For some reason only my heater stopped working while everything else was function, i have no idea for how long but i was feeding and i realized how cold everything was. Tank is currently 66-68 degrees, all livestock are fine including coral frags. I got the heater to work again by plugging it out and back again. It's a Marineland heater. Tank water is not as clear as it should be. Idk what to do right now. Do I need to do water cahgne or can I just replace the heater. I'm waiting to see if the heater is raising the temp. Idk where the slight cloudiness is coming from, and I feel like the smell of the water is slightly diff.
Heater died!
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Test for ammonia and nitrates. If the temperature was that low for an extended period of time it is very possible that you have had some die off. A water change is never a bad idea in situations such as this.
As a side note, I don't know what wattage of a heater you purchased, but be careful not to shock anything by rapidly increasing the temperature
As a side note, I don't know what wattage of a heater you purchased, but be careful not to shock anything by rapidly increasing the temperature
Heater running rn and I feel like it is raising the temp and it’s going very slowly not dramatic , I didn’t tweak the heater to make it jitterbug left it as is. I don’t have salt water ready, I’m in the process of preparing right now, do you think the tank could pull through for another day? I’m still waiting patiently for water temp to rise because I don’t want to go crazy and throw in more heaters at once and shock everything
chipmunkofdoom2
Always Making Something
Regardless of how you handle the emergent situation of the temperature, I would replace the heater. That it failed once and started working again by just turning it on and off is not reassuring.
With regards to increasing the temperature, I would not do it very quickly. I lost power at the beginning of March and my tank's temperature dropped to the low 70*s. I started by raising the temperature 1*F per day for the first 3 days, then half a degree per day until I got back to the target temperature. I have a controller so this was easier, but still, even if you can't use that level of precision, I would not try to get the temp back to normal as soon as possible. You don't know how long the heater had been faulty. It's possible your animals have gotten somewhat used to this temperature.
Our animals can survive in an astounding range of parameters. What they cannot do, almost categorically, is survive sudden and fast changes. However you choose to raise your temperature, do it slowly and steadily, preferably over several days.
With regards to increasing the temperature, I would not do it very quickly. I lost power at the beginning of March and my tank's temperature dropped to the low 70*s. I started by raising the temperature 1*F per day for the first 3 days, then half a degree per day until I got back to the target temperature. I have a controller so this was easier, but still, even if you can't use that level of precision, I would not try to get the temp back to normal as soon as possible. You don't know how long the heater had been faulty. It's possible your animals have gotten somewhat used to this temperature.
Our animals can survive in an astounding range of parameters. What they cannot do, almost categorically, is survive sudden and fast changes. However you choose to raise your temperature, do it slowly and steadily, preferably over several days.
My tank is rising very very slowly and im letting it go as slowly as possible. I'm replacing the heater no matter what. But I think it was cause the plug may have gotten loose, but still im keeping an eye. And you're right, based off stories I have heard, I was genuinely surprised to see everyone doing fine and the corals to be completely fine as well. I did not expect that.
I won't be able to do a water change today, do you guys think I will be able to push it till tomorrow or wednesday? Water is still clear but just has a very light hint of cloudy. You wouldnt be able to tell unless you look at the tank in certain angles.
Thanks for the advice everyone
Anyone care to share their top heaters?
I somehow missed that you were using the same heater. Replacing it should be a priority. All of my tanks use titanium heaters controlled by apex. Assuming you do not have an apex I would recommend the connect titanium heaters with temperature controller
I somehow missed that you were using the same heater. Replacing it should be a priority. All of my tanks use titanium heaters controlled by apex. Assuming you do not have an apex I would recommend the connect titanium heaters with temperature controller
recess62
Well-Known Member
On a side note. It is always a good idea to run 2 heaters in the tank so if one should fail you won’t have a temp crash. I run 3 in my 90. I keep my house at 60 degrees so I want to have triple protection.
recess62
Well-Known Member
You set both heaters at the same temp. They both will cycle the same. They will both do 1/2 the work. The other way to do it is to set one lower so that it only comes in when the temp drops low. For example. Set one at 78. This would be your main heater. Then set one at 76. This would be your back up heater. Your back up heater would only kick on when the main heater is not able to maintain the tank temp.
Kershaw
Valuable Member
I have had my tank drop to 66 more then once. One time it was the heater when I was away from home. So it was 66 for a couple days. Everything looked ok and I got temp up. But I started losing coral over the next few days. But I have dropped the tank a few times when doing water changes in winter with out any issues.
I will do this for sure, thanks a lot! Right now everything is running fine, and further investigations makes it seem it mightve been a gfci trip or something. Water is completely fine, heater is in normal condition, nothing broken or leaking. No stray current in the water. Still replacing the heater no matter what.
Ouch, do you think my corals will survive? I feel like they should considering when theyre shipped all over the world and etc they face diff temperatures, right?
My tank temperature has been rising very slowly, I doubt by tonight it will reach 78. I purposely lowered the strength for the time being
Kershaw
Valuable Member
Sorry my point was that I think it has to do with length of time they are cold. If you caught it I’d say with in 24 hours your chances where better then mine that was 3 days. All my fish where fine. And I highly recommend running a back up heater.
Always run two heaters for redundancy. Always.
Heaters constantly fail -- They are the least reliable thing in our entire hobby. Always have backup heaters. I run two heaters and have two band new backup heaters in my fish box at all times. Whenever there's a sale on heaters, buy a couple spares. Some people replace their heaters every year or two because the longer they run, the more likely they will fail.
Here's the thing nobody tells you about this hobby; You need backup equipment. At all times everybody needs two things without exception -- Backup heaters (plural) and a backup return pump.
Outside of equipment, the other thing you always need to have on hand is Carbon. It's invaluable, and can solve almost any problem exceptionally quickly.
Heaters constantly fail -- They are the least reliable thing in our entire hobby. Always have backup heaters. I run two heaters and have two band new backup heaters in my fish box at all times. Whenever there's a sale on heaters, buy a couple spares. Some people replace their heaters every year or two because the longer they run, the more likely they will fail.
Here's the thing nobody tells you about this hobby; You need backup equipment. At all times everybody needs two things without exception -- Backup heaters (plural) and a backup return pump.
Outside of equipment, the other thing you always need to have on hand is Carbon. It's invaluable, and can solve almost any problem exceptionally quickly.
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