How do i know if my floating glass thermometer is accurate? I used to have one in my tank but now i have a second one and there is a 3 or 4 degree difference between the two.. one thing i noticed is that when I tried moving them around different environments and one changes temp quicker than the other..
Also, do these things stay accurate over the years or not?
2007-12-06 04:27:04 · 7 answers · asked by ? 5 in Pets ➔ Fish
both floating
2007-12-06 04:44:03 · update #1
About the only way to know a thermometer is accurate is to get one that's laboratory grade and calibrated by the manufacturer (http://www.wardsci.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_IG0008836_A_Calibration+Thermometer ). Needless, to say, this is a little more expensive than your typical aquarium thermometer! But if you have one good one, you could check your others against it, and make up a "conversion chart" of your own, so you'll know for each of your thermometers that if it reads a certain temperature, what the actual temperature would be - just do a side-by-side comparison of readings in different temperatures of water and graph your results.
It's also not unusual to have slightly different readings in different areas of the tank - closeness to lights and heater, type of lighting used, air temperature of the room and outside walls can all affect the temperature of the water, no matter how good your circulation.This is why a side-by-side comparison of temperatures is need to tell if a thermometer is really "off", and by how much.
I haven't found much change in accuracy in my thermometers over time - but that's not saying it couldn't happen. But since the alcohol is sealed inside glass, the amount shouldn't change, nor should the expansion/contraction rate.
2007-12-07 16:05:38 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats nothing. because i had nothing better to do, i tied the probes of two digital thermometers together and dunked them in several locations such as a cooler filled with ice water, an aquarium and some warm water. one of the thermometer consistently gave a higher reading by two degrees more or less. i dont think that's a problem though, the important thing is you should be able to monitor any changes in temperature and the speed that it changed. rapid temperature change is what really affects the fish anyway, not the actual reading. of course, it should be within a reasonable range
sorry for all the editing, its 2 am my time and i'm starting to feel it
2007-12-06 04:51:25 · answer #2 · answered by maneatingcatfish 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This may be shocking but be law aquatic thermometers are aloud to be up to 3 degrees out and aquatic heaters are aloud to be up to 5 degrees out! I work in a fish store and have complained many times to the reps etc. but they just don't care. They say its not their problem! Your best bet is to buy a medical one.
2007-12-06 06:30:33 · answer #3 · answered by Nic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It may simply be that one thermometer is more sensitive than the other. Were they the same brand? Were both thermometers the floating variety?
2007-12-06 04:38:17 · answer #4 · answered by Quiet Tempest 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It sounds like one is more sensitive than the other one.
I think you probably want to get a new thermometer every year or so. And there's always going to be a 2-3 degree difference.
hope this helps
2007-12-06 04:32:26 · answer #5 · answered by Thirsty 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
They're all a little different. I don't think they ever go bad. It's nothing to be worried about.
2007-12-06 06:29:33 · answer #6 · answered by Marine 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
buy a new one to be safe.
2007-12-06 05:03:54 · answer #7 · answered by stephen eblue eyes 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋