For the past week or so, we had been hit hard in the midwest with a winter blast with sub zero temps and surprisingly lots of snow here in Michigan. The temp has been in the single digits all week and negative temps with the wind chill factor. This is common for us and we're use to it, but I was hit with a double whammy within 48 hours. On Thursday my very reliable heater in my fug malfunctioned for some strange reason. The temp was reading correctly, but the heater wasn't working. I keep the thermostat in the house on 72 during the winter in conjunction with my dual 250 watt MH, the tank temp remains at a constant 79 degrees day and night. I didn't notice the malfunctioning heater until Friday evening. Why? Believe it or not, the blower on the house furnace went out at 7 PM on Friday evening. I made a call to get a repairman out as the house temp dropped rapidly to 55 degrees but it was much colder than that believe me. The furnace was repaired and working again by 10 PM that evening. Later that night around 1 or 2 AM Saturday morning, the blower failed again. I made another call and no one could come out until morning. My tank is on a reverse photoperiod as my lights come on in the evening and off in the morning, so the halides would serve a greater purpose in keeping the water temps close to normal. I know that Zoanthids and Palythoas are very resilient and will survive/rebound from the cold much better than excessively high temps. I didn't sleep well the night before, so my eyes were very heavy, so with 4 comforters on the bed, a hat, socks and layer or jogging attire, I hunkered down in bed. With no thermometer on hand, I couldn't check the water temp other than a finger dip for comparison, but I knew my polyps would make it as long as the halides were on. I woke up at 7 AM and checked the tank. Before I did a finger dip, I checked a glass of water I left on the counter the night before. The water was cold enough to drink, oh nooo !!. I did a quick visual on the tank and everything was open and expanding about 80 % of normal, but still, this was a good sign. I dipped a finger and it was cool. I ran to the store and picked up a cheap thermometer to give me a quick range reading. To my surprise, the temp was 69/70, I knew from experience that this was fine as they can definitely tolerate cooler temps as oppose to excessive heat in which they will begin to dissolve and melt away.
Before ordering a new heater, I pulled it out and inspected it. I cleaned the heater probe and the thermostat probe and placed it back in the fug. Still no response from the heater, not even to the touch. Hmmmm, scathing head, I knew this was one of the best heater around as I have had it for years with no issues. I looked closely at the dial on the face of the power pack which the digital read out of the temp. I turned it one notch to the left and it clicked on instantly. The heater is now working perfectly. So what happened? The dial was simply stuck or not making contact I assume or failing to communicate to the heater probe in the fug, not sure. I've watched it for a full day and it is working perfectly now. None the less, a new heater has been ordered as a back up, ....just in case. Tragedy averted !!!!!
Does anyone else have a story to share?
Mucho Reef
Before ordering a new heater, I pulled it out and inspected it. I cleaned the heater probe and the thermostat probe and placed it back in the fug. Still no response from the heater, not even to the touch. Hmmmm, scathing head, I knew this was one of the best heater around as I have had it for years with no issues. I looked closely at the dial on the face of the power pack which the digital read out of the temp. I turned it one notch to the left and it clicked on instantly. The heater is now working perfectly. So what happened? The dial was simply stuck or not making contact I assume or failing to communicate to the heater probe in the fug, not sure. I've watched it for a full day and it is working perfectly now. None the less, a new heater has been ordered as a back up, ....just in case. Tragedy averted !!!!!
Does anyone else have a story to share?
Mucho Reef