Urgent Care

I got an infrared temp gun as suggested, plus LCD strips for each of my two tanks (a 55 gallon and a 75 gallon).

The 55 gallon tank has a Fluval E100 heater (seriously underpowered) that 'reads' 75 degrees.
Water temp taken 2" above water reads 74.5 using infrared temp gun - confirmed by LCD strip which reads same.

The 75 gallon tank has a 7 or 8 year old Tronics 200 heater and has no inherent temp display of course.
Water temp taken 2" above water reads 74.5 using infrared temp gun - confirmed also by LCD strip.

Are my turtles at risk in any way from being at this temperature?

Neither heater seems to be able to take the temperature any higher - the Fluval is seriously underpowered- I should have gotten the E300.

The Tronics, at 200 watts, I guess is under-powered given that my 75 gallon tank is filled almost to the top (now that I have an ATBA). I think when I had less water it wasn't struggling so much - now it's red light 'on' indicator is indeed On all of the time.

I bought the Fluval product because it's turtle safe. They are expensive (for me - being unemployed).

What is the best course of action - can I just leave them at 74.5 degrees? (yes, I know that the heaters are using extra power by having to work all the time- which is inefficient in terms of energy use/cost)

If there are SAFE alternatives to the Fluval and you feel that I DO need to bring the temperature Up to some specified temp - what is that temp and WHICH HEATERS can I get that are turtle safe? (mine are 7" and 9" in separate tanks).

Please advise before I spend even more money (which I don't have). But if I DO need to, then please advise regarding the above situation.

Thank you in advance,
Matthew Peretz

I think they're fine at their size in those temps. Are your heater "on" lights frequently on?

Well. The Fluval E100 doesn't have a light - it has a digital readout of the water temperature that says 75 degrees (pretty close to the infrared temp gun's reading of 74.5).
It isn't able to heat the water any higher. It's too low wattage. Your supposed to have 3-4 watts/gallon of water. So both of my heaters are way underpowered.

Is it possible to double check that they are working? By feeling it when it's "on"?

I can probably do that for the Tronics - since it's the traditional glass tube (with a plastic removable cover) -but the Fluval E series I doubt it... I'm not sure it comes out of it's thick plastic casing.... I'll check. Why do you ask? The real question to me is - if the rule of thumb is that typically one needs 3-4 watts/gallon of water than neither my 100 watt (Fluval) nor my 200 watt Tronic are powerful enough to heat either the 55 gallon tank (with the Fluval) or the 75 gallon tank with the Tronic. If this 'rule of thumb' that I read somewhere is 'true' then it explains quite simply WHY I'm not able to achieve something like 77 degrees (which I 'thought' was ideal) and they struggle to maintain 74.5 degrees and go no higher. They're not powerful enough. The question is - is 74.5 degrees acceptable for 7 year old fully grown RES or am do I need to get to a higher baseline water temperature. If I do, then I'd rather not spend $45/heater for the Fluval E300 heater. They are probably the most expensive way to go - but I couldn't find less expensive glass tubes that I could find a protective casing for....

It's possible they are not working at all or the room/air temp is making it difficult for them to achieve that 77F.

No. I doubt that. The Fluval E100 is only a few months old and I'm sure it's working. The problem is that it is only 100 watts trying to heat up 55 gallons of water. By the calculation I was given, 55 gallons would require a MINIMUM of a 165 watt heater. It simply cannot do it. The issue isn't really whether they are working or not (I'll confirm that they are tomorrow). The issue is really whether the turtles are fine in 75 degrees - or do they need to be in warmer water. I KNOW these two heaters are underpowered, but does it really matter or are the turtles fine. Is 77 really a minimum and do the two degrees (if 77 is the normal or even minimum normal temp) matter. If they do matter, then it's 99 percent likely that I need two new heaters - or at least I could probably put the Tronic 200 watt in the 55 gallon tank and buy one new heater of about 250-300 watts for the 75 gallon tank. I've also read that it's far better to have over-powered heaters than under (under-powered being bad for obvious reasons) - but overpowered because they don't have to constantly be ON and using a lot of power.

75F is fine for older RES. In fact, some consider it a better range for them. How are you liking that temp gun?

I like it. And it seems to be in line with the LCD's so I'm pretty sure it's accurate.
So I don't have to buy new heaters! Thank god - this is the first time the end result wasn't me spending a zillion more dollars! It's like a dream!

Urgent Care :: Temp gun indicates water temp of 74.5 - problem?

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