Aquatic Plant Central - View Single Post - LifeGard Big Digital Temp Alert

Complexity · 12-07-2008, 01:27 PM

Honestly, after trying several digital thermometers, the best one I have found is the old fashioned, suction to the glass, red liquid, glass encased kinds.

I gave up on digital ones when I tested 7 of them all at once, and no two would give me the same reading (some were off by over 8° from each other!). Some simply did not work, others got stuck at certain temps, some would "rise and fall" over and over again, and in the end, I couldn't figure out which one(s) were accurate enough to actually use. I tossed them all.

I also discovered that digital thermometers are slower to respond to temperature changes which I found frustrating during water changes.

If you get another digital thermometer, check its rated accuracy. Some are as much as ±2° which is a large range. For example, if the thermometer reads 78°, is that the actual water temp, or is the temp reading +2 (water is actually 76°) or -2 (water is actually 80°). From 76° - 80° is a big difference.

12-07-2008, 01:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
Complexity Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 166 iTrader Ratings: 4 iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 11000	Re: LifeGard Big Digital Temp Alert - Broke! Honestly, after trying several digital thermometers, the best one I have found is the old fashioned, suction to the glass, red liquid, glass encased kinds. I gave up on digital ones when I tested 7 of them all at once, and no two would give me the same reading (some were off by over 8° from each other!). Some simply did not work, others got stuck at certain temps, some would "rise and fall" over and over again, and in the end, I couldn't figure out which one(s) were accurate enough to actually use. I tossed them all. I also discovered that digital thermometers are slower to respond to temperature changes which I found frustrating during water changes. If you get another digital thermometer, check its rated accuracy. Some are as much as ±2° which is a large range. For example, if the thermometer reads 78°, is that the actual water temp, or is the temp reading +2 (water is actually 76°) or -2 (water is actually 80°). From 76° - 80° is a big difference.