Exploding Heater

I was cleaning my oscars tank when all of the sudden,the tank exploded!Does anyone know how it could have exploded???

 

If you mean heater, you're supposed to turn if off when you drop the water unless it's a fully submergible one that stays under the water line. Besides that I don't know why it does that besides it's not supposed to be plugged in during water changes and operated outside of water.

 

If you mean heater, you're supposed to turn if off when you drop the water unless it's a fully submergible one that stays under the water line.  Besides that I don't know why it does that besides it's not supposed to be plugged in during water changes and operated outside of water.

Oops I posted tank on accident.Also,I didnt turn it off.Thanks for the help.

 

Also if the water you were putting back in was a different temperature than the water in your tank the heater might explode or at least crack.
Your fish could have gotten a severe electrical shock when the heater broke. You could have been hurt also. Its best to unplug the heater when doing maintenance and not lower the water off of the heater.
Carol

 

A heater CAN explode if - as everyone has said above - you leave it on while performing a water change (i.e. if it is exposed to air and it is turned on). It's best to always turn your heater off during a water change AND still keep it submersed. When I perform a water change, I turn my heater off, and I keep it underwater all the time during the water change. I basically never take my heater out of the water. It is safest to take your heater out of the water when the water's temperature is the same as (or very similar to) the air temperature in your room. It is the sudden changes of temperature that cause the heater to explode.

 

Were any fish in there? If they were, are they okay?

 

Were any fish in there? If they were, are they okay?

There was an Oscar fish in there and it died a few days later.

 

Were any fish in there? If they were, are they okay?

There was an Oscar fish in there and it died a few days later.

I'm sorry to hear that. :-[

 

oh that's scary, I didn't they could explode...

 

If you must use a glass heater find one that has a built-in safetly auto turn off and one that uses Pyrex type of glass that doesn't crack/break/explode from thermo-shock.

 

So I've decided to get one of Marineland's older heater models, the glass Visa-Therm. However, as I know I'm still running a risk of it exploding, how great is the impact? If it shattered the glass, would it be enough to send glass flying at me? My tank is right next to where I sit to use my laptop, so I do not want to get a heater if it's going to risk my life. I may be being paranoid, but learning about the recent Marineland fiasco I can't help but be concerned.

 

I have three Visi-Therm heaters, all bought used at various times and I have never had an issue with any of them outside of my 150W that is slowing starting to die, but it's the oldest of the three, so I'm not entirely surprised.

 

I have a heater also that's a hang on the back. And I'm afraid to use it also. But I'm afraid it's going to blow up. Or break or something and shock all my fish, or maybe start a house fire. That's why I'm waiting on it.

 

So I've decided to get one of Marineland's older heater models, the glass Visa-Therm. However, as I know I'm still running a risk of it exploding, how great is the impact? If it shattered the glass, would it be enough to send glass flying at me? My tank is right next to where I sit to use my laptop, so I do not want to get a heater if it's going to risk my life. I may be being paranoid, but learning about the recent Marineland fiasco I can't help but be concerned.

I wouldn't go with any of the Marineland heaters, personally. Ebo Jagers are really excellent for the money and I have never had any trouble out of any of mine, nor did I have any issues working at my friend's shop a couple years ago (all 50 of the Freshwater tanks there used them). I've also heard good things about Fluval Tronics and Hydor ETH Inlines (the Hydors are only good if you use a canister). It seems as though Marineland's quality has really gone down since Tetra bought them out. I won't be buying any more of their products until they rectify these situations. As always, this is JMO.

 

The Jagers seem a bit too big for my 10 gallon, though.

 

So I've decided to get one of Marineland's older heater models, the glass Visa-Therm. However, as I know I'm still running a risk of it exploding, how great is the impact? If it shattered the glass, would it be enough to send glass flying at me? My tank is right next to where I sit to use my laptop, so I do not want to get a heater if it's going to risk my life. I may be being paranoid, but learning about the recent Marineland fiasco I can't help but be concerned.

I have a 200 watt visa-therm on my 55 that I have had for a couple years with no problems.

 

Sadly, VisI Therm is the only brand I've ever had cook a tank full of fish.

 

I have a visitherm in one of my tanks, but I underpower the heat in my tanks so even if it does go full blast it won't do anything, just hope it doesn't explode. Although I think that exploding thing is a freak occurrence.

I have a 100w jager in a few 10 gallon tanks and it works just fine, it's overkill though, could use a smaller heater if I found them cheap enough, the heater itself is so large that it takes up a good bit of space in the tank.

 

Thankfully, my room is usually pretty warm, so I'll only be using the heater when it's really cold. I will keep an eye on it all day though. My Visi-Therm should be here any day now. Wish me luck, guys! Let's hope I don't dynamite my fish out of the tank the first day.

 

Hey Scott, I didn't mean to scare you off of the visi-therm. I'm sure there are people out there that have had their share of issues with the Jagers, I just don't happen to be one of them! LOL. Best of luck with your new heater! One suggestion I would make is to start VERY low, as in just bump up the temp enough for the heater to turn on and see what happens. IME most of the thermostats on heaters can't be trusted and you just have to find a setting that works for you.

 

Thanks! And you didn't scare me, don't worry. I'll take all this advice and use it to make the most of my heater. The low setting sounds like a very good idea.

Quick question regarding the heater. If I put it over the air stone, will it cause the heater to overeat and malfunction as if it were functioning out of the water? Thanks.

 

Quick question regarding the heater. If I put it over the air stone, will it cause the heater to overeat and malfunction as if it were functioning out of the water? Thanks.

No it will be fine. Most people put it near air stones to create a lot of water flow so the heater does not burn the fish.

 

Ok. Thanks. I just know it's not supposed to be exposed to air and didn't know if the air stone would affect that.

 

Go to youtube they have a video of a heater exploding against a eheim jager. I will most likely destroy your tank.

 

Good morning,

Selecting a heater can be hit or miss so to speak. I've been using Marineland Stealth Pros since December 2009, 3 in my 265g tank with no issues.

I've also used the Jagers with no issues. I have Visa Therms with no issues.

Some heaters, over heat, some don't heat enough. Some of the glass ones crack but others don't.

I prefer heaters that are NOT glass. If the glass shatters in the tank it can be a pain trying to remove it all.

Ken

 

Go to youtube they have a video of a heater exploding against a eheim jager. I will most likely destroy your tank.

I assume you mean exploding Jager heater? I can't find any videos like this, got a link?

 

I use only Stealth heaters, black plastic fully submersible. I place them on a 45 degree angle towards the bottom of the tank on the opposite side of the tank from the canister filter out flow or directly underneath a HOB filter so there is always a water flow over them to disperse the heat. Placing the heater on a 45 degree angle allows the heater to work more efficiently and hold a more accurate temperature than vertical since heat rises. On a vertically mounted heater the heat rises and turns the heater off before the water reaches the set temp causing inaccurate temp readings and most often the temp setting is increased to compensate shorting the life of the heater by making it work much harder than is necessary. One way to make sure your heater doesn't over heat or explode is to make sure it is unplugged or turned off during water changes

 

ok so I've spent like $54 on aquarium plants today and none of the little critters will stay 'put' in the gravel! I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO frustrated, I need to vent!!! lol. Ive been up and down like a yo-yo @ the tank all day long, watching my plants uproot and go off floating round the tank. Everytime I push the plants (swords, onion plants, foxtail, tropical hornwort, coupla anubia ferns and some bobbly long things) hard into the gravel, like right down to my knuckles - they just float back up to the surface/top the minute the water levels are topped up. If ever I was gonna throw sumthin at the tank its now!
Ive been watchin planted tanks on youtube and MY plants are on deeper gravel than theirs so why won't they stay where I put them? AND each time I push them back into the gravel, the water is all jiggled up and goes cloudy brown, putting more stress on my filter. If it wasn't for the high nitrates in my tap water Id throw the whole soggy mess in the trash and get myself some plastic plants. OH and just when I got up to check on the floating swords I hear an almighty smash...yup...heater blew uo scattering glass everywhere. So now I gotta drain the tank and start over. Thought a fishless cycle with a few plants would be easy. Someone is having a crack at me upstairs,but I'm sure not laughing!
OK thankyou for letting me vent.x
Better out than in they say? ....

Any suggestions before I pull them out and chuck em?

Thanks

 

You may want to try plant weights. They have them at most fish stores, and I think petco and petsmart gives them with their aquatic plant. Its just flexible metal that weighs the plant down. Saved me with my wisteria until the rooted and held themselves down.



Good luck!

 

You may want to try plant weights. They have them at most fish stores, and I think petco and petsmart gives them with their aquatic plant. Its just flexible metal that weighs the plant down. Saved me with my wisteria until the rooted and held themselves down.



Good luck!

thanks. That was going to be my next move, getting some weights. I'm just loathe to spend another dollar after today. Must have racked up at least $140 in plants, heater and root tabs. Still, guess a few weights can't be that much. Thanks again

ps: lovin yr 60 gallonNatedawg! You gotta get rid of the Bristlenose,clowns and Hifin? Oh what a shame Did they get too big? How did you end up with FOUR clown loaches? They get HUGE What a pity you have to find homes for them. Bet you love em to bits?
Hows yr three angels getting on? What is yr PH? I want angelfish desperately but imma thinking my PH of 8+ is too high?

What with battling high nitrates and ammonia I don't think trying to lower PH is something else I should attempt..:;z

 

Hey lady- planting is a pain. I shove them down and at times put a rock to weigh them down.


They root after a few weeks so it won't be so much of a problem. It's a pain at first.

Plant weights can work on some plants but when I used them my plants seemed to rot. Just a heads up there.

 

ps: lovin yr 60 gallonNatedawg! You gotta get rid of the Bristlenose,clowns and Hifin? Oh what a shame Did they get too big? How did you end up with FOUR clown loaches? They get HUGE What a pity you have to find homes for them. Bet you love em to bits?
Hows yr three angels getting on? What is yr PH? I want angelfish desperately but imma thinking my PH of 8+ is too high?

What with battling high nitrates and ammonia I don't think trying to lower PH is something else I should attempt..:;z

I've got high pH and 2 happy angels. The level used to be above 8 but now it hovers in the high 7s. My experience is that lowering pH is more trouble than it's worth. Many people say the fish will adjust easier to a set pH than they will to us fiddling with it and having it fluctuate wildly. I also have stupidly high nitrates and have had some Valisneria and Stricta really take root very quickly which has stopped at least half my floating plant problem. We must have very similar water, lol. Not that floating plants is a water thing, but you get my point! Give it a few days and you'll see thin strands growing downward off the bottoms of the stems - once that happens you won't need to worry about weights and things. A happy plant will seek out the substrate to establish itself into.

The whole point ofmy reply was, don't let a high pH stop you from having angels. Cichlids supposedly like a higher pH anyway, and my 2 certainly show no bad signs, in fact they're flourishing, having doubled their size in just 4 months.

 

Did you have a marineland stealth heater? Those have had a reputation for blowing up.
Hornwort can't really be planted well, just let it float or clasp the middle between two rocks. Anubia ferns? Do you mean anubias plants or java fern? Either shouldn't be planted. They need to be secured to a decoration or rock or wood with either string, rubberbands or a dab of superglue. Swords need to be planted carefully, make sure you have enough nutrients in the substrate for them. How deep is your substrate?

 

I've got high pH and 2 happy angels. The level used to be above 8 but now it hovers in the high 7s. My experience is that lowering pH is more trouble than it's worth. Many people say the fish will adjust easier to a set pH than they will to us fiddling with it and having it fluctuate wildly. I also have stupidly high nitrates and have had some Valisneria and Stricta really take root very quickly which has stopped at least half my floating plant problem. We must have very similar water, lol. Not that floating plants is a water thing, but you get my point! Give it a few days and you'll see thin strands growing downward off the bottoms of the stems - once that happens you won't need to worry about weights and things. A happy plant will seek out the substrate to establish itself into.

The whole point ofmy reply was, don't let a high pH stop you from having angels. Cichlids supposedly like a higher pH anyway, and my 2 certainly show no bad signs, in fact they're flourishing, having doubled their size in just 4 months.

Thanks for id the plants I'm going to need. I'm going this afternoon to get them. Given up with the hornwort, it just floats around to spite me...lol..
I love plants but they are really fiddly to put in. Can I use a gravel vacc with a planted tank? I love watching all the get sucked up the hose...its almost as satisfying a squeezing pimples...lol...its a girl ting

Did you have a marineland stealth heater? Those have had a reputation for blowing up.
Hornwort can't really be planted well, just let it float or clasp the middle between two rocks. Anubia ferns? Do you mean anubias plants or java fern? Either shouldn't be planted. They need to be secured to a decoration or rock or wood with either string, rubberbands or a dab of superglue. Swords need to be planted carefully, make sure you have enough nutrients in the substrate for them. How deep is your substrate?

yeh it was marineland. First off it crackled and buzzed, then I saw it was completely filled with water. The noise got louder and then I saw the temp had gone up to 90 degrees and water was bubbling! Just as I was about to get in and remove the heater it blew up and glass flew all over. There was no way of makiing sure all the shards came out so I had to drain the tank and refill again!! Its sprob messed up the cycle now
Ah anubia plant, not fern, sorry. Ive unrooted it from the gravel and tied it onto a piece of log with fishing line. ...and yeh, hornowort is floating around the tank like green centipedes. I don't like it. Taking it out. What would you say is the biggest user of nitrates?

Hey lady- planting is a pain. I shove them down and at times put a rock to weigh them down.


They root after a few weeks so it won't be so much of a problem. It's a pain at first.

Plant weights can work on some plants but when I used them my plants seemed to rot. Just a heads up there.

g'day danni. Thankyou for your post. I'm going to get some weights today and some more plants...not hornwort. Ive given up with it. Its the houdinI of the plantworld lol

Merged back to back posts. Feel free to respond to more than one member per post.
Thanks!
Ken

 

Thanks for id the plants I'm going to need. I'm going this afternoon to get them. Given up with the hornwort, it just floats around to spite me...lol..
I love plants but they are really fiddly to put in. Can I use a gravel vacc with a planted tank? I love watching all the get sucked up the hose...its almost as satisfying a squeezing pimples...lol...its a girl ting

I use a gravel vac all the time. When they're still new I just vacuum around them leaving a few centimetres space, and when they're rooted in they're not so likely to budge much as long as you're not too rough on them. Don't give up on the plants just yet! And don't throw any away just because they're being difficult. I know you've already spent a fortune, but I added in some API leaf zone liquid fertiliser and they coincidentally took root and sprouted almost overnight. Let them float around for a day or 2, then go back to trying again when you're not so frustrated. They can float for days while you decide what to do!

Have you got any pics yet! I love looking at tanks. People are so clever.

 

yeh it was marineland. First off it crackled and buzzed, then I saw it was completely filled with water. The noise got louder and then I saw the temp had gone up to 90 degrees and water was bubbling! Just as I was about to get in and remove the heater it blew up and glass flew all over. There was no way of makiing sure all the shards came out so I had to drain the tank and refill again!! Its sprob messed up the cycle now
Ah anubia plant, not fern, sorry. Ive unrooted it from the gravel and tied it onto a piece of log with fishing line. ...and yeh, hornowort is floating around the tank like green centipedes. I don't like it. Taking it out. What would you say is the biggest user of nitrates?



g'day danni. Thankyou for your post. I'm going to get some weights today and some more plants...not hornwort. Ive given up with it. Its the houdinI of the plantworld lol

Merged back to back posts. Feel free to respond to more than one member per post.
Thanks!
Ken

Thankyou Ken. I'm still getting the hang of posting. I didnt know it was possible to respond to more than one person in a single post, but I will do that in future.

I use a gravel vac all the time. When they're still new I just vacuum around them leaving a few centimetres space, and when they're rooted in they're not so likely to budge much as long as you're not too rough on them. Don't give up on the plants just yet! And don't throw any away just because they're being difficult. I know you've already spent a fortune, but I added in some API leaf zone liquid fertiliser and they coincidentally took root and sprouted almost overnight. Let them float around for a day or 2, then go back to trying again when you're not so frustrated. They can float for days while you decide what to do!

Have you got any pics yet! I love looking at tanks. People are so clever.

well the swords went in a few days ago, and floated for a bit . I pushed them down again and so far theyre staying put Ive noticed that they look like theyre developing yellow spots. Shud I take them out? Maybe 2 x 15w (24") light tubes isn't enough for plants. I know swords use medium lighting, but I kinda thought 30watts would be enough. Guess not. I better find myself a plant expert...lol...and hope it aint gonna cost me more dollars today:-\

 

well the swords went in a few days ago, and floated for a bit . I pushed them down again and so far theyre staying put Ive noticed that they look like theyre developing yellow spots. Shud I take them out? Maybe 2 x 15w (24") light tubes isn't enough for plants. I know swords use medium lighting, but I kinda thought 30watts would be enough. Guess not. I better find myself a plant expert...lol...and hope it aint gonna cost me more dollars today:-\

Sword are high light and need at least 2 watts per gallon. My 20 gallon has 48 watts of t5 light over it.
If you want them to live, you need more light and root tab fertilizer

 

hmm that's odd about the floating......i've had some float once in a while...but not to the point the refuse to stay down. rocks and plant weights can help in the beginning. as far as gravel vac'ing....you can vac a planted tank...but just vac the parts that don't have plants in them. plants feed on the waste that's in the gravel. =]

 

FYI there was a marineland heater recall.