please reccomend an accurate themometer

[tlc]

I have 2 coralife digital thermometers. each one reads completely different. please recommend a halfway descent digital thermometer. thanks

[toothybugs]

Ranco ETC 111000.

[dkeller_nc]

The lifeguard aquatics "little time and temp" units are quite accurate. The two that I have are within 1/2 of a deg F between them, and within 1/2 deg F of a lab-grade mercury thermometer that I use as a standard.

[Vinny Kreyling]

Tropic Marin also makes a "precision" thermometer but it a floating glass style.

[twistedfinn967]

Check out ThermoWorks. I have a ThermaPen that I use for cooking, I'm gonna pick up this one for my tank: http://http://www.thermoworks.com/products/alarm/rt8100mat.html (http://www.thermoworks.com/products/alarm/rt8100mat.html)

It even mentions aquarium use!:thumbsup: And it's on sale!!!

[shifty51008]

Ranco ETC 111000.

Thats what i use also, it controls my heaters and has a accurate thermometer.

I also have a pinpoint thermometer upstairs for a quick check as my ranco is in the basement.

[ZKicka4000]

In my opinion, a controller is the only way to go. Set the controller to the desired temp and the heater another degree or two higher, that way if one thermostat fails, you won't nuke your tank. That being said, I second the Ranco. I have them on all my tanks and they are all precise, I routinely verify their readings with other thermometers and they're always dead nuts on. And they're less than $50 if you can do some minor wiring.

[C3hutson]

As mentioned above, thermoworks thermapen hands down. I use the same one for grilling, brewing and reefing.

[dkeller_nc]

Check out ThermoWorks. I have a ThermaPen that I use for cooking, I'm gonna pick up this one for my tank: http://http://www.thermoworks.com/products/alarm/rt8100mat.html (http://www.thermoworks.com/products/alarm/rt8100mat.html)

It even mentions aquarium use!:thumbsup: And it's on sale!!!

Thanks for the tip, didn't know they made a unit in that price range. And yeah, anything by Thermoworks is going to blow away a comparable unit from another manufacturer. These guys really know what they're doing; there's a reason their equipment is almost exclusively used by professionals on the BBQ competition circuit.

[tlc]

thanks for the recommendations

[Scorpius]

Check out ThermoWorks. I have a ThermaPen that I use for cooking, I'm gonna pick up this one for my tank: http://http://www.thermoworks.com/products/alarm/rt8100mat.html (http://www.thermoworks.com/products/alarm/rt8100mat.html)

It even mentions aquarium use!:thumbsup: And it's on sale!!!

As mentioned above, thermoworks thermapen hands down. I use the same one for grilling, brewing and reefing.

Accuracy 1.8 degrees +/- Ummm... no thanks. :hmm5:

[C3hutson]

Accuracy 1.8 degrees +/- Ummm... no thanks. :hmm5:

Dunno what you're looking at, but it's +/-0.7

Oh you're talking about the alarm one the other guy posted. I was just talking about picking up a thermapen for spot checking your in tank temp devices.

[C3hutson]

Oh, and for twice the price they have a reference model with NIST certification that has +/-0.07F

I dare you to fine another thermometer that has NIST traceability with that accuracy for 200 bucks. :)

[dkeller_nc]

Dunno what you're looking at, but it's +/-0.7

Oh you're talking about the alarm one the other guy posted. I was just talking about picking up a thermapen for spot checking your in tank temp devices.

No, for the unit you linked to it's +/- 1.8 deg F. As an engineer that works with temp measurement devices everyday, though, I can guarantee you're not going to find a hobbyist unit that's much more accurate than that without spending a lot of money. And unless one was keeping a reef at the limits of reasonable temperature temperature ranges, such as 74 deg F for deepwater species or 85 deg F b/c of wishing to cut back on A/C usage with a large tank lit by Metal Halides, +/- 2 deg F is more than good enough.

If one truly wanted better than that, the best route is a controller that has the facility to user-calibrate the probe, and purchase a traditional laboratory-grade high precision thermometer to use as the standard. A really good one of those is pretty expensive, and for the one that you really want, which is mercury based, getting difficult to obtain as most manufacturers discontinue them.

[C3hutson]

I didn't link anything and that's exactly what I said about having a reference thermometer and calibrating your controller. I'm just a pleb pharmacist specializing in sterile clean room design and function so what do I know

[Jone]

taggin

[gus6464]

http://www.thermoworks.com/products/alarm/pharmalarm2.html

[shifty51008]

Thanks for the tip, didn't know they made a unit in that price range. And yeah, anything by Thermoworks is going to blow away a comparable unit from another manufacturer. These guys really know what they're doing; there's a reason their equipment is almost exclusively used by professionals on the BBQ competition circuit.

Then again, there is a reason why the ranco is almost exclusively used in fridge's and freezer's.

[Scorpius]

I like the cheap glass thermometers. They tell me exactly what my temperature is and don't require batteries or calibration. I like tech, but sometimes old school is more technologically advanced than the new stuff. :)