Mugwump's Fish World

THE POND-THE FRESHWATER PLACE => Tank Maintenance and Equipment => Topic started by: b125killer on October 31, 2014, 11:49:52 PM

Title: New Toy
Post by: b125killer on October 31, 2014, 11:49:52 PM
I got a new toy for the fish room. I find myself paying closer attention to the temps in the discus tanks. I only have a hand full of led thermometers.  I have been switching them from tank to tank. I know better and i shouldn't do it but it's what i had to work with. Plus the led thermometers all read different from each other. 
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Mugwump on November 01, 2014, 05:58:12 AM
..aren't they neat, ;D ..mine gets used constantly, plus, the fish like to chase the the little red dot. ;D.
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: PaulineMi on November 01, 2014, 06:11:14 AM
I have one also.  So Scott, have you checked the temps of floors, walls, etc. with it?  And like Jon said....some of the fish will chase the red dot.....as will my dog.  :)
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: wsantia1 on November 01, 2014, 06:34:45 AM
I'm looking for one.  Anybody have any recommendations?
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: JR on November 01, 2014, 09:14:48 AM
I have had one for years to check A/C out put on cars. They work great. Got mine from Snap on paid way to much for it. Found one at Habor  Freight for about $30. Same brand as the Snap-on one and about 3 time cheaper
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: JC on November 01, 2014, 01:01:11 PM
Those are neat. I ways find myself checking the temp of EVERYTHING haha
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Ron Sower on November 01, 2014, 01:21:44 PM
I'm going to go to Harbor Freight and get one of these!
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: b125killer on November 01, 2014, 09:07:44 PM
I got mine at sears for $30. They have them on ebay cheaper but i wanted it now. I think i have checked the temp of everything in the house. The only thing that I'm having a problem with is my tank temps. The digital thermometers are reading around 78 to 82 on most tanks. The discus it reads 84. When i use the gun temps read from 83 to 94 on the discus.  I'm not sure witch one to believe.  I know there is a 2% tolerance on the temp gun. But i wouldn't think the temps should read that far off from the digital thermometers. I'm not sure if i should adjust for the temp gun or leave things alone. If it's not broke don't fix it kind of thing.
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: BillT on November 01, 2014, 09:39:58 PM
You can get reliable standard temperatures from measuring:

boiling water:     100˚C  or 212˚F

ice water (well mixed):          ~0˚C or ~32˚F

You want to get things at the transitions between the different states (solid-liquid or liquid-gas), not super cold ice or hot steam.
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: b125killer on November 01, 2014, 09:42:33 PM
Thanks Bill, I'll check it tomorrow.  I can't imagine the temps in them tanks are that high.
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: BillT on November 01, 2014, 09:49:08 PM
Boiling points will be lower at higher altitudes (like Denver).
So depending on your altitude, it might not be so good without a correction.
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: b125killer on November 01, 2014, 09:51:42 PM
I'm not in high altitudes.  I'm a couple hours west of Chicago. So i should be good.
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: b125killer on November 02, 2014, 02:38:05 AM
It's where it should be. I was wrong about the accuracy it's 3% of reading or ?5?F. but the max hit right on. Also taking temps through transparent surfaces such as glass/acrylic may not be accurate. I did think of that and was taking readings off the water surface. If I didn't think the digital thermometers would melt before they got to temp I would check them too. I'm not even sure what the max range in on them. I would try in with ice water but not to sure how to go about doing it. If i put it in the freezer I'm going to forget about it. So I'm still wondering if I should lower the temps in the tanks or leave them alone. I'm still thinking leave it alone. It's a pain adjusting all them heaters. and the fish are doing fine. My koi spawned today also so something must be right in there tank.  ;D
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/136321b3-c2b0-4c8b-bf20-9e65283855e0_zps6f97f6d0.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/136321b3-c2b0-4c8b-bf20-9e65283855e0_zps6f97f6d0.jpg.html)
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Mugwump on November 02, 2014, 04:33:52 AM
On mine you can open up the handle and there are toggle switches to set for any materials that you shooting at..ie...walls, glass, metal,etc...I can set it to read through glass to check a liquid, like water...check you manual again and see if you have a recommended way of calibrating....??


does your auto turn off work??....

Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: wsantia1 on November 02, 2014, 07:24:53 AM
Quote from: Mugwump on November 02, 2014, 04:33:52 AM
On mine you can open up the handle and there are toggle switches to set for any materials that you shooting at..ie...walls, glass, metal,etc...I can set it to read through glass to check a liquid, like water...check you manual again and see if you have a recommended way of calibrating....??


does your auto turn off work??....

What brand & model is yours Jon.  I liked yours. ;D
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Mugwump on November 02, 2014, 07:46:04 AM
Quote from: wsantia1 on November 02, 2014, 07:24:53 AM
Quote from: Mugwump on November 02, 2014, 04:33:52 AM
On mine you can open up the handle and there are toggle switches to set for any materials that you shooting at..ie...walls, glass, metal,etc...I can set it to read through glass to check a liquid, like water...check you manual again and see if you have a recommended way of calibrating....??


does your auto turn off work??....

What brand & model is yours Jon.  I liked yours. ;D

My son got it for me, he works at 3M....he got it at the employee sale.....much cheaper than they're sold for.....way cheaper...... ;D...but still wasn't cheap... ;D..but it's overkill for what I use it for..accurate....you betcha... ;D

http://www.westwayelectricsupply.com/ir-60l2-infrared-thermometer-circular-laser-60-1-1600-deg.html?gclid=COD_xNGE3MECFeQRMwodxEwASw (http://www.westwayelectricsupply.com/ir-60l2-infrared-thermometer-circular-laser-60-1-1600-deg.html?gclid=COD_xNGE3MECFeQRMwodxEwASw)

little cheaper...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3M-IR-60L2-Scotchtrak-Infrared-Heat-Tracer-/111498000488?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19f5cc7868 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/3M-IR-60L2-Scotchtrak-Infrared-Heat-Tracer-/111498000488?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19f5cc7868)

Different model....and cheaper yet..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/271589353592?lpid=82
(http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/271589353592?lpid=82)
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: LizStreithorst on November 02, 2014, 07:48:20 AM
holy shit!  Almost $900 :o :o :o :o :o
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Mugwump on November 02, 2014, 07:52:23 AM
Quote from: LizStreithorst on November 02, 2014, 07:48:20 AM
holy shit!  Almost $900 :o :o :o :o :o

LOL...he got it for my birthday one year....I believe that he paid a little under a hundred for it???...I've been to an employee sale with him....some really neat tools, etc there real cheap....and we'll never run out of 'post-its' pads ever again.... ;D...nor those great green 'Scotch-guard' pads for cleaning fish tanks... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: wsantia1 on November 02, 2014, 07:58:10 AM
Quote from: Mugwump on November 02, 2014, 07:46:04 AM
Quote from: wsantia1 on November 02, 2014, 07:24:53 AM
Quote from: Mugwump on November 02, 2014, 04:33:52 AM
On mine you can open up the handle and there are toggle switches to set for any materials that you shooting at..ie...walls, glass, metal,etc...I can set it to read through glass to check a liquid, like water...check you manual again and see if you have a recommended way of calibrating....??


does your auto turn off work??....

What brand & model is yours Jon.  I liked yours. ;D

My son got it for me, he works at 3M....he got it at the employee sale.....much cheaper than they're sold for.....way cheaper...... ;D...but still wasn't cheap... ;D..but it's overkill for what I use it for..accurate....you betcha... ;D

http://www.westwayelectricsupply.com/ir-60l2-infrared-thermometer-circular-laser-60-1-1600-deg.html?gclid=COD_xNGE3MECFeQRMwodxEwASw (http://www.westwayelectricsupply.com/ir-60l2-infrared-thermometer-circular-laser-60-1-1600-deg.html?gclid=COD_xNGE3MECFeQRMwodxEwASw)

little cheaper...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3M-IR-60L2-Scotchtrak-Infrared-Heat-Tracer-/111498000488?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19f5cc7868 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/3M-IR-60L2-Scotchtrak-Infrared-Heat-Tracer-/111498000488?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19f5cc7868)

Different model....and cheaper yet..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/271589353592?lpid=82
(http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/271589353592?lpid=82)
;D ;D ;D

LOL.  I think # 3 is my speed. LOL But yours is a great one.
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: PaulineMi on November 02, 2014, 08:03:08 AM
Okay...now we know....Jon AND his fish are spoiled. Who gets to play chase the dot with their fish using a $900 temperature gun. Manny probably gets to play with it too. Lol.  ;D  ;D ;D
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Mugwump on November 02, 2014, 08:16:48 AM
Quote from: PaulineMi on November 02, 2014, 08:03:08 AM
Okay...now we know....Jon AND his fish are spoiled. Who gets to play chase the dot with their fish using a $900 temperature gun. Manny probably gets to play with it too. Lol.  ;D  ;D ;D

I've experimented with it...while mature angels like to chase it...pre quarter angel fry swarm it...LOL.....Manny??....LOL....the demon does flips chasing it.... ;D

spoiled a little, yep....it was a wonderful gift, I needed one...but didn't realize the cost til much later.........."never look a gift horse in the mouth"