The Puffer Forum

I have, or rather now had an eheim tank heater and I just heard a *pop* and the heater was shattered and glass all over with the heating coil dangling out....is that a defect? Or was it just old? Is this a common thing?

It happens with older glass heaters. Happened to me years ago (I've been keeping fish a looooooong time). Highly recommend the newer style heaters completely encased in plastic. Haven't had one of those break on me yet.

Did you have a power surge? I have not seen one explode before

I dont think so, I had everything on and I didnt see the lights flicker but it could could have. Makes sense

Did any fish die from electrocution?

sgtmyers88 wrote:Did any fish die from electrocution?

Hopefully not, but I would guess no. Despite common misconception, water is actually a poor conductor of electricity. It's just better then air is, so people seem to think it's better then it actually is.
As for the heater, it could have been any number of problems, just get a new one and make sure to remove all glass, so it doesn't hurt the fish.

No my fahaka is fine. I cleaned it up. still sucks

G S P Freak wrote:

sgtmyers88 wrote:Did any fish die from electrocution?

Hopefully not, but I would guess no. Despite common misconception, water is actually a poor conductor of electricity. It's just better then air is, so people seem to think it's better then it actually is.
As for the heater, it could have been any number of problems, just get a new one and make sure to remove all glass, so it doesn't hurt the fish.

Water is a better conductor when you have impurities plus the power of the electrical equiptment used. A fish tank heater doesn't use a lot of power and is certainly not a hazard but larger electics like fires, hair-driers and toasters do have the ability to injure or kill if dropped into water

http://www.omg-facts.com/view/Facts/40160

Technically water doesn't conduct electricity, as it's only hydrogen and oxygen. It depends on the mineral concentration in the water, and being a fish tank I'd assume it's fairly high. You'd think they'd have amperage breaks to prevent it, but I don't know.

But yeah, next time opt for the plastic heater..

Master of Puffers wrote:

G S P Freak wrote:

sgtmyers88 wrote:Did any fish die from electrocution?

Hopefully not, but I would guess no. Despite common misconception, water is actually a poor conductor of electricity. It's just better then air is, so people seem to think it's better then it actually is.
As for the heater, it could have been any number of problems, just get a new one and make sure to remove all glass, so it doesn't hurt the fish.

Water is a better conductor when you have impurities plus the power of the electrical equiptment used. A fish tank heater doesn't use a lot of power and is certainly not a hazard but larger electics like fires, hair-driers and toasters do have the ability to injure or kill if dropped into water

http://www.omg-facts.com/view/Facts/40160

Lol I hope nobody would have a toaster or hair dryer next to the fish tank, plugged in!

I have never had such an incident happen because I was extremely cautious when electrical equipment is immersed into the tank. So it has been a long time fear for me. I actually refused to use powerheads for a long time in the past after hearing stories of power cords breaking down thus leaking voltage into the water. I just could not chance it with my fish.

I had an old heater that kept over heating the tank so I turned it down to the lowest setting thinking that would solve the problem. A couple hours later the water temp was approaching 90 degrees, so In a panic I went to grab the heater and it was literally hot enough to curl my hair. As I pulled it out of the tank it exploded in my hand. Luckily I was able to grab it again before it fell back in the tank. Did not get hurt thank goodness.

I have heard of several people who had heaters explode/crack and break the tank glass, sending water and fish everywhere. Some of them tried to get their tanks replaced by the makers of the heaters, but most could only get their money back on the heaters.

Imagine that level of angry....all the time and money invested..destroyed by a heater..

It was a violent burst, I can see how it can crack glass.. It melted the plastic holder where the heater ggets grappled on by, its just all morphed now. If my fahaka died I probably would have punched a hole into the tank out of fury, I have gotten abnormally attached to him, and I feel like he knows me very well.

defool89 wrote:I have, or rather now had an eheim tank heater and I just heard a *pop* and the heater was shattered and glass all over with the heating coil dangling out....is that a defect? Or was it just old? Is this a common thing?

was it still plugged in and exposed to air during a waterchange, or had that happened at anytime in the past?

eieio wrote:

defool89 wrote:I have, or rather now had an eheim tank heater and I just heard a *pop* and the heater was shattered and glass all over with the heating coil dangling out....is that a defect? Or was it just old? Is this a common thing?

was it still plugged in and exposed to air during a waterchange, or had that happened at anytime in the past?

I am guilty of doing tht in the past, several times. Ill forget to unplugg it during a wc. When it popped it was in the water fully, and no wc happenning at the time....good point, maybe over time the glass weakend from rapid expansion from the past, and it just gave in at this point.