water heaters breaking

[JEAE21]

The first day I used the heater, I turned it on right after I put it in the tank. Was that not good?

And was it o.k. for me to have part of the heater out for a second?

Also, do I need to turn off the heater when I put very luke warm water(that's been laying in the sun for a day) in the tank?

 

[leoslizards]

Hey I just realised that when I was talking to the tech support at drsfostersmith, I had the top part of my heater out for 1 second but is that safe?

There's some wierd fumes underwater..is my plastic cage around the heater melting?

The first day I used the heater, I turned it on right after I put it in the tank. Was that not good?

And was it o.k. for me to have part of the heater out for a second?

Also, do I need to turn off the heater when I put very luke warm water(that's been laying in the sun for a day) in the tank?

I've had the top of my heater out of the water about 1" below the "do not expose below this line" line for about 3 days before I topped off my aquarium and nothing happened. I wouldn't dare pull the whole thing out of the water though. The fumes you probably see are just heat waves that the heater creates. You should always allow the heater to adjust to the temps in your aquarium before you plug it in. I wait 20 minutes after I have unplugged it before I expose it to air and another 20 minutes before I plug it back it after it's back inside the water.

 

[JEAE21]

20. minutes, got it!

 

[Darky]

I was once doing a water change and smelled something odd so I started to wonder....somethings burning!?!? What the hell could it be??!!.....next thing you know the plastic suction cups were melting in my tank!!!

some lessons you gotta learn the hard way...hope it doesnt happen again!

 

[beeline]

Look out for heaters with stronger glass. They are available. Learned the hard way this week. I was in a rush to change my tank water coz I had a lot of stuff to do and I forgot to switch the heater off when I started changing my water. The glass just broke and I cut my hand while fishing for the broken bits. So I had to go and buy another heater immediately. Bummer.

 

[ecuacura]

I too have had the "funny smell" when water changing and realized I was barbecuing the suction cups... but weirder than that.... I once had two red-belly pacu and while in class they decided to shatter the heater. Luckily it tripped the power strip, so it didnt shock them (or me thankfully), but they ATE the glass. Yes... ATE the shattered glass. I tore the entire tank down looking for glass and was only able to find maybe 4-5 shards. I still stand by the fact... Pacu are CRAZY!

J

 

[frasertheking]

What happens with a glass heater when you forget to unplug it

it heats up expands and when the cold water hits it contracts and fractures

 

[likestofish]

my little brother did that to my heater he wanted to se my fish but didnt tell me so he moved the heater then stuck back in and it went boom.

 

[leoslizards]

Getting a titanium heater will solve your problems as well.

 

[deepblue101]

does it arc and then go boom or it just goes boom?