Top fin submersible 50 watt aquarium heater not working?

Question

so i bought a top fin aquarium starter kit at petsmart on wednesday. i set everything [including the heater] on thursday. i don't think the thermometer is working properly because it says that the water is 83 degrees but when i feel the water, it is actually pretty cool.

i'm new at keeping aquariums so can anyone help me? is there something i have to press or something that has to turn on that will tell me that my heater is working.

thanks. :]

Answer 1

Your body temp. runs about 98.6 degrees so anything under that is going to feel cool.

Take a regular outside stick thermometer and temporarily put in aquarium and see what it reads.

Answer 2

Heaters usually have a light on them somewhere, and it turns on when the heater is heating the water.

Your water might feel cool, but the temperature might really 83 degrees. but i doubt it..

Get a new heater, and a new thermometer.. The ones that come in starter kits tend to break easily, and turn the tank into a box of death..  

Answer 3

This is a pretty small heater. If your tank is more than 50 liter  the heater is most likely to small. Check if the light is on on the heater. Don't take it out the water to do this as the heater may explode. Get a thermometer to check the water temp.

Check that the heater is set properly. Turn the k**b on top clockwise  till you hear a click. Leave it on for a few hours but monitor the water temp. If it is to hot turn the k**b ant clockwise till you hear the click.

Do this till the temp is just right