How To Measure Temp

[qoftheq]

I was wondering what's the best way to measure the temperature for a tropical freshwater tank? I've kept very sensitive reptiles for years and I know the strip thermometers are horribly inaccurate for them so I wouldn't be surprised if the same is true for fish. Are the floating thermometers good?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

you can get digital ones or more traditional mercury ones for just a few quid in any fish shop, they're much betetr than the strip ones.

 

[ox5477]

yes, a mercury thermometer would be much better than the strips both for price and simplicity. The only concern would be what kinda of fish. Because as seen in this thread, Broken Thermometer, some puffers, if they get big enough will bite floating thermometers when they become confused and think that the thermometer tip is the shell of one its fav preys, snails. This maybe isnt completely common but food for thought.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yes, a mercury thermometer would be much better than the strips both for price and simplicity. The only concern would be what kinda of fish. Because as seen in this thread, Broken Thermometer, some puffers, if they get big enough will bite floating thermometers when they become confused and think that the thermometer tip is the shell of one its fav preys, snails. This maybe isnt completely common but food for thought.

yeah, i don't have one in my big cichlid tank for prescisely that reason.

 

[Xebadir]

Id reccomend any Alcohol thermometer rather than mecury simply for safeties sake on your and your fishes part. There is no problem with digital thermometers: if placed correctly.

 

[ox5477]

QUOTE(ox5477 @ Aug 30 2006, 01:08 PM)

yes, a mercury thermometer would be much better than the strips both for price and simplicity. The only concern would be what kinda of fish. Because as seen in this thread, Broken Thermometer, some puffers, if they get big enough will bite floating thermometers when they become confused and think that the thermometer tip is the shell of one its fav preys, snails. This maybe isnt completely common but food for thought.




yeah, i don't have one in my big cichlid tank for prescisely that reason.

exactly, as I should have said, you should be careful with a floating (or really even a suction cup mounted) glass thermometer with any large fish that has crustacians or snails on its prey list, as they may do the same as the puffers in the aforementioned link.

 

[qoftheq]

All I've got in there are a few corys, so I figure a mercury floating thermometer should be ok. Thanks!