Finned heater mishap

[LOVEROCK]

Brand new dinner heater melted the plastic and rehardened , is this safe to use ?

 

[LOVEROCK]

Finnex “ @Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[LOVEROCK]

bump anyone guys , im trying to do a water change lol and need this heater , anyone used it and no issues ?

 

[attiland]

Brand new dinner heater melted the plastic and rehardened , is this safe to use ?

one way to find out put it in a bucket of water and test with a mustimeter against ground.
You might be ok but I would order a new heater now

 

[MTBake]

Can you remove whats left of the plastic cover and clean up the tube? Plastic cover isn't really needed if this is for a salt water mixing container or used in the sump.

 

[LOVEROCK]

Can you remove whats left of the plastic cover and clean up the tube? Plastic cover isn't really needed if this is for a salt water mixing container or used in the sump.

I could but there’s plastic residue stuck to the metal might be some left over

 

[LOVEROCK]

one way to find out put it in a bucket of water and test with a mustimeter against ground.
You might be ok but I would order a new heater now

I’m not worried about electric or anything just worried about melted plastic leaking something into water on the bucket

 

[BZOFIQ]

The heater might be damaged internally if its temperature got hot enough to melt the plastic externally.

I'd toss it.

 

[RedReefer]

I’m not worried about electric or anything just worried about melted plastic leaking something into water on the bucket

I just had the same thing happen the same heater. It got pulled out of the water and melted the plastic guard, I trashed it. I would not trust it. Coral and fish aren’t cheap. I ended up buying the new Hygger smart heater. It was close to 100 bucks but it has a failsafe for when it’s run dry, energy savings too.

 

[attiland]

I’m not worried about electric or anything just worried about melted plastic leaking something into water on the bucket

You won't know if electronics are still working unless testing them. Probably they do, but you won't able to trust it. I got into saltwater because of my heater failed. But you are already in so no point to risk match.
As per plastic I believe you would be fine

 

[LOVEROCK]

took off the plastic , but some plastic residue still stuck to it , will use once to heat up rodi water to mix , and order a new one , still wanting to hear from randy though

 

[Wiskey]

The heater might be damaged internally if its temperature got hot enough to melt the plastic externally.

I'd toss it.

This is what I was going to say. If the plastic on the outside melted, maybe something with the thermostat inside was damaged, or one of the seals could have melted. I wouldn't risk it for the cost of a heater.

Whiskey

 

[BZOFIQ]

This is what I was going to say. If the plastic on the outside melted, maybe something with the thermostat inside was damaged, or one of the seals could have melted. I wouldn't risk it for the cost of a heater.

Whiskey

Yeah, but the OP is missing the point and seems is only worried about the melted plastic releasing something into the water column. YOu can only give advice, you can't force anybody to follow it.

 

[LOVEROCK]

Yeah, but the OP is missing the point and seems is only worried about the melted plastic releasing something into the water column. YOu can only give advice, you can't force anybody to follow it.

hm sorry guys i missed that part , i understand , let me check the seals visibly with my eyes

 

[Simon Reefing]

My house usually brings the temp of the water by itself with no heater do you have sps?

 

[LOVEROCK]

My house usually brings the temp of the water by itself with no heater do you have sps?

yes i have sps , its 30 to 40 F around here, to keep my tank heated with just heat , the heat has to be high

 

[homer1475]

What finnex is this? Was it one with a thermostat, or just a titanium heating rod?

Been using finnex titanium heating rods(with no thermostat) for years with 0 issue with any of them. I only switch them out because I don't trust heaters over a year old, but all my old ones still work just fine(keep them as backups).

I always pull that plastic cage off. The old ones never had that junk.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

If this heater is being used in conjunction with an external controller then I’m sure it will be fine if you just removed as much of the plastic as possible. Other wise I would not throw away I would use as a spare if your not comfortable with it

 

[vetteguy53081]

What would I do? Assuming wAter level got low allowing the melt, clean up well and place heater Submersed in a bucket and test after 12 hrs to see if it’s maintains temperature and make a decision if it is actually working

 

[terraincognita]

Yeah it's really a question of the state of the heater components and not the plastic. IMO there's no reason that hardened plastic should now leak nutrients.

It was melted and hardened before, no difference. If you really were worried about lose plastic pieces, scrubbing it with a greenie would work.

To test if it works just put it in a bucket with a thermostat as well.

additionally people are mentioning worry about stray voltage, so you'd have to beware of that/check for it.

Otherwise it would be totally fine,

However seeing as a good heater is only $50.

And if you are a dedicated reefer you've got a couple grand sitting in that tank...

Why risk it for $50?

It's like driving 6,000 miles on the same oil wondering if you should change it yet.

Probably. You could probably make it to 10,000. but the OEM's recs are 5,000.