Feeling lucky today, possible crisis averted

Oldsman · Feb 18, 2021

I should grab a lotto ticket today.. I possibly averted a future problem. I was spot feeding the corals in the biocube , and always turn off pump and powerhead . After everyone was fed I was looking over the cord going to hydor nano , and spotted a worn spot in insulation. what the heck...
Looks like our urchin was eating the covering , and the inner wire was showing!!!! I confess, I didn't install the wire wrap before..oops
Figuring better not risk future chance of getting zapped or killing the tank ..i tossed the ph. I just ordered a SLW 20 to replace it

lapin · Feb 18, 2021

Good choice

Mical · Feb 18, 2021

There was a member a while ago said his skimmer quit, turns out an urchin which he placed in sump chewed through wiring... Scary stuff

Oldsman · Feb 19, 2021

Guess just concretes idea of always looking over equipment while doing normal tank maintenance to avoid issues later . I've read so many posts about stray voltage , it really sank in after spotting the damage.
Stay safe reefers

ID-Reefer · Feb 19, 2021

Love Urchins. Have a beautiful Blue Spot Flame Urchin. Ive had for about 3 weeks and most of the time he is well behaved but the first week he mowed over a Lepto nearly killing it (Its coming back now). 2nd week he took out a frag with about 8 zoanthid heads on it. Then a few days ago he chewed up about an inch of an Acro I have. He is now in the sump and going back to the LFS tomorrow. I don't think they necessarily want to eat these things but they seem to get in an eating mode and whatever they run across gets eaten too. I fed him almost daily with Nori so I know he was well fed. Fortunately I have no wires in the tank (use MP40s) or Id probably have a similar issue with that.