My Heater Blew Up Today!

S

Squall

New member
I got home from work, checked my tank, walked out of the room-all seemed fine-temps normal. Went to let my dog back in and bang. Pumps, lights, and tank shut down and horrible burning smell coming from the tank. I checked out the scene before sticking my hand in the tank and cut all power to the tank. In the sump one of my heaters blew up- Stealth Pro. Ever see the cartoons where some one has a dynamite stick blow up in their hand and they are left with a stick that has the sides peeled back like a banana? That was the heater-I had no idea they could literally explode. Luckily my pump is on the same circuit as heaters and when the GFCI tripped my pump was shut-down. So fortunately none of the chemicals or crap was pumped into the DT. Emptied the sump, scrubbed it clean, and with the back-up saltwater that I had, got the tank up and running. I still have two other stealth heaters in the sump going though, and it makes me a little nervous. I have used these heaters in freshwater for years with no issues, but maybe they are not good in saltwater. So my question- what heater is recommended? I would like any non-exploding recommendations. Thanks
 
There was just one this past weekend that blew up, and these aren't the first cases. I just bought 2 stealths before I read the stories about them exploding. I just placed my order earlier today for new titanium heaters. My stealth pros only have to last me a few more days. All together, they should only have a week of use on them before I throw them away.

Call marineland and have them send you a check for the heater and any damages. Sorry to hear about the incident.

And for heater recommendations, jagers are a favorite around here. I went with the Aqua titaniums for my fowlr and biocube. Bigals seemed to have the best price and I got free shipping since my order was over 75 bucks.
 
I really recommend anyone with a stealth or stealth pro heater to pull them out of your tank ASAP. I can't tell you how many of these incidents I have seen. Someone could really get hurt with these things and it seems like Marineland doesn't give a damn.
 
James404 said:
I really recommend anyone with a stealth or stealth pro heater to pull them out of your tank ASAP. I can't tell you how many of these incidents I have seen. Someone could really get hurt with these things and it seems like Marineland doesn't give a damn.
Click to expand...

and replace it with with exactly?

ebo jager's old reputation is really no longer valid as eheim now has control
and has made at least two revisions.

i have a hydor theo whatever and its performance is pretty poor. 200 watt heater
to warm up change water and i have to throw in another stealth pro to get it
up to 78ish degrees in a few hours. I let it set by itself for hours and hours and
the temp did not budge until i cranked it up to 88 degrees. I did not care for that
so I use two heaters as mentioned above.

titanium heaters are butt ugly when in a display with no sump. i am unsure if
they even come in a size that is appropriate for smaller tanks like a 26 gallon.

inline heaters are not appropriate for non sump situations in my mind.

so to me there is no clear choice. but i welcome advice on this great choice.
but i also imagine a quick google search will find forum posts showing it has
been involved in disasters too.

just look at the reviews on marine depot for a hydor theo. 2 stars. you really have
to suck to get 2 stars on that website.
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...gory=FIHTGH&child=HD11202&tab=4&size=100 watt
 
Last edited:
fcmatt said:
and replace it with with exactly?

ebo jager's old reputation is really no longer valid as eheim now has control
and has made at least two revisions.

i have a hydor theo whatever and its performance is pretty poor. 200 watt heater
to warm up change water and i have to throw in another stealth pro to get it
up to 78ish degrees in a few hours. I let it set by itself for hours and hours and
the temp did not budge until i cranked it up to 88 degrees. I did not care for that
so I use two heaters as mentioned above.

titanium heaters are butt ugly when in a display with no sump. i am unsure if
they even come in a size that is appropriate for smaller tanks like a 26 gallon.

inline heaters are not appropriate for non sump situations in my mind.

so to me there is no clear choice. but i welcome advice on this great choice.
but i also imagine a quick google search will find forum posts showing it has
been involved in disasters too.
Click to expand...

I have had no problems with my Hydor theo, I run it on a controller of course. I also have a eheim jager (submersible) with no problems. I would recommend anything besides a stealth. It sounds like you are running one and if you are comfortable doing that then that is your call. My stealth pro gets used in my mixing bucket for a total of 15 mins a week.
 
James404 said:
I have had no problems with my Hydor theo, I run it on a controller of course. I also have a eheim jager (submersible) with no problems. I would recommend anything besides a stealth. It sounds like you are running one and if you are comfortable doing that then that is your call. My stealth pro gets used in my mixing bucket for a total of 15 mins a week.
Click to expand...

eh.. i typed a long rant. read it and decided to erase it.
basically my two stealth pros are newer. perhaps i am past those
bad batches.

either way... i can read reviews or search forums and it seems every
heater has had problems.. some even blow up just like stealths.

i know i do not care for theos.. so perhaps trying a newer jager is the
right path to go. just sucks how stealth pros are now getting a bad
reputation when they blend in with a black back tank so darn well :-(
 
Last edited:
I feel like one of those automated recordings at the insurance company. "If you have a Marineland Stealth heater apparatus in your aquarium, please dispose of it at your nearest landfill. Thank you and have a great non-exploding heater day."
 
James404 said:
I have had no problems with my Hydor theo, I run it on a controller of course. I also have a eheim jager (submersible) with no problems. I would recommend anything besides a stealth. It sounds like you are running one and if you are comfortable doing that then that is your call. My stealth pro gets used in my mixing bucket for a total of 15 mins a week.
Click to expand...

I too use the Hydor Theo's. Great heaters one of the two I have in my sump right now is approaching the 4 year mark, and the other is coming up on 2 and a half years of trouble free service. Granted its not the most accurate, but it still works once you figure out how much you need to turn the dial to get the temp that you wan't.
 
lol I feel like one of those automated recordings at the insurance company. "If you have a Marineland Stealth heater apparatus in your aquarium, please dispose of it at your nearest landfill. Thank you and have a great non-exploding heater day
 
I have one running on a QT tank! I really don't want to have a bomb explode in my house! Dumping it by the weekend for sure!
 
One other thing, their packaging states "shatter proof". It should say "exploding Possible" or "not intended for indoor aquarium use" or "Hurt locker approved" ! In all my years of reefing, I've seen heaters fail, mostly off, some fail on. Never exploding in water, like what I've seen lately with these. Recall would be right thing to do.
 
Wow, that's the second case within the last few days, and 3rd within a couple of weeks. Stealths are ticking time bombs, and I'm glad the damage was minimal in your case.
 
I have used a Ranco temp controller and a couple of Finnex titanium heaters for several years now. Once a year a pull the heaters out and scrub them off.
 
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Jager heaters are the only heater I will EVER use.

You couldn't pay me enough to put a Stealth heater in my tank, I will use them for mixing water but that's it.
 
Two of these incidents in a week?!? I wonder if it is because temperatures are dropping and heaters are under more stress. Regardless, it is time to yank my stealth! I'm glad I went with a ViaAqua titanium with thermostat and additional control by RKL for my new setup.
 
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