I remember my heater always shattered when I did water changes after a while... What can I do to keep this from happening? Of course, I could buy a good $20 heater, but I wanna be cheap as possible.
Heater breaking!
- Thread starter Oddball~
- Start date
Unplug the heater for at least 15 minutes before you start the water change.
I've never had one break doing it that way.
I've never had one break doing it that way.
Dangerdoll
Global Moderator
If you unplug the heater about a half hour or so, this will give the heater time to warm down. Without this warm down time, the heater often cracks or shatters. After you've added clean water back in, wait another half hour to plug the heater in. I've done ith this way all my life and never had one heater shatter or crack yet.
HTH
HTH
Wow, it must be some seriously cold water you are adding, and enough of it to cool the water down 5 to 10 degrees or more very quickly. I have owned several cheap heaters, and still own them today, because they all still work. The only one I've owned that broke was, believe it or not, a titanium heater. After a few months this heater leaked current randomly into the tank (wondered why my fish got so skittish all of a sudden :idea2: ). I didn't own a GFCI at the time, and I didn't find out for at least a month, when I finally felt a "buzzing" feeling when I put my hand in the tank. Thank God, it could have been worse! I never unplug my heaters for maintenance, though. Guess I'll learn the hard way :thud:
If you are adding water that is cold enough to crack heaters, that is the problem right there. If you have non-submersible heaters and the water level lowers below the heating element, you asked for it to crack! You must let those heaters cool down before letting air hit them. Many times they don't even crack until back in the water, though.
If you are adding water that is cold enough to crack heaters, that is the problem right there. If you have non-submersible heaters and the water level lowers below the heating element, you asked for it to crack! You must let those heaters cool down before letting air hit them. Many times they don't even crack until back in the water, though.
Yea, I do have one really sweet heater for my puffer tank, and really don't wanna invest lots more money to get another one... But I guess I should anyways.
The cost of one quality heater is rarely more than two or three cheap ones, and you can expect to buy at least that many of the cheap ones.
man its like 18 bucks plus shippin for a 250 unbreakable submersable heater on big als website.......i've always had submersable so i never even really notice them......its nice not to have to worry about them cause their in the bottom of the tank.......
