Controling Water Temp

[jiffy]

I have a 10g tank in my bedroom that is set up with an ebo-jagar heater and I have the heater set at 76 degrees. I noticed yesterday that the temp of the water was about 80-81. So last night I left my bedroom window open (it was in the high 50's low 60's all night) and when I woke up this morning the temp was still 80-81.

I live in NY, so its not like I am living in desert heat and my tank is getting warm. My house temp is set at 72.

I am not really sure why the tank is so warm. I would like it to stay closer to 76 like I have the heater set at.

Any ideas?

 

[jvis0606]

I live in Manhattan also and I noticed with the summer weather really heats up my tank. At first I paniced and tried floating some ice cubes, in a ziplock bag, in the tank. Or when doing water changes, I added water a few degrees higher. But I realize I can't keep this up every day, in the event I am out of town. So I have the heater turned off and let the tank adapt to a higher temp (its currently at 82 to battle some ick, but it is usually 79-80). The fish seem fine, just have good aeration in the tank for Oxygen. If your fish are hardy they will be fine.

 

[K-Holed]

Such a small tank is going to be very suceptbale to fluctuations in water temprature compared to a larger one. Best thing is just to keep it out of direct sunlight and keep it well airated.

 

[shadow]

i live on long island and i was worried when my tank was at 84-86. i dont have a heater since my room is around 75-80 year round. i found that floating bags of ice work well when bringing down the temperature. i also keep my windows open and that helps over night keeping the temp down.

 

[blakwidoe]

I think your fish will be fine at a steady temperature too much of a fluctuation will stress the lil guys

 

[canarsie11]

You can also open lid, blow a fan directly on water surface. What is wattage on that heater

 

[Bol]

I'd start at the beginning.

Are you sure that the water is 80 degrees (that is, can you confirm the accuracy of your thermometer)?

If so, then I'd check the water temperature right next to the heater, and see what temperature that is.

Then, if it truly is near 80 degrees near the heater, and in the tank in general, you've probably got a bad thermostat on the heater.

 

[jiffy]

The heater is a 50 watt.

I moved the heater to a different place temporarily so that I can keep an eye on the pilot light to see when it is on and then check the temp. I also moved the thermometer close to the heater for now.

Well...I got a glass of ice water to test my thermometer on. When I held a bunch of ice cubes around it, the coldest it would read was 36 (I think) So, supposing since it wasnt in true ice, and my hand warmed it a little, say 2 degrees I figure it could logically have been 34 degrees which is still 2 degrees warmer than it should read.

Now...when I got home tonight, the tank said it was 78, but the heater was ON and set to 76. When I turned it to 75, it shut off. So I believe the thermometer may be off by 2 degrees because if it said 78 that would be 76 in which point the heater may or may not be on (to maintain the temp).

I know I rambled alot, and didn't make much sense, but does this seem logical to anyone else?