komodo182;4915444; said:
I returned a bunch of Visatherms as well. I figure no reason to take chances. I'm away from Marineland heaters for the time being.
Stealth Pro Heater Recall!!!
- Thread starter spkehl
- Start date
I returned a bunch of Visatherms as well. I figure no reason to take chances. I'm away from Marineland heaters for the time being.
I've actually decided not to return mine. All of mine work fine- I have no power surges that happen in my home, I turn them off during water changes- and I never let them on if they are not fully submerged.
vwilliams1475;4921543; said:
I'm the one with the Via Aqua. I have a 50W that I bought to build a Ball Python Egg incubater about 10+ years ago that still runs like brand new today. So I figured the 300W would be just as good if not better. The suction cups on these things don't last long so I'd suggest getting a couple when you get the heater. Right now I have the 300W sitting in a 38G tank that is plumbed into my 150G Bowfront. Also have a FX5 hooked up to this and the heater is keeping the water at 78* in every corner of the 150. and 79-80* in the 38G.
G/L
Mike
PS: I was told by the Store Manager at my Local Petsmart that if a customer insists on Cash refund they have to give it because it's a VOLUNTARY Recall. If you got store credit and you want your cash take the credit back, get the store manager and Insist on cash. They have to do it, It's company policy. If they still refuse, ask for the name and number of the district manager and see how fast they change their tune.
mshill90;4921645; said:
It has nothing to do with Powersurges, or not turning them off. The heaters are failing internally and because of the way they are made they are acting as a pipe bomb. They build up pressure until the seams either split, or in worse case scenario explode. Others have reached into the tank only to get the bejeebus shocked out of them and find that the heater has split down the side.
I think you'd be safer hanging a tire swing in the middle of your fish room and telling the kids to take it easy while you run to the grocery store.
Just my 2c
Mike
Yes, I get what's happening, but WHY is it happening? It could very well be from power surges- or from people not turning them off when they drain a tank. No one knows the REAL reason that these things are malfunctioning.
Plastic expands, and contracts- so, if it's heating the water up to 80 degrees, and you leave it on and drain your tank- then fill it with colder water, all while it's trying to heat it, makes more strain on the plastic- it contracts, then expands.. over and over and over... the plastic becomes weak. Think of a plastic container in the microwave, and then putting it in the freezer- over and over- it becomes extremely flimsy.
If I choose to keep these heaters because they have not malfunctioned on me, then so be it. No reason to try to persuade me.
Just my .02
Plastic expands, and contracts- so, if it's heating the water up to 80 degrees, and you leave it on and drain your tank- then fill it with colder water, all while it's trying to heat it, makes more strain on the plastic- it contracts, then expands.. over and over and over... the plastic becomes weak. Think of a plastic container in the microwave, and then putting it in the freezer- over and over- it becomes extremely flimsy.
If I choose to keep these heaters because they have not malfunctioned on me, then so be it. No reason to try to persuade me.
Just my .02
Persuasion is a different vice then informing. These heaters were marketed as shatter proof, and with the ability to shut themselves off when removed from water. This alone negates all the ideas about plastic expanding and contracting.
On a side note, Don't you find it a little alarming that even though Marineland States their is no recall. You can't find the Stealth Pros on their website anymore? Only the Visitherms?
Marinelands Specs "The Marineland Stealth Pro heaters are constructed using a shatterproof injection-molded thermal plastic casing to protect them from wear and damage. They feature bi-color LEDs with an Optic System that illuminates the translucent temperature dial red when heating, and green when the temperature has reached the desired level. A mesh heating element with mica cora, coupled with epoxy fill ensures the most efficient heat transfer and durability. A safety shut-off mechanism powers down the heaters if removed from the water, and automatically restores power when returned to the water. Stealth Pro heaters have certified accuracy to +/- 1 degree Fahrenheit. 200 Watt model is ideal for aquariums up to 55 gallons."
Again, not trying to persuade I just would rather no one follow your It hasn't happened to me example and wind up with a house full of water and a room full of dead fish because they read on MFK that some guy didn't return their so why should I?
Mike
On a side note, Don't you find it a little alarming that even though Marineland States their is no recall. You can't find the Stealth Pros on their website anymore? Only the Visitherms?
Marinelands Specs "The Marineland Stealth Pro heaters are constructed using a shatterproof injection-molded thermal plastic casing to protect them from wear and damage. They feature bi-color LEDs with an Optic System that illuminates the translucent temperature dial red when heating, and green when the temperature has reached the desired level. A mesh heating element with mica cora, coupled with epoxy fill ensures the most efficient heat transfer and durability. A safety shut-off mechanism powers down the heaters if removed from the water, and automatically restores power when returned to the water. Stealth Pro heaters have certified accuracy to +/- 1 degree Fahrenheit. 200 Watt model is ideal for aquariums up to 55 gallons."
Again, not trying to persuade I just would rather no one follow your It hasn't happened to me example and wind up with a house full of water and a room full of dead fish because they read on MFK that some guy didn't return their so why should I?
Mike
Mavrick813;4921705; said:
To each their own buddy... The recall was not on ALL of the heaters, only specific lot codes, so not everyone may have defected ones.
Maybe we should do a poll of where people live in which bad things have happened with their heaters... I know 4 people in my area with tons of fish in which they use the stealths and they have not had issues..
So maybe it also has to do with location of where things were shipped?
About the "you don't want someone to not change because I didn't comment..." to each their own... if they want to use it, they will use it.
I'm happy with mine, and I take all necessary precautions to ensure that they function properly.
Well I was finally able to get a gift in exchange for the merchandise credit, so I could use it online. Huge headache though. Store wouldn't do it, so I had to go through Corporate. Took a few days, but the store manager called me in and issued me a gift card. GL!
I dont know if anyone else has done this but I took My Stealth 250 back to PetCo. They gave me a refund an exchange no problem. No receipt, no box, nothing. Thanks for the heads up everyone
Ok i finally brought my 3 stealth heaters to Petsmart(50 watt, 150 watt and 200 watt). The lady at the cash register had no idea about the recall. The manger comes over and i tell her i called and spoke to someone last week that confirmed the recall, and she said it was her that i spoke too. She said the 50 watt was not on the recall list so i said fine.
She leaves for a second and comes back with a 150 watt and 200 watt TOP FIN Heater. She rings them up at $21 and $24 and tells me that is my credit. I stop her immediately and tell her that is a different brand. She tries to correct me and says its the same brand and thats the heater that is replacing the stealths! I tell her that its 2 seperate brands and i know for a fact that the 50 watt heater alone was more than $24. She then gets defensive and asks me if i have a reciept. I tell her i have a receipt at home for the only the 50 watt and the receipt shouldnt be necessary. She then asks me how old the heaters are and makes a comment that they look like her heaters that are 5 years old. I tell her that it doesnt matter how old they are (heaters were couple months old). She then walks away and tells me bring back the receipt for the 50 watt and we could go from there. At this point i was pissed and tell my friend screw this petsmart and I wanted to leave. Not to mention by this time, there was a line of people behind me and I felt like a total idiot.
My friend needed to buy some fish food so I said ok and I walked to the heater section and BOOM the 50 watt heater is still on the shelf at $32. I then see the price tags for ALL the stealths still there. I go and get the manager and point out the heater price tags. She is OMG what are the price tags still doing up there blah blah blah. She then agrees to give me the credit for the 150 watt and 200 watt. After getting the credit i was still in the store and looking around for a bit and she came and found me and told me that she talked to her manager and said that they didnt want to take a chance and was going to give me credit for the 50 watt too!
So all in all in ended up working out but it was such a PITA. I mean seriously, they were going to give me credit for the prices of the TOP FIN heaters?? Obviously i was the first person to bring the stealths back at that petsmart. Hope no one else have to go through BS like this.
She leaves for a second and comes back with a 150 watt and 200 watt TOP FIN Heater. She rings them up at $21 and $24 and tells me that is my credit. I stop her immediately and tell her that is a different brand. She tries to correct me and says its the same brand and thats the heater that is replacing the stealths! I tell her that its 2 seperate brands and i know for a fact that the 50 watt heater alone was more than $24. She then gets defensive and asks me if i have a reciept. I tell her i have a receipt at home for the only the 50 watt and the receipt shouldnt be necessary. She then asks me how old the heaters are and makes a comment that they look like her heaters that are 5 years old. I tell her that it doesnt matter how old they are (heaters were couple months old). She then walks away and tells me bring back the receipt for the 50 watt and we could go from there. At this point i was pissed and tell my friend screw this petsmart and I wanted to leave. Not to mention by this time, there was a line of people behind me and I felt like a total idiot.
My friend needed to buy some fish food so I said ok and I walked to the heater section and BOOM the 50 watt heater is still on the shelf at $32. I then see the price tags for ALL the stealths still there. I go and get the manager and point out the heater price tags. She is OMG what are the price tags still doing up there blah blah blah. She then agrees to give me the credit for the 150 watt and 200 watt. After getting the credit i was still in the store and looking around for a bit and she came and found me and told me that she talked to her manager and said that they didnt want to take a chance and was going to give me credit for the 50 watt too!
So all in all in ended up working out but it was such a PITA. I mean seriously, they were going to give me credit for the prices of the TOP FIN heaters?? Obviously i was the first person to bring the stealths back at that petsmart. Hope no one else have to go through BS like this.
