Equipment Review and Discussion :: What's a good digital thermometer?

[BullDog]

Since Ralph bit through my zoo-med digital thermom, I'm in the market for a new one. I don't want to spend a whole lot, unless it has a Kevlar coated probe

I was looking at this one:
http://www.petsandponds.com/en/aquarium ... 71419.html

Or perhaps one from Zilla.

I had this one:
http://www.petsandponds.com/en/aquarium ... 15439.html

But it never worked that well, so I think I'll stay away from that one, but does anyone else have one that they're happy with?

The zoo-med one that I had worked pretty well, but I couldn't find it locally.

[MommaEich]

I have the first one and so far Charger hasn't nibbled at it or at least cause damage to it, but I remember the pics of yours that Ralph chewed on and I dont know if the one I have would stand up to that kind of abuse!

[theartbook35]

http://www.petdiscounters.com/Digital-A ... p8763.html

I found this. You might want to be smart and send an email to the site owners asking more about it. This is the place where I got that stupid lounge lily after all.

I can't think of a reason why it wouldn't work.

[BullDog]

I don't think any thermometer can stand up to Ralph's jaws! But I'm going to be more careful in watching him with whatever new thermometer I get

Alex - I saw that one on another site (or one similar), and disregarded it at first because I'm used to the kind with the probe. But now that you're posting it (that site has a better picture than the one I was looking at), I might reconsider that one. Less bits to get bitten! I wonder if it floats though... Knowing Ralph (and Frankie), they'd have a good time un-suctioning it, and I hate having to reach into the tank to fish it off the bottom. Maybe I'll email zoo-med and ask them if it floats.

[packfan1]

My turts pull them in and then they sit in water and get ruined. I am thinking about those cheap sticky outside tank ones so I can stop spending good money on a quality thermomoter.

[theartbook35]

I don't think any thermometer can stand up to Ralph's jaws! But I'm going to be more careful in watching him with whatever new thermometer I get

Alex - I saw that one on another site (or one similar), and disregarded it at first because I'm used to the kind with the probe. But now that you're posting it (that site has a better picture than the one I was looking at), I might reconsider that one. Less bits to get bitten! I wonder if it floats though... Knowing Ralph (and Frankie), they'd have a good time un-suctioning it, and I hate having to reach into the tank to fish it off the bottom. Maybe I'll email zoo-med and ask them if it floats.

Well, there is the suction cup, that you attach to the inside of the wall. I'm sure Frankie has enough strength to pull it down, though.

[marisa]

Is it even necessary to have a thermometer in there all the time if the temp has been steadily registering about the same temp for a while? One of the snappers used the cord of the ESU thermometer to climb out of the tank (what climbers they are) and I just took probe out...

[jozzep]

I have 3 of the ones in the first link.1 in each tank, and 1 in my incubator.Obviously i like them.

[BullDog]

I like a digital for doing a quick check of the temp when I do a water change. It's usually in there for only 15 minutes (all Ralph needs is 30 seconds to do the damage ).
I've got a sticky one on the outside for quick ref on the tank, but it takes too long to re-adjust and isn't entirely accurate.

Emailed Zoo-med last night, and already got a response!

Thank you for contacting us. The Aquatic Turtle Thermometer should be stuck to the side of your aquarium using the provided suction cup. Should it some lose it should float. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

So if I can find one of those "aquatic turtle" ones for a decent price (lets not forget I'm up here in the Frozen North, and most online US companies charge $20+ for shipping!) I might go for that one. If not, I'll look into the ESU one, Jozzep and someone else mentioned they use that one, so it might be pretty good!

[steve]

I've have 2 ESU digitals and they are about 4 degrees apart. I'm mainly sticking to the temp gun

[mikee]

B-Dog - I use the Temprite #35189 digital thermometer from Wal-Mart. It is about 12 or 14 US dollars. I have several and they are fairly accurate. I also have a solution for your probe insulation. If you put a piece of tubing on the insulated part it will help. To make the tubing stay up slide an old faucet washer up the probe. That will do it. "Mr Fixit" HA HA m.

[BullDog]

Steve - I looked at a couple of cheaper temp guns, but the problem with them is that you can't adjust the emissivity, so I found that I don't get very accurate readings of the water. I was getting readings between 78 and about 90 with one that I brought home. And I don't think I'm quite ready to spend $50-100 on an adjustable infrared gun

Mike - That's a cooking thermometer? I never would have thought of that! For now, I just wrapped some electrical tape halfway up my bitten one. I did a water change and needed to get a quick check on the temp. I like the idea of putting tubing over it!

[mikee]

B-Dog -- The tape will work well enough if they are not big enough to bite through it. With the tubing you can remove the faucet washer and tubing and clean them. I have not used a temp gun but I think it is supposed to work off the glass?? Good Luck. m.

[steve]

Which kind did you try? I've been using the hobbyist kind (http://www.tempgun.com/order.html#pe1)

[BullDog]

I looked at the Pro Exotics one, but getting it to Canada would still be $40-50 total. I just tried a cheap one from Princess Auto. I was going to get one that I saw on sale at Canadian Tire (Regular $99, on sale for $20), but I heard from a bunch of people that they're not that great, so I skipped it.

Steve, you do find yours is accurate for the water temps? (You've got the PE1, right?)