It’s all well and good having an efficient heater, but without the right tools to monitor it, your inhabitants are quite literally at the mercy of the (uncontrolled) elements. With a whole plethora of possible thermometers to choose from, iQuatics has been breaking down the monitoring credentials of the two biggest rivals: the thermochromic products and the newer digital options.

Digital Thermometers

The Pros

With their probe suspended in the water itself, the attached digital display is unimpeded by accidental readings of room temperature. This increased accuracy is then made customisable, with the display’s simple-to-read format allowing you to select either Celsius or Fahrenheit. Presenting a clear, at-a-glance reading, you no longer need to awkwardly bend down, and peer in, desperately squinting at the reading. Better still, their alert settings give you plenty of warning when the temperature fluctuates. Add to this the fact that some feature a battery life lasting up to 5000 hours (that’s well over a year, folks) what could be handier?

The Cons

Alas, there is a negative to these products. It seems that accuracy comes at a price, with the aesthetics of this thermometer leaving little to be desired. This is down to the messy wires attaching the probe to the display screen. Of course, it’ll come as no surprise that this is also one of the more expensive options to purchase, not to mention when it comes to replacing batteries.

Stick-on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Thermometers

The Pros

Inexpensive and long-lasting, these thermochromic solutions have proven to be an industry favourite. Lacking the same fragility as digital models, the LCD thermometer is a resilient choice.

Being easy to apply, there’s little to no need to fret over the instruction booklet, with straightforward use and no maintenance required. What’s more, they share something in common with the digital counterparts, with dualistic readings showing both Fahrenheit and Celsius.

The Cons

Despite their popularity, it is worth noting that these LCD thermometers fail to give any alerts. You’ll simply have to check your readings diligently. If that doesn’t faze you, then you may well be all set.

Nevertheless, being attached externally, they can be affected by ambient room temperature. Admittedly, this is a hotly debated topic, but just one indirect reading can lead to aquatic disaster.

What’s the Answer?

Maybe we’re just pacifists but as we see it, two is better than one . By having two thermometers busily monitoring your water temperature, you can compare readings and eliminate any discrepancies. Without this insurance thermometer you could blithely go on heating your aquarium, when in fact subjecting your inhabitants to their first unwelcome tropical holiday.

If you’re looking into the best thermometer for your aquarium, give one of our experts a call for advice on 0845 269 7417