How do I calibrate a heater?

[sawdeanz]

My mom just turned off the AC in the house. I freaked out cuz I live in Florida and my tank temp shot up from like a comfortable 80 degrees to like an 82 degrees. I just have to clownfish, and the tank is fairly new. I figured I can't really cool down the tank so I might as well keep the temp. consistent. I ran out and bought a heater so that when it cools down at night, the water will still stay the same it is during the day. Of course I bought a cheapy heater with no thermostat, but I'm not sure if I'm calibrating it right. How do I do this? Also, is 82 degrees acceptable? Its a fish only, w/ LR.
thanks

---Sawyer

[AQTCJAK]

I would get a better heater with a thermostat. Heaters have been know to cook tanks that dont have any controls

[Amphibious]

Put the heater in the tank or sump where ever you are going to keep it. When you plug it in, if the heater comes on a little light will come on also indicating the heater is going to heat the water. Turn the nob on top of the heater counter clockwise until the light goes out. check it in five minutes. If the light is back on, turn it down again until the light goes out again. Check your temperature with an accurate thermometer. Keep doing this until your temperature does not rise due to the heater coming on. Realize that during the day your temp may go up due to living in FL. (I'm down here too, Ft Pierce) Keep checking your temperature and the light in the heater. You should get it balanced out in one day, but check it often. As mentioned above, cheap heaters can go haywire. As soon as possible get a better heater. I bought a titanium heater with remote control for under $20 so maybe you should consider getting something like that.

[Melanie]

You can easily and cheaply bring the tank temp down if you have a fan blow across the water. I have one that blows over my sump. That combined with my heater keeps the temp precisely at 78 degress. I live in FL too!

If you don't have a sump, you can blow it across the tank. Just make sure it is far enough away that it doesn't risk falling in.

Be prepared for more top offs because this speeds evaporation.

Here is a photo of my clip on fan in my sump area. It's white at the top in the center.

[Cougra]

Personally I use a 5 gallon bucket to set up heaters. Set the dial to about where the temperature I want to keep the tank at should be and place it in a bucket of water with an airstone for a bit of circulation and leave it couple hours then I test the temperature in the bucket. If the temperature is too low then I turn the dial up a little but if it's too warm I change out part of the water to cool it down quicker and then turn the temperature down on the heater.

I don't like keeping the heater in the tank while trying to adjust the temperature because it's too easy for them to cause temperature fluctuations. It may take a while to do set it to the desired temperature in the bucket but at least your tank will be safe from temperature fluctuations.

[Scouter Steve]

Originally Posted by Cougra

Personally I use a 5 gallon bucket to set up heaters. Set the dial to about where the temperature I want to keep the tank at should be and place it in a bucket of water with an airstone for a bit of circulation and leave it couple hours then I test the temperature in the bucket. If the temperature is too low then I turn the dial up a little but if it's too warm I change out part of the water to cool it down quicker and then turn the temperature down on the heater.

I don't like keeping the heater in the tank while trying to adjust the temperature because it's too easy for them to cause temperature fluctuations. It may take a while to do set it to the desired temperature in the bucket but at least your tank will be safe from temperature fluctuations.

That is an awesome idea!!! I actually think it is funny seeing numbers on the dial for most heaters. They almost never equal the real working temps.

[sawdeanz]

I have it now so that the light goes off when the tank reaches the desired temp, does that mean it is set now?
Also, is 82 degrees a good temp for clowns? How about live rock?
Mine too is a titanium heater with a control nob, but no thermostat. Those ones where like twice as much

[Amphibious]

Originally Posted by sawdeanz

I have it now so that the light goes off when the tank reaches the desired temp, does that mean it is set now?
Also, is 82 degrees a good temp for clowns? How about live rock?
Mine too is a titanium heater with a control nob, but no thermostat. Those ones where like twice as much

It does mean it is set, BUT, you need to check it fairly often just to be sure.

82 degrees is a bit on the warm side for your reef. Ideally, if I were going to recommend a single set temp I would say 78 is better. Here's why...

First, 78 is about the average temp of the reef in various locations around the world with some variation due to depth of the water and seasonal changes.

Second, at 82 you have very little upward margin of error. I personally run mine at 78 and it varies from there to 80 degrees during the day. So, 82 is ok, but I'd lower it a bit if it were mine.

Dick