Pet Forum / Aquaria / Goldfish / January 2005

Hi. To make a long story short, I recently purchased a Royal Pleco
fish. According to various pieces of literature on the organism, it
needs to be in water of a relatively high temperature (around 78-82
degrees Farenheit. I have a thermometer and heater in the tank, but
there is a problem.

Though the tank glass *feels* warm, and though the area between the
water level and aquarium top is humid (such that condensation occurs),
the water itself feels quite cold. If I stick my hand in there, it
almost feels as if I'm running it under regular [cold] tap water.

I'm not sure what exactly is going wrong here. I've tried two different
thermometers (one a digital, one a traditional) and both report the
same temperature. Moreover, the temperature *DOES* "go up" when I
increase the heater setting. Thus I'm left with two theories:

1. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding the concept of aquarium temperature
itself, that the water isn't suppose to be "warm" to the touch.

2. Perhaps the thermometers are reading "false" temperatures, i.e. the
humidity or such is creating a false read.

I just don't understand how water that is suppose to be 80 degrees or
whatnot can feel so cold to the touch when I stick my hand INSIDE the
water. The tank glass feels considerably warmer.

For refrence, I have a Whisper-brand heater, and it is attached
horizontally towards the bottom of the tank, near the air stone and
filter.

My main concern is that the Royal Pleco will die because the water is
too cold, despite the instruments "claiming" it's the correct
temperature. Any help would be gratefully appreciated, thanks for your
time.

Matt