Melted Plastic On Heater

BamboozleBean · May 15, 2020

Hey everybody,

The water level the back of my tank was lower than I thought, leaving a part of my heater exposed.
The part melted and fell off the heater, sometime within the last day or two and was sitting in the water. Only a small area was melted on the piece. Is this piece still safe to use, it’s the end cap of the heater. Will the water be okay? I have carbon running, and my corals aren’t showing any negative signs. I have no fish in the tank.

KimG · May 15, 2020

I would replace it immediately.
Depending on what part it was, it might no be a problem for the tanks inhabitants, but you don't want to run a defective heater. Just get a new one.

BamboozleBean · May 15, 2020

KimG said:
I would replace it immediately.
Depending on what part it was, it might no be a problem for the tanks inhabitants, but you don't want to run a defective heater. Just get a new one.

Gotcha, what about the water?

fishguy242 · May 15, 2020

hi no ,not safe ,unplug,new heater,even if part goes back on ,can fail at any time ,heaters are cheap,corals and fire hazzard are not, sorry ,happy reefing

KimG · May 15, 2020

BamboozleBean said:
Gotcha, what about the water?

Depends on what failed and where. If the water was not exposed to anything that would be toxic to the fish and no electricity "leaked" you should be fine. Just keep an eye on it.

BamboozleBean · May 15, 2020

KimG said:
Depends on what failed and where. If the water was not exposed to anything that would be toxic to the fish and no electricity "leaked" you should be fine. Just keep an eye on it.

It was an external part that had no actual function, it then fell into the water because the spot where it was attached melted. I’m just worried the chemicals from plastic could have gone into the water from that.

Flippers4pups · May 15, 2020

BamboozleBean said:
It was an external part that had no actual function, it then fell into the water because the spot where it was attached melted. I’m just worried the chemicals from plastic could have gone into the water from that.

For peace of mind, water change and some GAC.

If it got that hot to melt plastic, then I agree to discontinue using it and replace it.