Strip Thermometers

[shrimply]

Hi all just looking for your opinions on the basic stick on thermometers. As a reptile keeper I have always be told to avoid them at all costs due to their inaccuracy. However they seem to work resonablly well on fish tanks. So are they acurate enough or should I invest in a tank safe digital thermostat with probe( the ones I have just now give funny readings in water )

 

[Betta5]

I had one on my fish tank and it was crap, when i put an inside one on it was such a difference, try it

 

[shrimply]

I also have one of the alcohol ones that goes on the inside of the tank and my strips seem to pretty much mirror the readings. I have also been told that ( if you can rely on the at all) they become unreliable about 6 months after you remove the backing.

 

[doresy]

hi, I have stick on strip and regular, in tank, alcohol thermometer. I find the stick on outer tank to be a little vague but it was a freebe. The regular, in tank jobie seems to be stable and easy to read and is my prefered option

 

[Sibelius]

Yes, also, another important point to consider is that stick on ones measure the temperature of the glass, so the thickness of the glass makes a big difference. I've always trusted regular thermometers that have a simple sucker to attach them to the glass. I've never had any need to dabble in digital technology either. It isn't my cup of tea.

 

[tnhowery]

Yes, also, another important point to consider is that stick on ones measure the temperature of the glass, so the thickness of the glass makes a big difference. I've always trusted regular thermometers that have a simple sucker to attach them to the glass. I've never had any need to dabble in digital technology either. It isn't my cup of tea.

I agree you can pick up an in tank thermometer for 2-3 dollars and they are much more accurate, my 90G came with two stick ons and a regular in tank thermometer and the stick ons are never as precise as i would like them to be.

 

[InaneCathode]

They make indoor outdoor digital thermometer units that are really cheap for what they are. Its a readout that tells you the temperature of the air inside, and with a waterproof probe on a waterproof lead, you can submerge the probe in your tank and it gives you a very accurate real-time readout of your water temp.
Some even tell you what the weather is going to be like that day, date, time, alarms etc!

 

[paulf]

tI use the cheapo ones from Wilinson that you pur in the tank and it does me fine

 

[steelhealr]

Hi....I am a supporter and 'liker' of LCD thermometers. You just have to make sure that when you buy it, it is reading brightly and clearly appears to be the temp (eg, seeing a bright green bar at 72 in a comfy room is good). Contrary to many posts, some can be very close to exact and they make a very good backup thermometer. To make you feel better, we actually use them in the Operating Room on patients. Small strips are applied to the patients forehead.

Of course, the key word in any good aquarium is 'backup'. I keep a floating thermometer in mine which is useless (yes...they are always stuck to the back wall behind a plant or filter intake). But, it's there if I need it. Personally, I like the Coralife digital thermometer..not bad for $9 bucks.

SH

PS...if your LCD reads 77 and you take a nuclear fission temp and it's 75, your fish won't die. Unless you have an EXTREMELY SENSITIVE species, our fish are a lot more resilient than you think. Have fun.

 

[NightStalker]

Ive got strip on my tank, and it seems to be accurate, i put an alchohal one in there just to make sure and they both read the same, the only upside to alchohal i guess is that its like a real thermomenter, strips just give the number in color, depending on if its orange or blue it couldbe in the middle of 78 degrees or 80 for example, its cool to watch but if you want exact readings id go digital, for something cheeper simple alchohal.

Though im satisifed with my strip anyway, im not to concerned unless the waters 3 degrees under what its suppose to be so i guess its personal preference in the end.

And im a firm believer that just as you can get #### alchohal ones you can get #### strip ones and good strip ones so be ont he look out for that.

 

[three-fingers]

I use both, but i prefer the strip one i have. It's much easier to read and is just as accurate.

 

[shellyboylan]

i use the wilkinsons thermos too!find the strips highly inaccurate, they pick up room temperature more than water, one of my tanks is 86' according to the strip, the wilkos therm tells it v differently thank god lol. i'd peel it off but worried if it'll leave a sticky mark?