Can a Bad Powerhead Cause Tank Issues?

[JGT]

Looked in my tank yesterday and noticed all my corals were not looking as they should. All were partially closed and some started to bleach. Did parameter check and all was in good shape.

After further checking noticed one of my power heads wasn’t pumping. Didn’t think that was the cause but figured I’d check it out. Upon removing it, the chord started to smoke and I noticed a cut in the line. Additionally the spot where the chord goes into the powerhead came out of the powerhead and there was brown, rusty goop at the spot. Proceeded to do 2 large water changes and added a bag of Cuprisorb into the sump. Corals seem to be slowly recovering. The fish were not affected. I also lost 2 fighting conches. The tank/sump combo is around 300 gallons so I find it hard to believe that something as small as this could have such a major impact. Interested in people’s perspectives on this. Thanks.

 

[shadow_k]

It could’ve been shocking the tank . That’s my theory . Or it’s been broken for a long time and now it’s starting to effect the tank

 

[Gtinnel]

I don't believe it takes much rusting metal to effect the tank, so I'd assume it absolutely could cause tank issues.

 

[JGT]

It could’ve been shocking the tank . That’s my theory . Or it’s been broken for a long time and now it’s starting to effect the tank

I thought if that, yet I would have expected the fish to be affected, possibly even killed. They weren’t.
I agree with the longer term theory.
Thanks.

 

[Gtinnel]

I thought if that, yet I would have expected the fish to be affected, possibly even killed. They weren’t.
I agree with the longer term theory.
Thanks.

Stray electricity in a tank won't shock and kill fish, because the water around them is more conductive than the fish is. It can add stress though.

 

[Reefing102]

That and the rust itself. I know I’ve read of people that lost a screw or similar that was affecting the tank as it rusted.

 

[JGT]

Stray electricity in a tank won't shock and kill fish, because the water around them is more conductive than the fish is. It can add stress though.

Interesting, didn’t realize that, thanks.

 

[Gtinnel]

Interesting, didn’t realize that, thanks.

I only know because I once had all of my fish die all at one time and I thought maybe stray voltage. Then a member on here who is the electrical guru explained to me how electricity couldn't have been the reason my fish died, because saltwater fish can't be electrocuted.

 

[JGT]

That and the rust itself. I know I’ve read of people that lost a screw or similar that was affecting the tank

That and the rust itself. I know I’ve read of people that lost a screw or similar that was affecting the tank as it rusted.

I presume rust is different than GFO which people use in their tanks. Maybe it’s the type of metal that rusts/corrodes that determines if it causes an issue or not.

 

[Arego]

An old gyre of mine had a very tiny opening in the magnet on the wet side. I had bought two new ones so I opened it and it was just flaking rust everywhere falling out.

Once it was removed things took a huge turn for the good. Just food for thought, I could barely see the opening where it was separating from the pad.. check those closely. I run a bead of silicone along them and smooth it over now to make sure it's a solid seal.