My Heater Exploded...

N

nubomb

New member
So last night I started prepping for my first water change. I added water to to a large garbage can and was planning on heating the water up as I air rate with a stone. I was planning to start to add the salt with a power head in the can today. So last night I'm in bed and I hear an explosion. Scared the crap out of me... I get to the garabge can and I see the top of the heater smoking and glass and the inside of the heater on the bottom of the can.

Has this happened to anyone before? The heater I was using is pretty old (7 years). I'm nervous about the heater I have in my wet/dry. If I wasn't home this thing could have started a fire.

Other question. I have about 30 gallons of water sitting in the can. I'm planning on dumping it, do you think it is contaminated or something or can I still use it?? It has a nice burnt smell to it now :D
 
Dump it and becareful of the pieces of glass. extremely sharp. Rinse the can to get any small shavings out.

Time to upgrade to a heater you can trust. Titaniums are nice. No worries of glass
 
No it wan't plugged into a GFCI outlet.

The heater I think was a non-submersible, I didn't have it submerged and after the explosion the cap and wire was still above the water.

Well I have a submersible one in my wet/dry. I guess Im going to take it out and get a new one. Any recomendations? I see titanium and stainless steel kinds.

Well I'm going to try it again tonight, I have another glass heater on hand. Wish me luck.
 
It's time to go with a plastic or titanium heater. I have a stealth that is shatter-proof and inexpensive.
 
Never use a class heater for anything you do with salt or fresh water, There a out dated use and not safe becuase thay break or leak often!
 
GFCI = Ground Fault Circuit Interuptor. Basically as soon as it detects a grounded circuit it cuts the power before you get electrocuted. All modern homes have them in the bathroom/kitchen/outdoor outlets. They're the ones with the test reset buttons on them.

This way when you're taking a bath and making toast in your bathroom toaster if it should fall into the tub you're protected. :)
 
get jager heaters. they are glass, but very reliable. titaniums from what ive read alot, have problems sticking on/off
 
The old jager heaters were super reliable. Ive had two going in my cichlid tank at my mothers house for 5 years straight with no problems.

Recently however, ebo-jager was purchased by ehiem which is well known in the FW world for making highly overpriced filters. They are also no longer rated to be submerged. I didnt find this out till after they arrived at my door. Hope the quality is still the same.
 
eheims are expensive filters, but ask anyone who knows fresh tanks, and they will tell you they are the best. i didnt know they werent rated to be submerged. i have had 6 new models, and i submerged them all without probs
 
I woke up one night to flying sparks and loud noises... my glass heater had leaked and filled with water.. BBBUUUZZZZZZ!!!

Not something fun to deal with at 3am (or any time for that matter!)
 
Man, I'm glad I have a stockpile of old style Ebo Jagers :) Those heaters are built great. I was thinking of purchasing a titanium heater, too... didn't know about the temp stick problems?
 
I had a cheap heater that came with a tank I bought from a friend,I think it was from Wal-Mart that broke and electrocuted my QT tank.My poor Damsel died and when I took him out all his fins were flared and had a nasty burn smell.I got a Jager in my main tank that had me worried after but read that they are very good heaters.
 
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