you got it from walmart its probably tetra brand. That's what they usually carry

 

[K3lly]

I usually shop at WalMart, because I work there, and I get my discount!!