It finally happened to me... heater malfunction

[Fish Keeper82]

So i set up my QT a month ago and yesterday i bought a Yellow watchman goby and a banded high fin goby and got them started in a QT together. So since its a 10 gallon QT its very simplistic, power head and heater. I just happened to touch the glass ( i cant remember why it must have been on accident) and it felt way hotter than it should. So i got a child's head thermometer and it said 92 degrees. :sad2:

I pulled out the heater and threw in the only source of coolant i had a six pack of beer what was i the fridge. I stole my thermometer from my DT and its now in my QT it read 93 degrees. The fish some how are still alive and look good all things considered. Its slowly comming down now. At the moment its 87 degrees.
With some luck looks like they're going to make it. I must have caught it just in time. They are just slightly breathing harder than normal but not by much at all.
I'll have to pick up another heater tomorrow.
The one that failed was a Hydor 50 watt for up to 15 gal.

Any recomendations on a heater for a 10 gallon?

[toothybugs]

What would your temp be with ambient temps and heat from your pump? My QTs are normally okay at 75-76ish with pump temp warming them up from 71-72 ambient.

Also, what was that heater set to? Normally IME the thermostats are off by a good amount, 78 can actually be 83 and vice versa.

[Fish Keeper82]

Was set to 76.

I'll check to see what the temp is when i leave for work in the morning maybe i can get away with out one. I remeber the water being could before the heater though.I would guess about 70- 71. i didnt check it with the thermometer before i threw the heater in.
At the time of acclimation temp was 78 ish with heater.
I agree heaters can and usually are a bit off. But 93 from a setting of 76 and the heater was still on.