Stealth heater recall?

BlazinNano · Feb 13, 2011

Ok has anyone heard this it was posted in my local forum?

scuba taz said:
received this email from Petsmart.

February 11, 2011

Dear Valued PetSmart Pet Parent,

Marineland has issued a voluntary withdrawal of the Stealth PRO Submersible Heater (100, 200 and 250 watt). The product is being withdrawn due to a quality issue.

If you have this product, please stop using it immediately and take the following steps:

1. Unplug the heater from the wall to stop the flow of electricity
2. Let the heater cool for 15 minutes
3. Remove the heater from the tank

Please bring the product to your closest PetSmart for a full refund or exchange. Replace the product with a comparable heater as soon as possible to maintain the temperature of your aquarium. A PetSmart store associate can help you select the right heater for your aquatic environment.

If you have questions about this withdrawal, please call Marineland Customer Service at 800-526-0650 or 800-432-6986.

At PetSmart, we are concerned pet parents, too. We will continue to do everything we can to help you and your pet during this time.

Sincerely,

Debbie Gonzalez
Vice President, Brand and Customer Marketing

Please do not reply to this email as we are not able to respond to messages sent to this address. You can find answers to your questions or contact us through our Customer Service pages.

PetSmart, Inc., Attn: Customer Service, 1435 International Drive, Eau Claire, WI 54701.

Â© 2011 PetSmart Store Support Group, Inc./PetSmart, Inc. All rights reserved. PETSMART & Bouncing Ball Designs, PETSMART.COM, PETSMART CHARITIES, PETPERKS, PAWSPECTIVES & Designs are registered trademarks of PetSmart. PetSmart disclaims any proprietary interest in intellectual property

_Alex_ · Feb 13, 2011

i have been seeing it aroun on different forums. and i am not suprised by it. these heaters have been exploding and boiling tanks, so its about time they did somethign to fix it.

btkrausen · Feb 13, 2011

Yeah, I read this on RC and posted about it over there about it. Mine exploded and destroyed my sump, but luckily didn't kill any livestock with it.

dougers31 · Feb 15, 2011

Huh, seems like they're quality control is not good. I have a 150 watt stealth, hope it works....

fsu1dolfan · Feb 15, 2011

Wow i guess i will need to check which one i have in my tank. I think its a 150w as well but still scary stuff.

BlazinNano · Feb 15, 2011

I am taking mine out and exchanging then. I am not risking it.

gweston · Feb 15, 2011

Yes the recall is real.

Marineland will replace it with a Visitherm if you call them. Note however that the Visitherms cost a bit LESS than the Stealth Pro heaters cost when new. So I don't know if this is a fair one for one exchange. Some pet stores MAY exchange for store credit or another equivalent product. But it seems each store can treat the recall in a very different manner. Some will deny a recall, even though the product is no longer on their shelves. Others give equivalent store credit to do with as you please, etc.

I have THREE of these darn heaters. Two 300 watt new and unused, and a 150 watt about a year old. I honestly don't want a Visitherm. I have two untrustworthy visitherms that I use to heat my water change bucket. Both thermostats are hosed on each heater. If I set it to 76, the heaters heat into the mid 80's. I have to set them to their lowest possible temperature setting (68?), and it heats the water to the upper 70's.

Paul_N · Feb 15, 2011

This thread was started Sunday:

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/li...490-marineland-heater-recall-please-read.html

tangboy · Feb 15, 2011

Ahh man, now they come out with this. My tank got nuked just a few weeks ago because of an exploding stealth heater!

LeCorals81 · Feb 15, 2011

Thanks guys! I brought mine back to petsmart yesterday and they exchanged it for a fluval. I feel bad for anyone that had one explode!! :after_boom:

tangboy · Feb 15, 2011

when my exploded I was not happy. My corals were slimmed up BIG time and my clown didn't make it after a 90% WC. The only few corals to make it were some mushrooms, but they are just nubs and nothing more. Very sad!