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Accurate out-of-the-box thermometer (1 Viewer)

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fogcutter

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I'm having a crisis of faith when it comes to the temperature of the water in my 90/40 aquarium. I now have 5 different thermometers/probes that are reading 5 entirely different temperatures. To be fair, two of the probes can be calibrated so I don't really count them. The new SICCE pump I just installed also has a temp probe and yes....reading completely different from anywhere else. These measurements are off by 1 to 2 degrees. I know from experience that most heaters fall within that range of accuracy ....not really concerned with that as I have a good controller and I'm using a SENEYE to monitor.

What I would like to find is the cheapest (not trying to be ironic) and accurate, pre-calibrated hand held thermometer so that I can calibrate the rest of my equipment. I have a Thermopen I use for cooking but it only reads single degrees. I need something that can read tenths.

Anyone have any suggestions?
 

Erin

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This has worked well for me. Reads tenths of a degree.
 

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jrounding

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I use a thermapen from our kitchen. Thermoworks makes good stuff. Out of the box temperature controllers are likely needing calibration. My Sicce pump and my inkbird controller don’t agree either if that makes you feel better. Lol!
 
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fogcutter

fogcutter

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I use a thermapen from our kitchen. Thermoworks makes good stuff. Out of the box temperature controllers are likely needing calibration. My Sicce pump and my inkbird controller don’t agree either if that makes you feel better. Lol!

I agree...a have one for food. Just need that decimal point to calibrate everything else.
 

soymilk

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without it being nist certified, you won’t know if anything is accurate out of the box. There’s some nist traceable ones you can get for 40 bucks. It can be good out the box but can drift eventually. So you’d have to send it out for verification/calibration once a year.

Unless all your thermometers are in the same area, it might be possible your spread in temperature is real. It isn’t uncommon to have th display tank 1-2 degrees cooler than the sump where the heater lives.

Imho you don’t have to be that precise. .1 difference isn’t going to make that much of a difference. It’s the reason why all the stuff we have isn’t certified.

Just average the readings on all the thermometers and calibrate of that.
 
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fogcutter

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without it being nist certified, you won’t know if anything is accurate out of the box. There’s some nist traceable ones you can get for 40 bucks. It can be good out the box but can drift eventually. So you’d have to send it out for verification/calibration once a year.

Unless all your thermometers are in the same area, it might be possible your spread in temperature is real. It isn’t uncommon to have th display tank 1-2 degrees cooler than the sump where the heater lives.

Imho you don’t have to be that precise. .1 difference isn’t going to make that much of a difference. It’s the reason why all the stuff we have isn’t certified.

Just average the readings on all the thermometers and calibrate of that.

Good advice. I'm not looking for .1 accuracy truly. I think the above mentioned probe will work fine for what I need. I'll use that to calibrate my SENEYE and be done with it. I'm using a HELIOS controller so I'm not worried about maintaining temp etc. Just wanted something inexpensive that I can use as a baseline.
 

foos

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Unless all your thermometers are in the same area, it might be possible your spread in temperature is real. It isn’t uncommon to have th display tank 1-2 degrees cooler than the sump where the heater lives.
I have my temp probes on the left side of the sump in the filter roller so they get the water direct from display, then heaters are other side right before the return. Best way to do it if you ask me.

I think it is worth getting a nist traceable. I used one to calibrate my sensors for the tank, the heaters themselves, my hvac since it has an offset, and other temp sensors I have around the house. Stupid hvac was off by 4 degrees.
 
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