Heater touching return pumps

[Nick Steele]

Okay so I just added a sicce 1.5 (still have stock 326 also) to my Nuvo 20 along with rfg from vca. Only issue I ran into is the heater is a little big and it needs to be squeezed in between the two pumps and it is touching both plastic backs of the pumps. Will this be an issue over time?

 

[vetteguy53081]

It can be be and the fact that you made this posting indicates that you identify a potential risk
I would either place heater in tank or relocate as best as possible

 

[Nick Steele]

@vetteguy53081
Well tbh I’m really just not sure. I have the same heater on my freshwater tank and it’s sitting on a sponge filter and it has never melted it or affected it but just was curious on others experience with this.

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

the difference is that the sponge filter is porous and water can still move around the heater. With the plastic from the pumps against the heater, that part of the heater heats up differently than the rest of the heater. This temperature difference can cause the glass on the heater to fail and then zaps are on the way. Just because it hasn't gone wrong yet doesn't mean that you're in the clear

 

[Potatohead]

Aside from it touching the pumps, don't put the heater in the return section unless it is flat against the bottom. Put it upstream in the sump somewhere else.

 

[Nick Steele]

Okay consensus is it’s a no go time to find a new alternative then. This should be fun, heater won’t go into the tank so might need a new one then. For now the heater is off and I’ll keep an eye on the temp as I’m home till Monday.

Aside from it touching the pumps, don't put the heater in the return section unless it is flat against the bottom. Put it upstream in the sump somewhere else.

this is hard to do as it’s an aio tank and have limited room.