Heater malfunction!!

[dpotts]

I get up at 4:30 this morning to go to work and notice that my tank (29g BC) temp is 87.7!! After the initial freakout :what_smile:, I unplug the heater, take the lid off and get fans blowing on it. I eventually did a small water change with cooler water and before I left for work the temp was down to 80.5. I just spoke with my husband and the temp is now down to 78.5 and has been stable there for a while now. He is going to get me a new heater today since I'm at work until 7pm tonight. All fish and corals looked fine then (and still do) and even ate this am. Did I dodge the bullet and should things stay fine or will problems start arising as the day goes on? Not a good way to start this morning!! :at_wits_end:

[hobogato]

more than likely, everything will be fine - although high, that wasnt too extreme. good thing you caught it when you did tho

[dpotts]

Thanks! I about had a heart attack. It's my first tank and I've been lucky enough to have had no major problems/emergencies over the last year! I never dreamed that a heater would malfunction in the "on" position..but at least it had to happen a day that I'm working (I only work 3 days a week)!!!

[Texreefer]

also, consider getting a smaller heater.. if it fails in the on position then it won't be able to do as much damage as fast

[Gseclipse02]

ive always been scared of a heater doing that to my tank so i never really ran one but when its cold outside my tank does have a lot of temp swing which is not good ...

[dpotts]

I'm just glad I noticed when I did!:) I have a habit of checking my tanks temp and livestock numerous times a day and now I'm glad I do. It's a little disappointing that the lifespan on that heater was only 10 months!:angry:

[aquasport24]

Glad everything is ok. What kind of heater is it?

[dpotts]

It was a Visi-Therm Stealth 100w. When I do my weekly water changes, I turn off power to everything in my tank, could that shorten it's lifespan? It doesn't come out of the water though!

[SABOB]

Maybe it's just me,but I haven't had a heater in my tank in over 5 years.Seems like I'm always hovering at 78-80 degrees even in the winter.Currently running 265 watts of PC lights and an extra clip on fan when lights are on.Does your tank temperature ever drop much?

[Bill S]

When purchasing a heater, you should make sure you undersize it a bit - for a reef tank here in Texas. It will rarely turn on, in most cases.

I have an Aquacontroller, that has an alarm in it. If the tank reaches 80, the fans kick on (I have a chiller). At 83, the alarm sounds. That's how I found out I'd fried my chiller controller.

[corydrysdale]

On my 125 , ive never encountered the need for a heater ever.
Im running a 72inch coralife Mh system with close to 500watts of light plus pc lighting which remains on all day. I run around 80-82 degrees so i supliment with a fan aimed at the light which brings it down to 76-78. Besides that, i cant afford a chiller. IMO its cheaper to cut a hole in the wall and put a window A/C unit at maybe $200 next to the tank than purchase a chiller for $800+ dollars. But if anyone has a used chiller...i may be interested. LOL:shades:

[g-ray]

Having the heater hooked up to a controller really helps out i have mine set to kick fans on also and it helps me sleep better haha... for the most part the heater never kicks on my tank stays at 76-78 all the time. If it hits 76 my controller just pops the heater on till the tank is at 79 and cuts off.

[dpotts]

When I got home from work I looked at the old heater and its actually a marineland stealth. As for how often my heater actually kicks on...I have no idea. The temp in my tank runs around 77.5-78.5. I keep my house temp 69-70 degrees year round.:blushing:

[coraline79]

I keep my AC/heat at 75 al the time in my house, and this maintains my temp in my tank at 78-80 degrees. AC capactor on fan for compressor went out last week ,and the tank got up to 86. I just left lights off0 everything seemed to be fine.

[msmith619]

I keep a heater in the sump in case I need one. It is set for 78 degrees but I have never seen it on. The aquarium stays around 79-82 degrees with the return pump and protein skimer pumps in the sump as well as the lights. I keep the house 72 at night, 75 during the day and my tank (75 gallon) swings with the room temperature.
Mike