Habitat - Indoor :: tetrafauna aquatic reptile heater

[DaROOFisonfiya]

I purchased a 100w heater for my 10 gallon tank and I can't tell that it is working properly. I know that I need to get a thermometer, but I am quickly running out of money. (I feel like I have spent more on these two turtles than I have on my 3 kids in their lifetime.) When I felt the water after 48 hours it was still pretty cold. I took the heater out and plugged it in another outlet and noticed that a red light came on. I put it back in the tank and shortly after the light went back out. I know that it self regulates at 78 degrees, so my question is...Does the light stay on all of the time or go off and on as it regulates? I tried googling and the search here and found nothing. Thanks for any help you can provide.

~Ruth

[marisa]

If the heater is working properly and is set for 78F, the light will go off when the temp reaches 78F and stay off unless the temp drops below 78F, when it come back on again as the heater works to bring the temp back up to 78F.

It's really good to check the heater's reading against a thermometer. They aren't that expensive.

[DaROOFisonfiya]

Ok, what is the best kind of thermometer to use? The kind that sticks to the side of the glass or one you actually put down in the water?

Thank you for the response. I thought it might be that way, but I haven't seen the light on at all other than when I first plug it in.

[marisa]

Some others feel differently, but I prefer the kind that go in the tank.

[papoopeepoo]

Your finger really will be biased when it comes to judging the water temp. I use a digital food service thermometer that works or me really well.

Something like this: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12089 should work for your needs. It keep the fragile parts of the thermometer out of the turtles way and makes the numbers easy to read.

[Maltliquor45]

i have two of these tetrafauna turtle heaters - you know they are working when the temps are down if you shut the light off you can see a glow - if the temps are above 78F it will not come on.

My 2 RES love this thing. they crawl over it with no problems at all.

I have an acrylic tank and a clear plastic storage tank.

m