bubbles on stealth heater?

[FSM]

I find it hard to believe the heater gets hot enough to increase the temperature of the water directly around it to 212 degrees.

 

[awault]

The heat releases spare oxygen atoms... at least thats my scientifically uneducated guesstimate. I have seen this as well. The white film could also be mineral deposits. What size tank /heater? I believe this is more frequent when the heater is working overtime.

 

[CHOMPERS]

I find it hard to believe the heater gets hot enough to increase the temperature of the water directly around it to 212 degrees.

You are correct. It doesn't.

 

[CHOMPERS]

... at least thats my scientifically uneducated guesstimate...

LOL.

The heat doesn't split the water molecules if that was what you were saying. Gasses dissolve into water just like salt or sugar. The amount of dissolved gasses is limited by the temperature of the water (called the saturation limit). (Pressure plays a part but it is irrelevent in this case.)

Cold water can absorb large amounts of oxygen but hot water quickly loses it. What is happening in the tank, is as the cool water passes the heater and is heated, the saturation limit is exceded. The dissolved gasses come out of solution in the form of the bubbles.

 

[CHOMPERS]

...and I'm only going to write that once per page.

 

[ECarbonel]

thanks for the comments guys

The heat releases spare oxygen atoms... at least thats my scientifically uneducated guesstimate. I have seen this as well. The white film could also be mineral deposits. What size tank /heater? I believe this is more frequent when the heater is working overtime.

tank size is 135 and heaters are 2x 250 stealth heaters

 

[awault]

Thanks Chompers...

 

[tcarswell]

it's fine, I've had one of these heaters set up for over a year and it's always had bubbles on it. Fish are all ok and the heater works fine.

Dont wipe it. Mines doing the exact same thing bro. Kinda irritating I know. I made a thread about it about 3 weeks ago do a search for any more info.

 

[tcarswell]

The reason it happens is because dissolved gasses are less soluble at higher temperatures. It just means that the tank is well oxygenated.

Nice I must be extremely well oxygenated. Mines covered and even has the white sediment.