Heater Exploded!!!

[BrothaWolf]

I come downstairs this morning to a strange burnt ozoney type smell and the sound of short circuit. Its coming from the tank... I opent the doors to my stand and I see my visitherm heater sizzling away in the sump!!! It exploded sometime during the night. Luckily everything SEEMS ok All coral are open and i think all the fish are here...
Never had a problem with a visitherm before Been using them for years. Woodstock steered me towards a jager. I think that will be my mission for the day!

[prow]

sucks but good to hear everything is ok. yet another good reason for a sump, isolates exploding heaters. jager huh, just so happens i am looking for a couple heaters. i am geussing you would rec this?

[BrothaWolf]

Originally Posted by prow

sucks but good to hear everything is ok. yet another good reason for a sump, isolates exploding heaters. jager huh, just so happens i am looking for a couple heaters. i am geussing you would rec this?

I trust Woodstock 100%! Thats what she is using. The only problem with them that I can see is the size. They are GINORMOUS!!!! Im using my little stealth atm till I can find something more appropriate. I dont think it can explode becauses it black plastic or ceramic or some alien material but I do know its NOT glass

[rDr4g0n]

ive used glass heaters on all the fresh water tanks i had as a kid. my wife uses them at work at the zoo also. shes had one explode on her, and ive broken one before. i think its just part of using glass heaters.... i have 2 currently that ive had no problems with.

[Woodstock]

I am glad everything is doing well!

Yep. Carbon and a Jebo heater Preferrably on a temperature controller. I use a Reefkeeper2 on my system.

[BrothaWolf]

its scary hearing that sound coming from the tank and that SMELL!

[Woodstock]

Ebo (formerly Ebo-Jager) are larger than most heaters but come better made with thicker glass. I've been using them for a very long time.

[Dragon Wrasse]

Brothawolf, do you use a ground probe in your tank??

http://avdil.gtri.gatech.edu/RCM/RCM...ingProbes.html

Cheap insurance for your tank......

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod...GroupKey=11472

[Woodstock]

IF you get the grounding probe, You MUST use a GFI or you could seriously injure or kill yourself if a short were to occur in the tank.

[Dragon Wrasse]

Originally Posted by Woodstock

IF you get the grounding probe, You MUST use a GFI or you could seriously injure or kill yourself if a short were to occur in the tank.

I would think the Probe would make a better ground then you...if you had your hand in the tank.....your body has more resistance then the wire to ground and the electricity would take the path of least resistance to ground, I do have GFI on all my tanks, it just makes sense too, but I don't understand why you would need GFI with the probe???

[rDr4g0n]

my heater has a built in temp sensor. i set the heater to 78f, and it stays at 78

[saltyfishtanks]

did anyone make refrence to titanium heaters?

if not why?

Ive been using the aquamedic 500w titanium with the aquamedic digital controller and have been very pleased with them in comparison to any of the glass heaters i used...

and might i mention all the glass heaters ended up stuck on and overheating the water 4 out of the 5 glass heaters ive spent $30 on each have been rendered useless other than heating water change water up

[Cougra]

I've also used the EBO heaters for many many years and still haven't had any problems with them. The one I currently have in my reef tank is 7 years old, one I have in my 75 gal freshwater tank is 15 years old and I have one in a 15 Gal freshwater tank that is 3 years old. The 15 year old heater has been through hell and back, ranging from being dropped, having rocks fall on it, being plugged in out of water for a while (once at least an hour!) and I can't even remember what else has happened to it. It still works and holds the water at the temperature I set it to. Just make sure you use some external thermometer and dont rely on the markings on the dial when you are setting it.

I've found that my hagen ones didn't do a very good job and tended to either break or always stay on after a couple years of usage.

As for the titainium heaters, I've read many reports that they are unreliable and require and external thermostat. I haven't tried one myself though as I find my ebo's to be perfectly fine.

[Woodstock]

Originally Posted by Dragon Wrasse

I would think the Probe would make a better ground then you...if you had your hand in the tank.....your body has more resistance then the wire to ground and the electricity would take the path of least resistance to ground, I do have GFI on all my tanks, it just makes sense too, but I don't understand why you would need GFI with the probe???

I have read that the grounding probe completes the circuit through the tank which creates more stress for the inhabitants. I know there are conflicting opinions regarding the necessity of grounding probes in our aquariums but it is certain that a GFI is needed if one is installed.

http://avdil.gtri.gatech.edu/RCM/RCM...ingProbes.html

http://avdil.gtri.gatech.edu/RCM/RCM...alDetails.html

I should install a GFI for my tank equipment. Multiple GFI's are best to keep one 'trip' from turning off all equipment.

[DeepBlue]

For your health and well being, a GFI is manditory, as has been mentioned by others.

I have used both Jagers and Neptunes and have had no problems and have been somewhat abused. This past weekend however, a small heater I use in my water holding tank for water changes, which was an el cheapo model, exploded just like yours did. But mine was because of being careless and letting the water level get too far down and some cool water got splashed on the hot element and fried big time. Lessons learned!