View Full Version : My heater blew up...
lbbennett
10-19-2006, 4:12 PM
I heard a loud "POP!" from the tank. The heater glass broke and 6" of it is now lying in the bottom of the tank. The elements are exposed now. So here's my dilemma - Should I leave it in the tank to keep the fish warm and risk them getting hurt by the elements (could it shock the tank?) or should I take it out and let them get too cold (it's supposed to be really cold tonight)? It wouldn't be a problem if I could get out to the lfs soon, but it's like an hour away so I won't be able to until tomorrow or the next day. What should I do? Please respond soon! I don't want them to die!
Laura
fishcatch22
10-19-2006, 4:14 PM
unplug it and take it out IMMEDIATLEY!!! if your tank is big enough chances are your tank will maintain a good temp until tomorrow, just unplug it before it kills your fish!
kcooley
10-19-2006, 4:14 PM
what kind of fish are they? what do you consider cold? dont stick you rhand in there!
Dangerdoll
10-19-2006, 4:16 PM
remove the filter ASAP.... and more than likely you have a bunch of black stuff floating on the top of the water.... you'll need to net that out too.... the filter isn't working while it's being exposed like that anyway and you're risking electrocutions..... how cold does your house get? I'm thinking if you can't ge to the store, you can't.... but leaving that heater in there will do more harm than good.
liv2padl
10-19-2006, 4:38 PM
remove the filter ASAP :confused: why remove the filter when it's the heater that broke? i think perhaps you got confused doll. do NOT remove the filter but DEFINITELY DO unplug and remove the heater. get a good heater ... it's worth the extra $$.
Pheintz
10-19-2006, 4:56 PM
I just got this mental picture of a filter exploding and carbon flying everywhere. :D
I'm with the rest, take out the heater. Aside from the electrocution aspect, I'd be worried about the fish getting cut or snagged on the exposed parts. I know my Synodontis loves the heater and tends to snuggle up to it sometimes. I would think that as long as it's not a sudden temperature drop they will be ok for a day or two.
webcricket
10-19-2006, 4:59 PM
Definitely unplug and remove the heater and any parts of it that are left in the tank. You can wrap the tank in a heavy blanket to help keep heat in until you can get to the store. I imagine your house won't get too cold - unless you're like my parents and walk around all winter inside the house in a coat to save on heat.
kcooley
10-19-2006, 4:59 PM
if you remove the filter for a day it will reduce surface heat exchange. less surface area
cyberbeer65
10-19-2006, 5:03 PM
I would leave the filter running.I'm with the consensus here,unplug that heater and get it out of there,be sure to get all those glass shards out also.
mechanic
10-19-2006, 5:08 PM
Unplug the heater and get it out a.s.a.p.!!
What would happen to you if you were having a bath and the toaster fell in the water??
Same thing with the fish I would think.
Can't be good.
Eric
p.s. You can always do small/partial water changes as necessary
with warm dechlorinated tap water to keep the temp. from getting too low.Untill you can get out to buy another heater anyways.
This is exactly why I always have a spare heater on hand incidently.
lbbennett
10-19-2006, 5:12 PM
Thanks so much for responding! Ok, I removed the heater and I'll just have to wait until hubby comes home to remove the glass, can't reach it. You guys were right, it wasn't working anyway. Right now it's 70 in the house, but got into the 40's outside last night. It's a 44g hex with a male/female copidichromis borleyi pair, a male/female red zebra pair, and an unknown sex cobalt zebra. Thanks again you guys!
Laura
mechanic
10-19-2006, 5:16 PM
Since your hubby is coming home,is there any chance of you getting in touch with him and having him pick up a heater on the way?
HTH
Eric
liv2padl
10-19-2006, 5:20 PM
if you remove the filter for a day it will reduce surface heat exchange it'll also have a negative impact on your biofilter. don't unplug the filter.
lbbennett
10-19-2006, 5:28 PM
That would make it a lot easier, but he's coming from the exact opposite direction. That gives me a thought though, I wonder if there are any on his way home. Nope, nevermind, just checked the phone book and couldn't find any. Hubby doesn't get home until 6pm tomorrow, but the closest lfs is only open til 6, so I will either have to drive the 2 hours to petsmart tomorrow (I think they're open until 9) or I will have to wait until Saturday to go to the closest lfs. I guess I'll just go by what the temp is in the tank tomorrow and see how urgent it is.
Laura
fishcatch22
10-19-2006, 5:30 PM
That would make it a lot easier, but he's coming from the exact opposite direction. That gives me a thought though, I wonder if there are any on his way home. Nope, nevermind, just checked the phone book and couldn't find any. Hubby doesn't get home until 6pm tomorrow, but the closest lfs is only open til 6, so I will either have to drive the 2 hours to petsmart tomorrow (I think they're open until 9) or I will have to wait until Saturday to go to the closest lfs. I guess I'll just go by what the temp is in the tank tomorrow and see how urgent it is.
Laurazebras are tough cichlids, i'm sure they will be fine for a day or two without heat.
Dangerdoll
10-19-2006, 5:53 PM
WHOOPS, sorry folks, I meant remove the heater, not the filter.
You could order a heater from the internet/mail order from somewhere that does next day deliveries - would that be quicker? (I can't work out all the time zones or exactly when you think you can get to the store)
lbbennett
10-19-2006, 7:46 PM
I think I'll just make the 2 hr drive to Petsmart tomorrow. Not only will getting it sooner relieve my mind, but I just recalled we bought this heater from them only a month ago, so I might see if I can take it back to them to exchange it. Now where's that receipt...
Fishies are doin ok, temp is still 84 and tonight I'll remember to turn the heat on. Thank you everybody!
Laura
Hannys_Papa
10-19-2006, 7:55 PM
I don't know if it was suggested and i overread it - but...
if its just for 1 or 2 days why not keep the house warm by using the furnace (or whatever you use to heat the house). If i had an emergency like that i'd keep the house at 72 for that time (we usually let it cool to 58-60 at night).
OR take a small space heater and place it close to the tank (of course monitoring the tank temperature to make sure it doesn't overheat it).
Leaving the lights on might also help (depending on your light setup).
lbbennett
10-21-2006, 3:36 PM
Finally got my heater. The poor fish are probably freezing, it's down to 68 in the tank now. Hopefully it'll start raising before they get too cold...
mechanic
10-21-2006, 3:39 PM
Thats good news that you got a new heater :)
Just be carefull about getting the
temperature back up too quickly though.
Eric
edit:out of curiosity,what kind of heater did you get?
lbbennett
10-21-2006, 5:08 PM
It's a TopFin. It's only 100 watts. The one I had before the one that broke was 150, but I ended up returning it because on the lowest setting it made my tank 88 degrees. I think that was way too warm for my guys.
Thank you for everybody's responses!
Laura