Can a broken water heater kill an Arowana?

[goestonemoa]

Just buy an identical arowana and your buddy will never know!

i tend to highly disagree that you buddy would notice the difference between the arowana, i have 6 aros and practically know they're scales like the back of my hand

but a nice gesture for sure and would definitely cushion the blow

as for the electrocution if the fish touched the heating coil and the tank at the same time it would then be grounded , this is my theory along with the drastic temp change

you probably didn't keep the fish but you could have dissected it to find glass like gutting a fish, (sounds harsh but works)

and so sorry to hear about the loss bro

 

[ar0wan]

you gais so crazy

 

[pi-eyed]

i tend to highly disagree that you buddy would notice the difference between the arowana, i have 6 aros and practically know they're scales like the back of my hand

but a nice gesture for sure and would definitely cushion the blow

as for the electrocution if the fish touched the heating coil and the tank at the same time it would then be grounded , this is my theory along with the drastic temp change

you probably didn't keep the fish but you could have dissected it to find glass like gutting a fish, (sounds harsh but works)

and so sorry to hear about the loss bro

I agree I can pick my aros out of a line up for sure!!! No doubt about it!!!

----Chris

 

[CLDarnell]

I disagree with the comment about not having current in a tank. An open heater has both the hot side and the common side. Water itself is a conductor of electricity. A busted heater in an aquarium has all the components needed to create current.

Remember how we all have been taught not to have a radio, hair dryer, etc near the bathtub?

 

[ar0wan]

I agree I can pick my aros out of a line up for sure!!! No doubt about it!!!

----Chris

 

[jlnguyen74]

now after the discovery of the broken heater, the fish still ate when I came back for it after 2 days, so I checked everything and brought a new heater for the fish, after 2 days I came back and shock to discover the arowana is dead and floating in the tank.

I don't think the temp change killed it because I changed the heater on the tank, and after like 4 days it just died on me.

Did you feed the arowana the day you came and found the heater broken, then came 2 days later with an new heater? If you did, most likely the temp drop kill the fish. Low temp will effect the way fish digesting food, and rotten food inside fish can kill it. I made a fatal mistake last month, did a water change 2 days after I fed my fish. One of my arowana got bloat, and died 2-3 days later. BTW, I don't think you need to explain to your friend. You did him a favor by looking after the fish for him when he's away (on vacation?) All you need to let him know is the heater was shatter, and the arowana died 2 or 4 days (whatever it is) after that.. Just let him have the fact, and he can draw whatever conclusion he likes

I disagree with the comment about not having current in a tank. An open heater has both the hot side and the common side. Water itself is a conductor of electricity. A busted heater in an aquarium has all the components needed to create current.

Remember how we all have been taught not to have a radio, hair dryer, etc near the bathtub?

I'm not sure if anyone said there's no current in the tank. They just said fish didn't get shock, since it was not grounded, just like bird lands/rest on a power line.

 

[jlnguyen74]

And how does an electric catfish stun its prey?

The same way someone use a stunt gun on another person without getting stunt

 

[Miguel]

I'm not sure if anyone said there's no current in the tank. They just said fish didn't get shock, since it was not grounded, just like bird lands/rest on a power line.

exactly

 

[Zaminpirlo]

same thing happened to my feeder tank, heater broke and eletricuted all the feeders and killed 3 plecos. I touched the water and it zapped me.

 

[ausarow]

electrofishing is done with the aid of the earth bottom.
as does an electric eel. fishtanks are different.
firstly glass is an insulator. ever touched a light globe and still not been shocked?
what about the tubes in an amplifier? touch them and they feel warm. they dont shock you.

if you have say a dry wooden stand AND no other earth to speak of then where is the earth? you may become the earth.
it would be different if say moisture was contacting to say a metal lighthood with an earth attached and it would be different if your tank was leaking or had a heap of condensation going down to say a conducting stand made of metal. different again if you come along without good rubber (insulated) boots. i dont suggest anyone try that though.

even take a pool with a plastic liner and the liner can/will stop the circuit to ground.
some farms have even had earth spikes that run to the water so that in the even of a problem the current has some pathway to ground.
come along and touch an insulated pool of water (without a ground spike) with less than electric proof firemans boots and your as good as zapped. bare feet on wet ground is even worse.
if a power line is down. and you stand near it with feet wide apart you can absorb the difference between the two spots. its why people will shuffle along near downed powerlines or wear good boots.

tanks with broken heaters are dangerous as, but it doesent always prove true that fish will get shocked and die.

often if you have a small cut on your finger and the water has some salt in it and you are barefoot you will notice there is some current in it. thats because conductivity is increased.