Heater cracked during cycling and other newbie questions!

[feedl0rd]

Hi guys,

Firstly, thanks for answering all of my previous questions, you guys have been nothing but helpful.

I have been cycling my tank for nearly a month now and have finally got nitrates showing with 0 nitrites and 0-0.25ppm ammonia. Last night I smelt a really disgusting electrical burning smell coming from my sump so I opened my cabinet to find that the heater had cracked and was emitting white smoke while oozing a black substance from the crack. I immediately switched it off and removed it from the tank. I had a few hitchhikers from the live rock in the tank and the crab died (but the 2 snails that I have are fine). I was wondering weather the crab died due to the temperature spike or because there may be an unwanted chemical from the heater that has been leaked into the water. What would be my best course of action? I would hate it if I had to start the cycle again but I see most people who crack their heater don't have any lasting problems.

My other question was my ammonia has been on 0.25ppm for the past 4 days while maintaining a 0ppm nitrite and a 20-40ppm nitrate level. Are my eyes failing me and it is actually 0 or how much longer until the cycle is complete?

Thanks in advance guys, appreciate it!

 

[Bender19]

My other question was my ammonia has been on 0.25ppm for the past 4 days while maintaining a 0ppm nitrite and a 20-40ppm nitrate level. Are my eyes failing me and it is actually 0 or how much longer until the cycle is complete?

Thanks in advance guys, appreciate it!

Are you using API test kit? Most likely the ammonia reading is just accuracy errors. It sounds like your tank has cycled. Do a 50% or so water change and you are ready to go!:dance:

 

[feedl0rd]

Are you using API test kit? Most likely the ammonia reading is just accuracy errors. It sounds like your tank has cycled. Do a 50% or so water change and you are ready to go!:dance:

Thank you for the quick response! I am indeed using an API test kit. What do you reckon about the heater? Any likelihood of releasing toxic materials?

 

[scooter31707]

Thank you for the quick response! I am indeed using an API test kit. What do you reckon about the heater? Any likelihood of releasing toxic materials?

For as the heater, I would unplug it and take it out and get a replacement.

 

[gone fishin]

You could always run some carbon to help remove anything the heater put out. Also, you could do a large water change to help out. Good luck.

 

[Bender19]

You could always run some carbon to help remove anything the heater put out. Also, you could do a large water change to help out. Good luck.

A big water change will help. Activated Carbon is really only good for removing organics, it will do little if anything at all for the metals that are inside a heater. That being said i would still run it. It definitely won't hurt.

 

[gone fishin]

I am pretty sure activated carbon will pull metals from the water.

 

[Sk8r]

PolyFilter pad is a good thing to have on hand in general, and putting a snip of it into the water stream will tell you within 48 hours whether there are any metals in the tank: and it will remove them. It changes color depending on what metal it's absorbing. If it doesn't change color, there's no metals to concern you.

 

[tkeracer619]

This wasn't a stealth heater was it?