Heater just blewup.

[dennism]

My heater blew up so to speak.
I heard a pop and have a burnt smell around the aquarium. It blew the GFCI I saw the heater and it didnt explode but the top separated from the glass tube but all internal components were still captive in the tube. I have a few turbo snails and 2 clowns that appear to be doing ok. Are there any dangerous elements in a heater that may kill the fish? I dont have anything that can test for trace metals if so.ill monitor the fish if they start looking stressed I'll put them In a temporary holding container while i do a 50% water change.

 

[geddavis]

Pull out the heater do a 50% change and vacuum out the sump. Watch fish closely. In some heaters there can be toxic chemicals.

 

[Silver14SS]

Maybe run carbon if you think there may be some contaminants?

 

[Cell]

What brand is it? Going to avoid that one...

 

[Gareth elliott]

You can run some carbon or polyfilter. there are always weird metals in equipment. But your gfci did its job and saved the bigger danger, electric shock :)

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

Water change and carbon if you have it. Everyone will be fine.

 

[Gareth elliott]

What brand is it? Going to avoid that one...

Any heater can fail. Read reviews on even the supposed best, you will see occurrences of heaters failing catastrophically.
Best bet would be redundancy, heater on a temperature controller and an electrical probe in the water.

The safest option is honestly no heater and a keeping the room through a thermostat at the temperature you want the reef to be. Also the most expensive option.

 

[Cell]

Any heater can fail. Read reviews on even the supposed best, you will see occurrences of heaters failing catastrophically.
Best bet would be redundancy, heater on a temperature controller and an electrical probe in the water.

The safest option is honestly no heater and a keeping the room through a thermostat at the temperature you want the reef to be. Also the most expensive option.

All heaters can and will fail. I dont believe all heaters can literally fall apart into your tank. I could totally be wrong though.

 

[Gareth elliott]

All heaters can and will fail. I dont believe all heaters can literally fall apart into your tank. I could totally be wrong though.

If you take apart any of the glass heaters the thermostats are all very delicate. Add its in a glass tube, that can scratch and sound travels well through. It doesnt take a lot for any of them to think its a lot colder stay on, and pop.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Pull out the heater do a 50% change and vacuum out the sump. Watch fish closely. In some heaters there can be toxic chemicals.

Maybe run carbon if you think there may be some contaminants?

You can run some carbon or polyfilter. there are always weird metals in equipment. But your gfci did its job and saved the bigger danger, electric shock :)

+1 best advice to follow.

 

[MCooper]

How did your tank hold up? My heater blew the other night sadly and every single coral is dead. 90% of my fish are dead and now a few remaining that I still think will die. So sad.

 

[ca1ore]

Somebody noted it earlier, but having a polyfilter on hand for these kinds of emergencies is wise.