At the moment it’s difficult to tell.
It dropped by 0.5C overnight.
I have a webCoRE fuel stream configured so I will get more of an idea over a period of time.
I think it might need to be sealed on the outside of the tank for really accurate readings.
Will update.
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Just an update on how the temperature measuring on the outside of my aquarium is going using a Xiaomi temperature sensor.
Went away for a long weekend and the temperature in the lounge dropped to 18 C and at the same time the tank temp was reading 21.9 C.
I think the tank was probably between 22.5 and 23.5.
Yesterday I covered the sensor with an aerosol cap to see if this would give a constant temp.
Last night the temp in the lounge dropped to 19.8 and the tank dropped from 23.3 to 22.9.
Now I don’t know if this means this is a reasonable way of measuring the tank temp or not. I need an excuse to go away again to test it again.
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OK folks another update.
I move the Xiaomi temp sensor to the side of the tank which is near a wall. It is away form draughts etc. in the room.
Here the temp has been pretty constant. It has varied between 23C and 23.6C. The temp in the room has been pretty constant though. I really need a trip away with the heating off (as it is now but the temp has been pretty constant) to get a good gauge on how things are going.
I have fixed it permanently to the tank and have left the aerosol cap over it. I will have to do something more pleasing to the eye.
Next update next month after out latest jaunt away.
I’ve gone back to using a Fibaro sensor as the Xiaomi was varying to much with my room temperature.
Been working great with no issues.
WARNING. DS18B20 PROBE CAN CAUSE LEAKS.
I have been using the Fibaro sensor connected to a DS18B20 temperature probe for a while now and it has been working great.
The other day I noticed the carpet near my aquarium was wet, extremely wet.
On inspection i could find no leaks to my tank. I moved it out of my house into the garage so that I could both clean up the mess and also monitor the tank to see if I could detect the leak. I left the Fibaro sensor hanging down the back of my tank with the probe still in the tank. (This is how it was in my house).
After a week of no water leaking a pool started to appear at the back of my tank.
On closer inspection the water was dripping from the Fibaro Sensor. What has been happening is somehow the water has siphoned its way up the inside of the probe lead and then dripping out on to the floor.
If the sensor and probe lead is above the water level then this cannot happen.
Just thought I would post here for information and you may wish to check your setup so that it does not happen to you.
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I’m still interested in an external solution with an offset built in. It seems that there will be an offset that is predictable based on room temperature. Maybe some styrofoam packing cut-to-fit, as well. Do you think that the Xiaomi TH was responsive? Dis it report often enough? This is mainly for alarm conditions, after maybe 2-3 degrees.
Cheers,
Mike
Allison,
Have you found a light that can be synced with and controlled by smart things?
Does it already have fish in it? If so, is it freshwater or saltwater?
In either case, just start with a good book
.
Also, in either case, aquariums require a lot of hands-on maintenance whether they are automated in anyway or not. There’s just no getting around the fact that it’s a very artificial environment for the animals you put in it. So to keep them healthy, you have to do a lot.
If it doesn’t already have fish in it, a much lower maintenance alternative is to use the tank as a terrarium and choose animals that are comfortable at normal room temperatures and there’s just a lot less work to keep them happy and healthy. Or you can even just use plants and come up with something very interesting and decorative. and again, a lot less work. 
There are some easy ways to keep the fish happy. What filtration? You will need to do water changes, but less if you use biological filtration. My easiest tanks had Under Gravel filters, but your is already set up. What does it have?
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