Where should temp be measured?

[tebstan]

As I was doing my morning routine of staring at the tank while drinking coffee and postponing all other responsibilities, I noticed my thermometer said 87.

Even though I knew this was absurd, it still gave me a moment of panic. I had my hands in the tank target feeding, so I know there is no way it was that warm. The probe for my digital thermometer had popped off and was above water. The eggcrate kept it from falling out entirely, so it was reading the hot air under the lights.

As soon as I put it under the water, it dropped to the usual 80. I scooched the probe as far down as I could reach, and it dropped to 78.

All this time I was worried about my temperature being borderline too high, I had the probe right at the surface of the water. In retrospect, this is kind of obvious...


Where should the probe be? It's a tall tank. (90g) Is this kind of difference normal?

[aquasport24]

I place my in a sump and it's 2 degree warmer than the display.I also use a hyrometer too.

[Salty]

I measure mine 2/3 up from the bottom in the corner right next to a koralia, figure it gives me a better picture of the average temp because of the high inflow. Mine is a 20" tank.

[Kenya]

I measure mine 2/3 up from the bottom in the corner right next to a koralia, figure it gives me a better picture of the average temp because of the high inflow. Mine is a 20" tank.

same here.

Dont put it to high in the tank. the top of the water will always be a little hotter than the bottom or middle.

[joelb]

in the summer days i would measure the hottest part of the tank because that is "worst case scenario" in the winter days id move the probe deeper to to make sure its not too cold.

[ErikH]

My probe is in my overflow

[Europhyllia]

I think it's important to get an accurate idea of how much temps differ in different areas of the tank that's why I employ a mobile probe unit:


Most of the time though I try to just keep it stuck halfway down

[kkiel02]

lol Thats funny

[alexdmg]

Haha! I might need to borrow you mobile unit to check my tank!

[BSJF]

That pic is hilarious!

In my sump by my return line (managing the temp of the water entering the tank)