During the summer I usually kept my room 70-72 degrees which put my tank temp between 78-81. Now that it is fall (I live on Long Island, NY) my room temp has been about 67, 68, and the tank si still hoovering around 78. I haven't even needed to use my heater at all. This is my first tank, so I was just wondering how normal this is, and when the heater will even need to be used?

One night when it was in the upper 30's outside the tank did go down around 76, but basically it doesn't seem like you need to have the heater running unless its super cold outside, and you don't keep your ambient room temp warm?

It's not uncommon. Also unsurprising because you are using an maxijet.

Hmm the maxijet is in my reservoir top off bucket, wouldn't that be negligible to the tank temperature since it is only adding prob about a cup a day?

Oh, right. I guess that's my retard moment for the day.

Even without the MJ, it isn't uncommon to not need a heater on our smaller tanks. Heck, I have a system that's the better part of 30 gal and I use a heater only when it starts to get cold outside... The insulation in my apt isn't all that great.

One I would assume when it is 30° outside you are heating your house...

The heater is there to stabilize temperatures. Your lighting is adding most of the heat during the day but it will drop at night when they shut off.

Keep your heater in the tank and do not take it out in the summer or warmer periods.

That is exactly when it has dipped down to around 76...at night when it was in the high 30's. My house is heated -- but my room is its on zone, and I like to keep it COLD during the winter, I actually barely ever even turn the heat on unless it gets arctic outside. Guess I was just surprised at the effect, or lack there of, that cooler weather has had on my tank temp.

But I'll def. keep it on now that its been getting cooler, and especially when it gets real cold outside

I agree with StevieT. I would leave it in year round regardless of the outside temperature. I'm originally from Ft.Lauderdale where it's 80-90 degrees almost year round and I never took it out of my 55 gallon. Granted it did not come on very often, but the real point is that stable water temperature will lessen the chance of disease.

yea leave it in and on and ready 4 action