Burning smell from heater

Mike N · Feb 22, 2019

I was doing some maintenance in the tank a few minutes ago. Suddenly, there was a burning smell.
I quickly found it was coming from the Neotherm heater. I pulled it out after unplugging it and it definitely reeks.
My living room reeks and so does the tank.
Are my fish and Corals in danger?
Should I be doing a large water change right now?

Flippers4pups · Feb 22, 2019

Mike N said:
I was doing some maintenance in the tank a few minutes ago. Suddenly, there was a burning smell.
I quickly found it was coming from the Neotherm heater. I pulled it out after unplugging it and it definitely reeks.
My living room reeks and so does the tank.
Are my fish and Corals in danger?
Should I be doing a large water change right now?

I would do a large water change, 25-30% ASAP and run some GAC as well.

Flippers4pups · Feb 22, 2019

Unfortunately, those heaters have been known to crack and burn up. Your lucky you were there to catch it!

WVNed · Feb 22, 2019

I would change 30-50% and be ready to do it again tomorrow.

Mike N · Feb 22, 2019

Thanks for the help everyone. I had no idea neotherm heaters were prone to breaking.
I'm hustling to get some more water ready right now.

Retro Reefer · Feb 22, 2019

What model was it? Luckily sounds like you caught it in time.. water changes and temporarily running extra carbon are all good idea’s. Poly filters are also great for removing certain contaminants if you have any on hand.

Mike N · Feb 23, 2019

Retro Reefer said:
What model was it? Luckily sounds like you caught it in time.. water changes and temporarily running extra carbon are all good idea’s. Poly filters are also great for removing certain contaminants if you have any on hand.

It was the 100 watt version.
I've had polyfilter in the closet for about a year.. no reason to use it until now

Tuan’s Reef · Feb 23, 2019

Mike N said:
It was the 100 watt version.
I've had polyfilter in the closet for about a year.. no reason to use it until now

How long have you had it in service? I heard it was their higher wattage heaters was having issues.

Retro Reefer · Feb 23, 2019

Mike N said:
It was the 100 watt version.
I've had polyfilter in the closet for about a year.. no reason to use it until now

I always keep them on hand, I saved more than one tank using them over the years.. great for removing heavy metals if you have a rusting magnet or similar issue.

Mike N · Feb 23, 2019

Tuan’s Reef said:
How long have you had it in service? I heard it was their higher wattage heaters was having issues.

I've had it for almost two years now.

Durandal · Feb 25, 2019

Cuprisorb >>> polyfilter for blown heaters. Binds all the metals that were electrolyticaly dissolved from the electrode in the time it was shorted out in the water. There is heat transfer oil in many aquarium heaters as well, so do also endorse running lots of carbon.

Cuprisorb is heavy metal removal resin developed for industrial water treatment . It has been engineered at great effort and cost to do exactly what you need done(bind toxic heavy metals out of aqueous solution down to ppb levels) and just happens to be re-branded and re-purposed for the rather insignificant aquarium market.

Great stuff, works miracles. Saved my SPS heavy reef from a blown heater who's resistive heating element had almost completely dissolved into my tank water(water stank of metal and had a light greenish brown tint).

Good Luck!

vetteguy53081 · Feb 25, 2019

I assumed you have unplugged and chucked heater.
Use one such as titanium unit, neotherm or other high quality unit.
Water change and use of carbon will be a must.

Mike N · Feb 25, 2019

Durandal said:
Cuprisorb >>> polyfilter for blown heaters. Binds all the metals that were electrolyticaly dissolved from the electrode in the time it was shorted out in the water. There is heat transfer oil in many aquarium heaters as well, so do also endorse running lots of carbon.

Cuprisorb is heavy metal removal resin developed for industrial water treatment . It has been engineered at great effort and cost to do exactly what you need done(bind toxic heavy metals out of aqueous solution down to ppb levels) and just happens to be re-branded and re-purposed for the rather insignificant aquarium market.

Great stuff, works miracles. Saved my SPS heavy reef from a blown heater who's resistive heating element had almost completely dissolved into my tank water(water stank of metal and had a light greenish brown tint).

Good Luck!

Thanks, I'll def be picking some up

vetteguy53081 said:
I assumed you have unplugged and chucked heater.
Use one such as titanium unit, neotherm or other high quality unit.
Water change and use of carbon will be a must.

Yep, I absolutely chucked the heater.
It actually was a neotherm heater that failed on me.
I'll be using Eheim from now on