40 Gallon Tank Emergency, water won't go above 60F

[PirateKingJoe]

I have a 40 gallon breeder that’s temperature suddenly won’t go above 60 degrees. I currently have a 300 watt heater at 79 degrees F and a 100 watt heater at 78 F. I also have a small HOB filter (for 5 and 10 gallon tanks) for water movement, and a sponge filter made for 65 gallons. I’m incredibly worried about the temperature not rising despite 2 large heaters. Please help ASAP

 

[RedOnion]

What are you using to test the temperature? Are your outlets working perhaps?

 

[mrsP]

It lookes like your heater stopped working, time to get a new one asap. What's your stocking?

 

[PirateKingJoe]

What are you using to test the temperature? Are your outlets working perhaps?

Two thermometers, both tested on other tanks and are working. Both heaters have the red light that says it’s on.

 

[veggieshark]

That doesn't sound good. Is the ambient temperature very low, where is this tank?
Are you sure your heaters are working? Especially the 300W one.

 

[PirateKingJoe]

It lookes like your heater stopped working, time to get a new one asap. What's your stocking?

Two bristlenose plecos and a betta

 

[UnknownUser]

Are you using multiple thermometers? Either the thermometer is broken or the heaters are. If the thermometer is accurate, you can increase the temp of the tank with water changes that are slightly warmer each time. Insulate the tank with thick towels or blankets wrapped around it. If you can, heat the room to at least 70° Then go get a new heater.

 

[RedOnion]

Two thermometers, both tested on other tanks and are working. Both heaters have the red light that says it’s on.

Thats weird how both are not working at the same time. Have you tired unplugging them maybe? If they still dont work after checking the outlet and replugging, I would say they are both broken.

 

[PirateKingJoe]

That doesn't sound good. Is the ambient temperature very low, where is this tank?
Are you sure your heaters are working? Especially the 300W one.

It’s in the basement. The room temp is 54F, but it’s been colder without this happening. Both heaters have the on light going

 

[UnknownUser]

Thats weird how both are not working at the same time. Have you tired unplugging them maybe? If they still dont work after checking the outlet and replugging, I would say they are both broken.

It’s possible only one heater is broken, but the only remaining working heater isn’t powerful enough to heat the tank. You can see which one is working by placing them in separate buckets of water and setting them, and whichever bucket reaches the set temp is working.

 

[PirateKingJoe]

It’s possible only one heater is broken, but the only remaining working heater isn’t powerful enough to heat the tank. You can see which one is working by placing them in separate buckets of water and setting them, and whichever bucket reaches the set temp is working.

I’ll try that now and see

 

[veggieshark]

The light being on doesn't always mean that the heater is working. I agree, both being broken is unlikely. If both are not working, I would suspect the outlet.

If the 300W is not working, the 100W will not bring the temp up from 54 degrees. If you don't have too many fish, you may want to move them somewhere warmer in a storage container until you fix the problem.

 

[PirateKingJoe]

The light being on doesn't always mean that the heater is working. I agree, both being broken is unlikely. If both are not working, I would suspect the outlet.

If the 300W is not working, the 100W will not bring the temp up from 54 degrees. If you don't have too many fish, you may want to move them somewhere warmer in a storage container until you fix the problem.

I have a 20 gallon long with 4 guppies and a lot of fry, would that work for 2 bristlenose plecos?

 

[tomiyama]

You can put a hot water bottle under the thick blankets and do you have a space heater to put near the tank? Also, if you are at sensing similar temperatures the bucket of water is a good idea where you stick your finger in the water and compare it to the tank (trying the thermometers in both the bucket and the tank).

 

[DirtyWater]

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that. If you use an external heater blowing on the tank you may check on it often in the chance it over heats.i

 

[PirateKingJoe]

Thank you all for your help, I moved them into a 20 gallon long with a couple of my platies and they seem a lot better now. I also turned on a plug in garage heater for the night.