I don't like the accurites. I had three and the best of the bunch was poor. (almost 2 degrees temp off and close to 10% humidity incorrect) Basically in instrument land there are cheap and accurate. Accurate is expensive much more than a 100$ T stat. Cheap ones have almost across the board +/- 2ºF meaning that the manufacturer expects them to vary off the line by as much as 2 degrees. One might be perfect the next one could be perfect. I suggest the cheap digital thermometer and a hygrometer that is calibratable. The analogue ones typically sold for the reptile trade are very poor they have a paper face. The face can be in the wrong position and can also stop the needle from moving metal face cards are needed. If you go on ebay and fine a cheap digital one they are usually quite bad as well but if you buy 5 the chances of getting two that are the same (and likely accurate) is fairly good I'd say the same for accurites but at the price they are you could buy a herpstat that is actually a very accurate thermometer as the probe.


I am afraid this is a case of you get what you pay for. I guess the hydrofarm is ok but the probes are terribly inaccurate I do instrument calibration in my work and I was asked to test 3 hydrofarms they all read differently buy one degree and one two degrees and the lowest one is is still too high by 1 degree. If you go that route make sure you have an accurate thermometer.