Should I use this heater still?

rbraunberger · Jun 23, 2016

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/finnex-th-deluxe-titanium-heating-element-with-plastic-guard.html

Hey all,

SO.......I was cleaning my sump out last night, and unplugged all my equipment. I forgot I had a backup heater on a different plug and it was out of the water for about a minute. The plastic guard melted a bit, and the smell was what triggered my memory of this pump on another outlet. Should I junk this heater, or can I just remove the plastic guard and use still? The heater is only a week old. Thanks!!

Lionfish Lair · Jun 23, 2016

I'd keep it.

twilliard · Jun 23, 2016

It's about how you feel
If it still heats it may be ok as it is controlled external
Now not sure how the seals are though if there is damage where water can enter.

rbraunberger · Jun 23, 2016

twilliard said:
It's about how you feel
If it still heats it may be ok as it is controlled external
Now not sure how the seals are though if there is damage where water can enter.

is there a good way to inspect those to make sure safe?

Lionfish Lair · Jun 23, 2016

It's a titanium heater. What melted was the plastic "disposable" guard.

rbraunberger · Jun 23, 2016

Lionfish Lair said:
It's a titanium heater. What melted was the plastic "disposable" guard.

yes...it is titanium, and just the guard melted a bit...not to bad. I was thinking I could just take it off, or would it even matter if it is underwater.

twilliard · Jun 23, 2016

As long as there is no damage to the end cap where the wire goes in. You can leave the gourd on if it's not fully touching the element

Lionfish Lair · Jun 23, 2016

That cap is exposed to air under normal operation, so it wouldn't be affected.

jason2459 · Jun 23, 2016

I would Toss it. No aquarium heater should be kept if it's heating element was in use and exposed to air.

Lionfish Lair · Jun 23, 2016

You've never accidently left the heater out of the water during a water change? I gotta say, I've done it enough for you and I. I just make sure I don't put it back in the water until it completely cools (not that I need to with a titanium one, I guess).

Lionfish Lair · Jun 23, 2016

I emailed Finnex.

jason2459 · Jun 23, 2016

Lionfish Lair said:
You've never accidently left the heater out of the water during a water change? I gotta say, I've done it enough for you and I. I just make sure I don't put it back in the water until it completely cools (not that I need to with a titanium one, I guess).

Is that question for me? No, I've never left a heater out during a water change. But I can totally understand that it can easily happen. If it was on and it was hot and it was exposed to air, I would toss it or reserve it to a mixing container. I wouldn't put it where it can cause harm to me or the tank.

Lionfish Lair · Jun 23, 2016

It was kind of a rhetorical question

I guess having done it so often with every type of heater out there over the years, I feel the risk of harm isn't an actual issue to worry about.

Hopefully Finnex will weigh in with their recommendation. If they say to toss, I would. If they say to keep it, I would.

Lionfish Lair · Jun 23, 2016

Howard from Finnex said it was safe to use. He said you can remove the guard if it's warped, but the heater itself will be fine.

Kungpaoshizi · Jun 23, 2016

:/
I think Howard from Finnex doesn't want to process a RMA..

I wouldn't use it. I've done it before, and tossed the heater directly in the trash. Many of the horrible accidents in our tanks are often avoidable, but many don't act upon the signs.(I'm guilty of that for sure

)

Just my .02$ though..

Lionfish Lair · Jun 23, 2016

Kungpaoshizi said:
:/
I think Howard from Finnex doesn't want to process a RMA..

That's an odd thing to say about a company that hasn't been known for bad service or products.

jason2459 · Jun 23, 2016

Lionfish Lair said:
That's an odd thing to say about a company that hasn't been known for bad service or products.

The heater maybe just fine. My concern is that to me the heater is one of the more dangerous and deadly components in our systems. There are many heater failure threads out there and they usually involve tank's breaking, nuking and killing off inhabitants, and/or electrocution. Edit: oh and fire like burning a house down.

Plus, what was done wouldn't be covered under warranty and no RMA would be issued.

luke33 · Jun 23, 2016

I would definitely risk thousands of dollars for a $30 heater........

Lionfish Lair · Jun 23, 2016

Wow. Ok.

Kungpaoshizi · Jun 24, 2016

One of the things I hate about the hobby.. The gray added builtin mechanisms to CAUSE a failure, or alert, telling you to replace it.
Like ball joints on my car, who makes this stuff!

I guess it's just one reason I use 2 undersized heaters, with their own thermostat, controlled by a temp controller. In the event of a failure, neither is powerful enough to nuke the tank, and neither is small enough to allow temp to drop like a rock.