Stealth Heater Failure!!

[chonhzilla]

OK I've read all sorts of great things about Stealth Heaters. But, I came home today from a visiting my in-laws a few hours away. First thing I did when I came home was of course! Check on the fish that have been abandoned for two days. Anyhow I walk up to the tank and nothing changed. Everything looked fine. I leaned in to pick out a dead leaf from the tank. As soon as I touched the water I knew something was wrong! The water was very hot. So hot that it didn't register on the thermometer. So I flipped on the timer and checked for dead fish.

Phew! luckly the mal-function may have just occurred. I flipped on some cooling fans and began to aerate the water.

Now, why is it that the heater could have done this? I've read everywhere that they are great heaters. I've only had mine for about 6 months. I;ve had crappy heaters from ages ago and they still do fine.

This sucks. Really bad. I didn't want to drop another $50 for another heater.

 

[Angler]

Hmmm. I don't know. That's the first time I ever read anything negative about a Stealth heater. That's all I use. I guess even the most reliable products can be defective at times.

 

[swede]

no cracks in the heater?

 

[ani-mal-lvr]

When most heaters fail, they do so in the "ON" position.

I dont use Stealths anymore. I have had 3 of them fail. Always when I was away from home. (at work etc.)

Sounds like you caught it in time tho.

 

[chonhzilla]

When most heaters fail, they do so in the "ON" position.

I dont use Stealths anymore. I have had 3 of them fail. Always when I was away from home. (at work etc.)

Sounds like you caught it in time tho.

Im so glad I did. I've got a 40 breeder planted to the rim! So much money into these green things! So I'm S.O.L if the heater turns my tank into pea soup!

no cracks in the heater?

No visible cracks, I just checked.

 

[andyjs]

My current Stealth I'm running has been doing fine for nearly 2 years, but if it cooks my lungfish, I'll be pissed

 

[Wet Whiskers]

I've lost about 5 of these heaters (one just two days ago) since November when we moved into this new place (actually rather old in comparison to the 10 year old apartments we were in before). Some have gotten stuck 'on' and cooked a few of my poor fish. Another fully electrocuted me. And, no. There wasn't a crack or mark on the fully submersible heaters. We've never lost a heater till we moved here. I am suspecting that large power surges are killing my thermometers. I've changed out all of my power strips to ones that have better surge protectors. We'll see if that fixes the problem. I'm really curious about this, and hope someone has actual hard info rather than just my theory.

 

[jlnguyen74]

I've lost about 5 of these heaters (one just two days ago) since November when we moved into this new place (actually rather old in comparison to the 10 year old apartments we were in before). Some have gotten stuck 'on' and cooked a few of my poor fish. Another fully electrocuted me. And, no. There wasn't a crack or mark on the fully submersible heaters. We've never lost a heater till we moved here. I am suspecting that large power surges are killing my thermometers. I've changed out all of my power strips to ones that have better surge protectors. We'll see if that fixes the problem. I'm really curious about this, and hope someone has actual hard info rather than just my theory.

I hate that "zap" feeling! Get a volt-meter to check if the voltage from the outlets are within 110V-120V. Some old buildings may have problem with their wiring.

 

[Wet Whiskers]

I hate that "zap" feeling! Get a volt-meter to check if the voltage from the outlets are within 110V-120V. Some old buildings may have problem with their wiring.

We got a meter to make sure the place was properly grounded (it says it is), but I'm gonna have to use an actual volt meter to see what's happening. What definitely clues me that something is wrong is that the light bulb over the staircase flickers on and off even when the switch is in the 'off' position. Either the place is wired to burn itself down or the witch that died here doesn't want us here. j/k But, yeah. I haven't had any luck with finding out what is at the root of the problems. Time for an electrician.

 

[hondas3000]

submersible heater seem to have problem a lot even a brand name. I find that most problem happen when it got submerge, but when you have the control knob out of the water then it should be fine. Now I am using Fluval and Aquaclear heater, both seem working fine so far.