Winter and Heaters

[oraclereef]

So now that we are getting cold again. I notice my heater not doing well in the overnight due to larger temperature difference.
Is it dropping 2 degrees overnight something for a high level of concern?

 

[Idoc]

So now that we are getting cold again. I notice my heater not doing well in the overnight due to larger temperature difference.
Is it dropping 2 degrees overnight something for a high level of concern?

I don't believe a 2 degree drop overnight is going to cause any large harm for your system. You might want to add another heater with a controller attached...then set it up to only turn on when the temp drops a little.

 

[oraclereef]

I don't believe a 2 degree drop overnight is going to cause any large harm for your system. You might want to add another heater with a controller attached...then set it up to only turn on when the temp drops a little.

Thanks. No one is looking stressed and eating hearty still.

 

[Quietman]

I normally have a 2 degree daily swing. No ill effects noticed.

Not a bad idea to have another heater at the 73F range just to make sure on a really cold night your tank is heated enough but even a few hours below that temp is not likely to have any last effects.

 

[oraclereef]

So apparently there was no problem with the heater just a crappy thermometer. I added the 2nd heater with a controller and sensor as a floor and according to my power monitoring it has never turned on the heater portion.
Any good thermometer recommendations?

 

[Quietman]

So apparently there was no problem with the heater just a crappy thermometer. I added the 2nd heater with a controller and sensor as a floor and according to my power monitoring it has never turned on the heater portion.
Any good thermometer recommendations?

Get more than one and check them all and average them out. I don't personally recommend a high quality calibrated thermometer...you can spend a hundred or more if you want. If any of you thermometers start diverging from average...get a new one.

I have a couple of the cooking digital with the probe directly connected about 10-20-30 dollars. I test my temp weekly/monthly to check the temp controller is still reading within the average. That's it.

Wouldn't get any of those in tank badges or bulb thermometers either. I've had them but always end up getting the others out and checking.