VisiTherm 250-watt STEALTH melt-down

[Damon0306]

Well after many years of using Stealth heaters I had my first one fail.

Yes I know it's better to unplug your heaters during a water-change and I do so on my 150-gallon tank, because I have to unplug the powerheads.

Well yesterday doing a 75% water change as I have been doing for years on my 22-gallon cube tank my Stealth heater had a total meltdown.

I always leave THIS heater plugged in during a water change, counting on the auto-shutoff feature that worked every time since yesterday.

After re-filling the tank I noticed that the plastic had actually bubbled on the heater, looking like the heater had big welts on it.

Don't trust the auto-shutoff, mine worked fine for almost 2-years then it didnt work.

 

[12 Volt Man]

that sucks.

how is your jag coming along? he must be getting huge by now.

 

[Damon0306]

He's doing well thanks, haven't had much time to enjoy him, post updated pics, of his progress, long-story short, I lost my Job, lost my apartment, my sister now lives in the apartment with her daughter and I am stuck back home with parents.

She was living in the same apartment complex, but only had 1 bedroom, now that her daughter is getting older she needed a 2-bedroom so she took over my place.

I go there almost every day to care for him, but really sucks not being able to live there and enjoy him.

I've thought about moving the tank, but I dunno if I am up to it, plus it would be hard to find a place in my parents home except the basement, which I do not want to do.

I sure do miss my fish, and the privacy of my own place.

Living back home is driving me

 

[12 Volt Man]

damn. sorry to hear that. moving that tank is not fun, as long as you can get in there to do water changes, and have them feed him, I would probably leave it as is and wait until you get back on your feet.

 

[indiana.dutton]

sucks man mine has never had that problem thanks for letting us know

 

[Toby_H]

Well after many years of using Stealth heaters I had my first one fail.

Yes I know it's better to unplug your heaters during a water-change and I do so on my 150-gallon tank, because I have to unplug the powerheads.

Well yesterday doing a 75% water change as I have been doing for years on my 22-gallon cube tank my Stealth heater had a total meltdown.

I always leave THIS heater plugged in during a water change, counting on the auto-shutoff feature that worked every time since yesterday.

After re-filling the tank I noticed that the plastic had actually bubbled on the heater, looking like the heater had big welts on it.

Don't trust the auto-shutoff, mine worked fine for almost 2-years then it didnt work.

I've very happily used Stealth heater for many years... although I've never put the auto shut off to the test...

I plug all of my heaters & filters into a common powerstrip... then when I do a water change I can push one button and turn off all of them but leave the lights on (plugged into a timer seperately). Then when all is finished I push one button and the system is running again.


PS - I generally use 2W per gallon for heaters... 250W on a 22 gal is overkill to the point of being pretty darn risky

 

[thor meeki]

I am sorry to hear about your situation, hopefully it will turn around for you.

Thank you for the heads up.
I will no longer trust the auto shut off switch.
This is a handy piece of information.

 

[1974Pantera]

Good info, thank you for sharing. When I do WC's, the surge protector gets turned off. Never going to depend on anything when it comes to electricity!

 

[Damon0306]

I get there atleast every 2-days, I do not allow her to feed any of my fish

 

[ptillett]

I have 4 of those 250 w steaths. Thanks for the warning. I don't trust that auto shutoff, anyway. Thanks!