Exploded Heater

[briancarterkc]

I have been keeping aquariums of the salt and freshwater variety for approximately 30 years, and today was a first for me. Upon arriving home I smelled something that strikes fear into the heart of any homeowner connected to "the grid." The smell of burned electronics. Fearing an electrical fire, I rushed downstairs and instead of a fire, saw a VERY angry looking aquarium. Cloudy water, shriveled up corals, and hiding fish. On investigation, I found that my Eheim glass heater had pretty much snapped itself in two and had shut itself down. By the smell, I'm sure it spent a good amount of time spewing smoke into the water before it shut off. Fortunately, I think it happened fairly close to when I got home because the water was still warm.

I have already done a 30% water change, and will do another in about 3 hours. Unfortunately, that is the full capacity of containers I have per water change. I have tested for copper and find none. Again, unfortunately, I do not have easy access to polyfilter (note: if you keep a reef, you should really always have some on hand). I have tripled up on carbon. I replaced the heater.

Fish are already coming out of hiding. Corals are still all closed up. Snails, crabs, and starfish are still alive. Water is starting to clear up. I have not heard my pistol shrimp snap all night. I never see him but often hear him so I fear he's a goner.

I will continue to provide updates as the story develops. In the meantime, any other suggestions?

 

[briancarterkc]

As if sensing my post, my shrimp just snapped!

 

[briancarterkc]

Just did my second 30% water change. My red monti plate is so pale. It's about 7" diameter and was always such a nice brick red. It's barely tinted pink. My new green monti plate is ghost white.

All the LPS have pretty severe tissue recession, especially the galaxea, but the polyps themselves seem intact (i.e., the tissue between the polyps had collapsed).

Some of my SPS have had a few polyps bail, but are mostly holding together.

Zoas, palys, etc are balled up but seem alive. Generally I think it will be these things and the cockroaches at the end of the world.

I have a rock anemone that was about 6" yesterday. When I got home, it was about the size of a quarter. It's now about the size of a golf ball. That is probably the one positive sign in hanging on to.

Skimmer had pulled out a full cup of nasty stuff in two hours (it's meant for a 180g system and this is a 65, so that's a lot of crap). I'm currently suffering from a major cold so can't smell anything, but wife says the room smells like low tide.

Fish seem to still be fine; no labored breathing, and actually eating/grazing.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

 

[briancarterkc]

I didn't mention....the water continues to be cloudy. Not sure if this is due to continued production and slough of protective slime coats from the coral, die off, a bacteria bloom, or what. But there continues to be a definite haze in the water. I don't think it's die off as there is no ammonia and the fish aren't laboring.

Mostly I'm just documenting this process here "scientifically" in case anyone else had this happen, even if all goes to hell.

RODI reservoir is about 15% full for the third 30% water change. This is going to be a long night.

 

[3mm3]

I hope your tank bounces back quickly.

 

[Sully]

Are you running any sort of carbon? May help to get some of the nasty out.

 

[briancarterkc]

Thanks Sully and 3mm3! Yes, Sully, I'm running lots of carbon right now. I generally don't use carbon at all because it always seems to irritate my tangs, but always have some on hand for days like this.

 

[Maximus]

Ouch, sorry to hear this. How old was the heater?

 

[LostInTheDark]

Sorry to hear this. It seems like heaters are the cause of so many tank crashes. Luckily mine went in the water change bucket and only cost me some clean water. You'd think after so many years of keeping fish tanks they would be able to make a reliable heater that just shuts down without destroying the tank.
Good luck. I hope everything pulls through.

 

[Reef man 89]

Man that sucks but hope everyone is ok

 

[11f150]

Hows it looking this morning?

 

[psirex]

One of my top fears....... The reason I use Finnex titanium heaters.....

 

[jenreefer]

Wow, sorry for the loss. As I read through your posts, I cringe, knowing that it could happen to any of us at any time. Good luck with the recovery. keep us posted.

 

[Valkyrie]

So sorry for yet another heater causing grief! Mine didn't shut off or explode but it got over 100F and killed my fish and live rock.

I hope to read that everyone recovers and soon!

 

[Frop]

I have been keeping aquariums of the salt and freshwater variety for approximately 30 years, and today was a first for me. Upon arriving home I smelled something that strikes fear into the heart of any homeowner connected to "the grid." The smell of burned electronics. Fearing an electrical fire, I rushed downstairs and instead of a fire, saw a VERY angry looking aquarium. Cloudy water, shriveled up corals, and hiding fish. On investigation, I found that my Eheim glass heater had pretty much snapped itself in two and had shut itself down. By the smell, I'm sure it spent a good amount of time spewing smoke into the water before it shut off. Fortunately, I think it happened fairly close to when I got home because the water was still warm.

I have already done a 30% water change, and will do another in about 3 hours. Unfortunately, that is the full capacity of containers I have per water change. I have tested for copper and find none. Again, unfortunately, I do not have easy access to polyfilter (note: if you keep a reef, you should really always have some on hand). I have tripled up on carbon. I replaced the heater.

Fish are already coming out of hiding. Corals are still all closed up. Snails, crabs, and starfish are still alive. Water is starting to clear up. I have not heard my pistol shrimp snap all night. I never see him but often hear him so I fear he's a goner.

I will continue to provide updates as the story develops. In the meantime, any other suggestions?

How many watts to what size tank? I am going to run an undersized heater on my tank I didn't know if it would stress my heater out being on more than average.

 

[LostInTheDark]

One of my top fears....... The reason I use Finnex titanium heaters.....

Funny you should mention them. Thats what shorted out in my Brute. Didn't explode but leaked black ooze into the water with a nasty smell.

 

[Be102]

Everyone here now has me worried about my Jaeger 200W

 

[Lowstorm]

I'm thinking, from what you're describing and what happened to me a few months back it may have electrocuted the tank.

Good luck either way. Baby everything and you should be able to save it. I still have things coloring back up from my accident

 

[briancarterkc]

Ouch, sorry to hear this. How old was the heater?

The heater was about 15 months old. I'll be replacing annually from now on.

 

[briancarterkc]

Sorry to hear this. It seems like heaters are the cause of so many tank crashes. Luckily mine went in the water change bucket and only cost me some clean water. You'd think after so many years of keeping fish tanks they would be able to make a reliable heater that just shuts down without destroying the tank.
Good luck. I hope everything pulls through.

Thanks! Yeah, it's definitely one of those thing I see happen to other people and assumed it wouldn't happen to me. Lesson learned.