heater mishap..... nightmare!!!

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damselmaster

AC Members
Sep 23, 2005
24
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Dangerdoll said:
So yesterday, I finally dove in and got a mushroom rock for my SW set-up. It took me a little while to settle on the placement of them on the LR but finally, after an hour or so, I was settled. I went in the other room for TV. A few hours later, I hear a crack as if something exploded..... I don't know what did it, but I ran into the "fishroom" and there I saw smoke billowing from the SW tank. I ran to the power cord, flicked the switch and took a step back to assess what was smoking. The glass covering of the heater was at the bottom of the tank, and the electronics were in the tank but attached to the cord still. It smelled like "firecrackers". There was also this film of black gunk at the top of the water that I feel pretty confident that I got most of it out. The mushrooms I got shrivelled and I was a bit worried that I had just waster about $50 on this rock (which is actually two). This morning, the shrooms are opening back up, some are all the way open, the others are about 3/4 of the way. I am going to the LFS to pick up a new heater and I will be getting a submersible. The tank is a 46 gallon corner tank. Can someone help me out with how many watts are probably my best bet for this tank? In the tank I have a few snails and zebra hermits crabs, a porcelain crab, 2 clowns, 3 other damsels, and a Pajama cardinal. Some of you may remember this tank was originally my sister's who decided she just didn't have the time anymore.
Same thing happened to me. Mine did it when I was changing the water and half the heater was above the water line. I think the drastic change in temp fractured the glass of the heater tube. All the fish were fried and luckily my hands weren't in the tank. Good thing it was a fresh water tank and they were cheap fish. I assume and hope they died instantly and painlessly.
 
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