Pet Forum / Aquaria / General / March 2004

Could be your heaterstat is sticking on.  Mine's done that, I've turned
it down as low as it'll go, so when it sticks on it doesn't overly heat
the tank (the tank tends to maintain temp fairly well during the day
with the flourescent lights anyway plus room temp) - it does eventually
switch off again.  Also I sited it higher in the tank (the filter draws
from the base, exits at the top, so ok for redistribution of heat) so
that it is encouraged to turn on and off less frequently.

I know I really need a new one.  Oh, it's probably slightly underpowered
for the tank, but as I already knew, the tank doesn't need that much in
the way of heating unless there's no room heat and the lights are off
(doesn't happen very often) - which helps, cos it means the heaterstat
isn't able to boil the tank water.

Fish seem ok about coping at higher temps, though I do sometimes see
signs of discomfort if the filtration rate is a little lower than normal
due to intake clogging from the plants - I assume a slight rise of waste
products in that scenario which are made less bearable by the higher temp.

FWIW, my heaterstat started this about a year after it was bought.  My
old heaterstat gave up the ghost after many years faithful use, this one
has proved very poor in reliability compared to that one AND cost me a
whole load more.  Shan't be buying that make again (can't remember which
it is without looking, though will if asked to).

Velvet

Get a new heater - quickly.  (assuming it is one with an integral
thermostat)

okay i am getting a new one :-)

Andi