Titanium Heater Bubbling

[LagunaGlide]

I noticed my titanium heater bubbling from the cord hole today. I’ve not noticed it before, and wasn’t sure if this was something I should be concerned with.
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[painter1982]

Probably just water going in and air going out. Up to you if that’s a bad thing. Usually you don’t want water with electricity. Especially if the water isn’t pure. Then it conducts electricity.

 

[BryanM]

Paranoid here, that heaters OUT of my tank instantly.

 

[LagunaGlide]

Paranoid here, that heaters OUT of my tank instantly.

It came out. I have another, and I put it in water and it also bubbled. Of course, the second one was dry, so maybe that makes sense, but the first one has been in the water non stop for at least a few months.

 

[LagunaGlide]

Probably just water going in and air going out. Up to you if that’s a bad thing. Usually you don’t want water with electricity. Especially if the water isn’t pure. Then it conducts electricity.

If the heater has been under water in the sump for a few month, I would think there wouldn’t be any more air in there. Just not sure how these bubbles are created and if it possibly leaching something.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Take the heater out. It is failing. Tiny bits of water get in and turn to steam during the heating cycle. The pressure pushes the steam out. It will get worse and is going to fail catastrophically. Take it out and throw it away.

 

[BeanAnimal]

It came out. I have another, and I put it in water and it also bubbled. Of course, the second one was dry, so maybe that makes sense, but the first one has been in the water non stop for at least a few months.

What brand of heater?

The proper way to install them is in a compartment where the water level stays constant and can’t drop. Attach the heater so that the head is out of the water. That way water can’t get in.

A common failure mode of submerged heaters is seal failure due to thermal cycling of the seal.

 

[LagunaGlide]

What brand of heater?

The proper way to install them is in a compartment where the water level stays constant and can’t drop. Attach the heater so that the head is out of the water. That way water can’t get in.

A common failure mode of submerged heaters is seal failure due to thermal cycling of the seal.

They are both Finnex 500+. They are so long I don't think I could put them in the sump and have way too much of it exposed. So I fully submerge horizontally.

Does it matter if titanium heaters are not straight up and down or horizontal?

Either way, I ordered 2 new heaters, that are shorter.

 

[js-3Design]

just put the tip of your nose in the water close to the heater, if it tingles it leaks electricity. thats how I found out my aqua medic titanium was on the verge of breaking down... it did explain the heavy metals in the water though:)