Heater exploded and killed my fish!

[briddellm]

I went out for dinner and came back 3 hours later and my fish were all dead or dying. Turns out, my heater blew up! My water tests fine and the temp is at 76 degrees. I removed my poor dead fish and took the one survivor (gasping) to the LFS along with my corals. What do I need to do now other than remove all of the glass? I have a 24 nanocube - the heater was in the 3rd back compartment.

Thanks!

 

[boxfishpooalot]

Im sorry for your loss. They should ban glass heaters from the aquarium industry.

I use a Won Titanium digital heater. This thing will never explode. Check them out.

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_heaters_won_brothers_pro-heat_titanium.asp?CartId=

 

[TippyToeX]

briddellm
[welcome]

So sorry to hear of your loss.

Do a big water change, and run some fresh carbon maybe even a polly filter pad.

 

[briddellm]

Thanks guys. I'll put in carbon tonight. Lesson learned - I bought a shatterproof high temp plastic heater on my way out of the LFS. I'll have to wait till they open tomorrow to get RO water so I can drain and refill.

 

[wetWolger]

yea, my guess the dose of electricity and copper from the heater coils were a deadly dose. do you run a gfi? if so did it trip?

 

[briddellm]

No gfi but it's on a surge protector and nothing tripped. So far my inverts are ok.

 

[Dubbin1]

Major bummer!!!!

 

[Paintbug]

man that sucks!! what type of heater did you pick up?

 

[Urabggr]

I had the same thing happen to me. I had just moved everything from my 30g to my brand new 120g and then a couple days later I came how to everything dying. I acted fast with water changes, removal of anything dead, and most importantly IMO, a PolyFilter.

I ended up actually only loosing one small hydnophora frag and most of my snails. Of course, my only fish at the time was a mandarin. After analyzing the PolyFilter, I determined that the heater had leached lead/zinc into the tank. The electric shock probably did some damage as well. GOOD LUCK!

 

[FloridaFishMan]

What causes them to explode?

 

[sloshesv]

Woh! I've got a glass heater, but I'd be reluctant to change it out because the temp is perfect and stable. What a quandry.

 

[masson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6501752#post6501752 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boxfishpooalot
Im sorry for your loss. They should ban glass heaters from the aquarium industry.

I use a Won Titanium digital heater. This thing will never explode. Check them out.

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_heaters_won_brothers_pro-heat_titanium.asp?CartId=

Actually they can light on fire instead of blowing up. Mine shorted( for no reason) And I unpluged it fast and the tank was still 86 degrees by then. Took it apart and it was all dark and almost melted on the inside.


I'm trying ebo jager now as they seem to have the best rep

Sorry for your loss, I hope your tank can recover.

 

[sloshesv]

I'm getting a little freaked out here.

 

[FloridaFishMan]

Are these heaters any good?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12060

 

[Paintbug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6504307#post6504307 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FloridaFishMan
Are these heaters any good?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12060

im using one of those myself. i have been using it for about 10 months and its been constant from day one. the only thing is dont go by what is on the knob for temp. mine is off a little. mine is set at 84Ã"šÃ‚°F but it keeps the tank at 80Ã"šÃ‚°F. i have checked the temp of the tank with a 2 thermometers just to be sure. and of course i paid $25 on sale at the LFS for a 250w. rip offs!! LOL

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6504307#post6504307 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FloridaFishMan
Are these heaters any good?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12060

I have one - works well, no complaints.

 

[dt90gt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6502710#post6502710 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by masson

I'm trying ebo jager now as they seem to have the best rep

I used ebo jager heaters my entire life, except I can't anymore since someone bought the company and they are NO LONGER fully submersible!!! Such a pia since I bought one from fostersmith and read the heater and it had a water line?!? SO I called up fostersmith and they said that they changed the heaters. Kinda sucks since I had their heaters for the past like 15 years and never had an issue. Now I am going with someother heater they sell which is submersible.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

temp. controller.......for under $100 you'll have a temp. that doesn't fluctuate more than 0.9 degrees ever.(titanium heaters also a good idea)
-Aqua Medic has a digital temp. controller with a 500W Titanium heater for $105 online.(this is what i use...but with 3-300W heaters)

 

[Kabong]

Ebo's are still submersable, Thats just a cover there a$$ statement the new company uses. I have all my new Ebo's submersed with no problems.

 

[sds]

the water line is a minimum on the ebo. I have 3 running fully submersed and working fine