Faulty Heater

[aemerson]

I was awoken at 3:30 this morning by my dog completely flipping out in the living room (not the one that ate the fish food.) When I went into the room she was sitting right in front of the fish tank barking furiously and staring at the tank. I smelled that sharp hot electric smell and immediately flipped off the power strips. I was having a difficult time figuring out the problem, but after 20-30 minutes figured out that the heater (only a couple of months old) had ruptured. The water was not hot and did not seem to be carrying a charge, but smelled of that sharp hot electric smell. I did a 20-25% water change (which, by the way, is loads of fun at 4 am), but it still smelled that way afterwards and when I checked before leaving for work this morning. The creatures that I could see seemed okay, but I am quite concerned. Does anyone have any ideas of what I should do? (BTW I did remove the broken heater.) Oh, and I did not have a chance to check my levels - it was all I could do to change some water. I will when I get home though.

[LoneStar]

Buy a grounding probe for your tank.

Also get a new heater. Ebo Jagers work GREAT and I hardly hear them breaking :)

[tony]

i completely shattered one in my tank once. months later was still finding glass in the sand. i did a water change as well and had no negative repurcussions (and this was only a 12g tank)

i think you have nothing to worry about

[txstateunivreefer]

get a stealth heater you wont hear of them breaking open like that because they arent incased by glass
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444181 0432&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030060&ASSORT MENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1184460798 376&itemNo=1&In=Fish&N=2030060&Ne=2

after my heater shattered and did the same thing... nice light show lots of glass and a bad smell that doesnt want to leave
i got this one and couldnt be any happier