need heater help -asap!

[orphansparrow]

hi there,

so, i am treating my betta for slight fin rot.

after some advice here, i bought a heater for my small 2 gallon tank.

after letting it sit and acclimate to my tank water temp. for about 15 min, i plugged it in.

it has been in there, with the red light on, for over an hour, while my poor betta waits in his tiny cup.

there has been NO change in the water temp in this time!!

the water is only at not quite 70 degrees right now!

what should i do?? my betta can't wait in his cup all day.

thanks!

[orphansparrow]

ALSO -

it's a 10 watt.

ANOTHER QUESTION -

should i just put my betta into the tank with the water at 70 degrees? that is what he is used to...and just let him be in there as the heater warms up eventually? or is that bad, and i should wait until the water is heated, and then float his cup in there to acclimate??

thanks again!

[denaliwind]

What heater is it? You may have a lemon and perhaps should trade it in. I've used the Marina 10w and the Marineland 10w heaters and unfortunately they're hit or miss. 70 is really way too cold, but I'm sure waiting in his cup isn't any warmer.

[orphansparrow]

denaliwing - i know it's too cold now, that's why i'm worried. =(

it is a marina brand. the marineland ones in stock were too big for my tank. =(

i just checked the tank thermometer again, and it looks like maybe it's one degree higher??

i turned up the heater in the house though, so it may just be that.

i would go get another one right now, but i don't have access to my car till this afternoon.

ughh...

so, it usually doesn't take this long for heater to start warming up the water??

[Tisia]

I think a lot of heaters say something like waiting 12 hours to get the proper temp. maybe poor some of the water out and add some slightly warmer water? or maybe fill your sink or tub with warm water and stick it in there, how I warm up my gallon jugs when I'm doing water changes

[orphansparrow]

thanks tisia...

in the meantime, should i put my betta back in his tank while the heater is not to it's right temp?

[orphansparrow]

okay, so this is weird. i just went in and checked the tank water with my finger in comparison to the water in my bettas cup, and by feel it is MUCH warmer than the water in my bettas cup!

so, i just started floating his cup in the tank so he can acclimate to the warmer temp...

so, i wonder if my thermometer is suddenly not working??

i'm so confused. i may just go out and buy a second thermometer just to be sure.

anyway, thanks so much for your help guys. ^_^

[orphansparrow]

sorry, me again.

soooo, i don't know what's going on...but the thermometer still says 70. =(

i thought the water seemed warmer than the water in his cup, but maybe it was just because of running the heater in the house.

i finally just put him in his tank, even with the cold water, as there is nothing else i can do for now.

i guess i will just go to petsmart tonight and exchange it for a different one. :(

[Silverfang]

I have the same one, it can be very slow to heat up initially, I was sitting and waiting impatiently for the temperature to hit the correct mark.
The hit or miss statement seems to be quite accurate, mine only keeps it to about 75, even though the box says 78.

[orphansparrow]

silverfang - thank you so much. i actually just got back from the petstore, and the girl there convinced me that it takes a really long time, and that i should wait until tomorrow to see if i need to exchange it...

the thermometer still says 72-73, but actually the water feels definitely warmer than it used to..

whats funny (or maybe sad) is that yangtze is hanging out right by the heater, so maybe he can tell that its working somewhat.

poor fellow. :( he does seem to have lots of energy though, so maybe he's alright.