Temperature Decrease

[timmystood]

Hi

My heater is only two weeks old and has worked fine for the last two weeks ... but now there's a problem.
My normal temperature is about 24 degrees C. Whitespot recently broke out in my tank and so I put my heater up to 28 degrees C - never got there.
Last three days it's been around 26 degrees C - but its been going up and down a bit. Yesterday I thought that it might be because my window was open (the tank is near the window and it's cold outsite), so I closed the window and the temp started to rise slowly and I thought that was that. But now it's got to night again the temp is starting to fall again to about 25 degrees C.
Why is it doing this

 

[Durbkat]

Maybe the heater is broke or is faulty and only works to a certain temp, or maybe your house wasn't made to handle all the electricty from the tank and it can't handle all the stuff thats running the tank and the heater can't get enough power. Do you have all the stuff for the tank plugged into a power strip or what?

 

[WILDER]

Do you have a draft near the window, as they will alter the tank temp.

 

[Durbkat]

not really wilder because my long 20g is next to a window that is drafty and the temp stays at 78 all the time.

 

[MAM]

Whats the wattage on the heater? What size tank is it in?

 

[rdd1952]

What is the wattage on the heater? It sounds as if it isn't rated enough for the tank. Actually, 24C is a little low for a tropical tank. They should be at 25 or 26. For treatment of Ich, I think you probably need to get the temp up to the 28-29 range. But do it slowly so as not to stress the fish any more since stress is the kick start of ich.

 

[timmystood]

The idea that Durbkat had about not enough power could be the problem.
I have two sockets their and both have had to have a power strip (or adaptor) there - my TV, Playstation, Video and Stero in one - my mini-hoover, tank lights, heater and filter in the other so I think that's the problem.
I will try to reduce the amount of power going to one socket before I blow the wall up or something!

I will try that and see what difference it makes - cheers!

 

[rdd1952]

I doubt that's the problem but it won't hurt to check. After all, if everthing is working properly, they are getting power and all aren't running at the same time (especially at night).

 

[Bre_B]

ive had this problem too. I assume it's because, even with my windows shut, my room is still quite chilly. What I'm doing to fix it, is im getting a space heater and keep my room at a pretty regular temp of 75 (F... i would convert to C but im in a rush, sorry!) so that the tank will naturally be within decent range, and the heater wont have as much work. I'm also getting a new, submersible heater (going with a good quality too) just in case my heater is having issues.

 

[timmystood]

Yeah i've already got a submersiable heater - seems OK - I'll just have to try and reduce the amount of power going to the tank at any one time.

Thanks guys (and girls!)

 

[WILDER]

Like some have mentioned what is the wattage of the heater.

Model
Watts L mm (in) Tank Size
50w 50 178 (7.0) 20-50 l (5-14 gal)
100w 100 226 (8.9) 50-100 l (14-26 gals)
200w 200 306 (12.0) 100-200 l (26-53 gals)
300w 300 394 (15.5) 200-300 l (53-80 gals)
400w 300 394 (15.5) 300-400 l (80-105 gals)

 

[Durbkat]

Wilder what you just said is wrong for the 50 watt heater I use a 50 watt heater in my long 20g and a 25 or 50 watt in my 10g and both tanks stay at 78.

 

[WILDER]

Wasn't the writer of that information it was off a online store for heaters, but don't forget it could be different from your country, as you have warm weather, lol.

 

[timmystood]

It says on it 20W (don't know if that's right, sounds it) the tank is 54 litres.
The heater came with the tank so it should be the right heater.

 

[Inchworm]

A general rule of thumb is 5 watts per gallon of water.

If the thermostat in it is working properly, it should keep the water at the temperature you set it for, with little variation. If the room it is in is cold, it should just come on more often and/or run longer.

If you have a hang on the back kind of heater, be certain that the tank is filled to insure that the heater is running off the water temperature. If it isn't, it will be reading the temperature of the air and run too much.