cracked heater

nabster

AC Members
Jan 5, 2006
7
0
0
Towards the end of November I moved from Cleveland to Charlotte. Prior to that I had no such thing happen in the year+ that I've had this tank. Now since the move, I've had this happen twice!

The first time it happened, I came home to notice the water is freezing cold and half my fish are dead. I was using a neptune submersible heater/thermometer. And when I came home I noticed the inside coil had completely rusted causing the glass around the bottom half of the suspended heater to shatter and fall to the bottom -- coils, chemicals and all -- freely leaking into the water. The chemicals and temperature drop killed most of my fish. :mad2:

I did a complete recycle -- new tank, new heater, new ornaments everything. 4 fish survived that first onslaught (A molly, a tiger barb, and 2 rtbs's).

Now, about 6 weeks later I come home to notice the water feels like 90 degrees, and the culprit is a malfunctioniong/cracked heater. This was a Rena Cal 50W. And ofcourse 2 more dead fish! All that remains is 2 RTBS's who are thorougly stressed out.

Well I started with removing the heater. And immediately recycling the water 40-50%. I continued with 25-30% recycling every 12 hours or so. Now I am on my way into the petstore to yell ... but I cant imagine whats causing this! Could it be the electric current? The water? Do I need to use a voltage stabilizer to plug my heater into? I'm so upset, and confused! :( :help:

I am saving both the cracked heaters! I want to sue the heater companies! :mad:
 
Wow that sucks. I'd definetly send a letter to both companies and see if you can get a refund for the heaters. Meanwhile, I suggest you get a Visi-Therm Stealth heater. Its covered in a black shatterproof plastic. I've had no problems with mine so far and its very descreet, plus totaly submersible.
 
For 50 W, definately under 30$ canadian. I think 23-25 $ though... Check out big als online
 
Nabster..

I live right down I 77 from you.What type fish are you keeping that need high temps? I don't use a heater and my tanks stay around 78 degrees.

I understand in Cleveland you'd need one but it really never gets cold enough down here to warrant one,except for raising temps to treat ick,unless you have fish that need to be in the over 80 range.
 
my house is typically at 68. But it gets colder by the window where the tank is at and so my water may probably be even a bit below 68

I figured I needed to keep my tropicals at atleast 78-80 degrees.

I just went to the petsmart on tyvola & south road and threw another hissy fit. They agreed to completely replace my tank and heater. For the second time. This time I got a Hydor 50w shatterproof heater. I also bought a surge protector. Hopefully it doesnt shatter. I dont feel like getting my entire tank replaced again so I'm just gonna watch and see how the two remaining RTBS's do ...
 
I ordered a Visitherm Stealth from Big Al's last week. It was on sale for something like 12.49 USD, but their regular price of 15 USD is less than half of the 33 USD or so all of the local pet stores were selling it for! It'll be here today. Once I check it out for a couple of days, I'm moving my new office aquarium from home to the office (no fish yet.)
 
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