Tank Warmer Than Atmosphere

[ZoddyZod]

My tank seems to run at around 1c to 1.5c HIGHER than room temperature. This is without the lights on and the heater is at a lower setting than the room temp.

My only theory is that the friction caused by the filter is causing the increase. Is this possible?

 

[Curiosity101]

Are you sure the heater isn't just a bit funny...

Have you checked that it's actually only coming on when the temp drops below what the heater is set at?
Eg. Tank says 24C and Heater is set to 25C so heater turns on.
As opposed to Heater is set to 21C and is coming on when tank hits 23C (and not waiting till 21C)

Just a thought. I'm guess you've already cheacked, but I've had funny heaters before which have worked perfectly fine but their 'temp dial' has been slightly out.

 

[ZoddyZod]

Are you sure the heater isn't just a bit funny...

Have you checked that it's actually only coming on when the temp drops below what the heater is set at?
Eg. Tank says 24C and Heater is set to 25C so heater turns on.
As opposed to Heater is set to 21C and is coming on when tank hits 23C (and not waiting till 21C)

Just a thought. I'm guess you've already cheacked, but I've had funny heaters before which have worked perfectly fine but their 'temp dial' has been slightly out.

I'm actually going to try and calibrate it tonight with several different thermometers. It's set to 23c but tank drops to 22c (when it's not as warm as present) before the 'pilot light' ever comes on so I think the dial may be a bit off.

Going to drop it in a bucket tonight and see what readings it gives me.

Still doesn't explain why the temp is higher than the atmosphere though, unless the heater (which is brand new) is fluctuating.......but like I said, I dont see the pilot light until it drops below 22c. Tank was 23.9c this morning, and atmosphere was 23c (checked with the same thermometers to verify).

 

[OldMan47]

If you have a filter that is submerged in the water, it will put a little heat into the water. With all of the other heat inputs and losses, I would not expect to be able to measure that heat very easily though. As all of us know, who have external filters, the motor part does get warm and, of course, if that part is submerged in the water it will heat the water. It would be much harder to heat the water just using the pump power but that can also add a slight amount of heat. Heating water is all about energy conversion so anything that adds energy to the system will potentially warm the water.

 

[ZoddyZod]

Well I'm none the wiser.

Even with the heater and lights OFF, tank still reads as wamer than room temp (using the same thermometer) by at least 0.5c.

Cant figure out why, but I guess it doesn't matter, as long as it is stable.