Didn't turn off heater during wc

Lady G

Lady G

It's a mafia thing, nothing personl
Oct 6, 2005
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gingersassatelli.bodybyvi.com
Ok, I had a "moment" when I did my WC I didn't unplug my heater..is this going to hurt it, has anyone else done this what happened??? So far it does seem to be working ok but I'm kinda worried! :eek:
 
I've done that a few times. I have ebo jager heaters and they all still work afterwards. I guess it would depend on the heater.
 
the main problem is that the heated glass would explode or crack upon contact with air. i don't really think that it could cause a problem with functioning.

i had a large heater for a 55 gal saltwater tank when i was a kid. the glass cracked (probably because I did just what you did) and I didn't notice. awhile later, i got SHOCKED by my water. as soon as I put my hand in the water, I got a big jolt! It took awhile before I felt safe reaching into my aquarium after that...
 
Was the water level still down when this happened, or had you done an entire WC and added the water and everything? How long was yours like that, mine was a matter of like 10 min. or so. :huh:
 
If its just for a minute or so..its ok...if you have a submersible, you can lay it horizontally just above the gravel to avoid exposure during water changes.
 
I really don't know. I wasn't aware of when it actually happened, just made painfully aware of the end result!

When I got shocked, the tank was totally full. It was awhile since the last water change. So maybe the glass got weakened and it took awhile for it to actually crack and leak electricity. Oh, no, I didn't mean to make you worry.

This was back in the early 90's, though, and a lot of heaters are now made to shut off automatically when out of water. Don't know if yours has this feature or not.

I guess just watch it carefully in case a crack were to develop. Of course, with a FW tank, you won't have nearly as much danger of getting shocked (FW being much less of a conductor).
 
OK, this is a dumb question, but why wouldnt the fish get shocked too? I mean, if the water level was below the heater, and it cracked, then was resubmerged, wouldnt that be when the "shocking" happens (whats the word for this?!), thereby getting the fish too?
Now make me feel dumb for not listening that day in science class....
 
i wondered about that, too, so don't worry. it's because they're not grounded so the electricity can't flow through them. because i was standing on the ground, i became a lightning rod and the current flowed from the water, through me, and out to the ground. my body closed the circuit.

it totally surprised me because my fish didn't seem the least bit affected. maybe they felt a little tingly or something? sometimes my dojo loaches lay horizontally on my air wands, so maybe they like the massaging feeling :D
 
Ah! Im starting to remember that day a little now...So if one of the fish had been touching the gravel, or an ornament, it wouldve completed the circut as well and been shocked? I know its a big IF, as Im sure the odds are pretty uneven, but lets just say.
 
So I should jump in the air touching the water before I hit ground and I'll be ok :p: !

Well I think I will do what Yo suggested so not to have it happen again...the only time it wasn't fully submerged was when I did the WC before that it was fully under water.

Thanks for the reassurance :D
 
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