Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => Fish Tanks and Equipment => Topic started by: Wilwa on November 22, 2016, 10:02:48 AM

Title: Forgot to turn of heater during WC
Post by: Wilwa on November 22, 2016, 10:02:48 AM

Hi all!

I just did a water change. Figured I changed maybe around 30%. It took just a couple of minutes but, I remembered just when I was done that I had forgotten to turn of the pump and heater.

Should I be worried about the heater? Like I said it took just a couple of minutes and I didn't change more than about 30%. The heater is the standard one that comes along with a Juwel Rio.

The pump inlet was above water line but it seem to do fine just now anyway. I think I'm more worried about the heater since I've heard so much about them bursting and breaking when it isn't submerged in water.

Thanks in advance!

Title: Re: Forgot to turn of heater during WC
Post by: Paddyc on November 22, 2016, 10:37:14 AM

Most heaters have the heater elements at the bottom of the glass tube so is there a chance the water level had dropped as low as this? If not, you should be fine...

If we could see a pic of your tank that shows the heater it would help massively...

Title: Re: Forgot to turn of heater during WC
Post by: Sue on November 22, 2016, 11:29:23 AM

The heater in the Rios is inside the filter box so a photo wouldn't show it.

As Paddy says, it is the part where the heating element is that needs to be under water when it is switched on. I've just looked at Juwel's website and the heaters have changed since I had my Rio 125. The photo on the website shows the bottom section with lots of little holes (they were just plain black glass when I had mine) so as long as all that 'holey' part was under water it should be OK.

Title: Re: Forgot to turn of heater during WC
Post by: Andy The Minion on November 22, 2016, 12:32:24 PM

Like the others I think it should be okay, run your hand down it when it is on for a good long time and see if it is warm (or if there is a HSE inspector present, touch it 1second after switching it off) I think the most likely cause of failure is when they get stinking hot and then cooled rapidly when dunked in water and the glass fracturs. The fact that it was partially covered probably saved you. :)

Title: Re: Forgot to turn of heater during WC
Post by: Sue on November 22, 2016, 12:36:26 PM

And of course it may not have actually been on during the water change. As the heater is inside the filter box you can't see the light to see whether it is on or off at any particular moment.

Title: Re: Forgot to turn of heater during WC
Post by: Matt on November 22, 2016, 05:32:16 PM

is your tank temperature still correct following the water change?

Title: Re: Forgot to turn of heater during WC
Post by: Wilwa on November 22, 2016, 06:18:41 PM

Hi again!

I think that the bottom of the heater would've been under water, can't imagine that I changed that much water that it wouldn't.

The heater is working, since the temp has risen to normal levels after the water change so I don't think anything happened, I hope.

Thanks so much for your input and time. I'm still all new to keeping an aquarium and it was the first time I forgot to turn off equipment whilst changing.

Thanks again!