Red Reefet
12/16/2006, 07:22 PM
This morning I had the sudden urge to check my tank. When I got over there I could smell a distinct burning smell coming from the tank. As luch would have it, our electrician friend was there for something else and is also a fish enthusiast. He checked a few things to make sure there was no shock danger and couldn't determine the source of the smell. About five minutes later my clownfish & hawk were on there sides with dark spots all over them. I freaked and quickly put them in a bucket with some water I was mixing for an up coming change.
So several hours & gallons later, we found the source. A stealth heater had gone bad. There were actually bubbles in the plastic on the body of it. They were supposed to be fully submersable, but it makes me wonder.
So this explains why I got a shock a few months ago, why my macro is almost dead, I have no pods anymore and all my shrimp, snails, crabs and clam died. I thought it was my nitrates, which were a little high, but not enough to kill. My tank was perfect for the last year until the last 6 months or so.
This evening, all the fish are still stressed but are swimming upright. I hope they make it.
Any reliable heater suggestions are appreciated.
ps. We're leaving for vacation next week. Can you imagine what could've happened??!!:eek2:
So several hours & gallons later, we found the source. A stealth heater had gone bad. There were actually bubbles in the plastic on the body of it. They were supposed to be fully submersable, but it makes me wonder.
So this explains why I got a shock a few months ago, why my macro is almost dead, I have no pods anymore and all my shrimp, snails, crabs and clam died. I thought it was my nitrates, which were a little high, but not enough to kill. My tank was perfect for the last year until the last 6 months or so.
This evening, all the fish are still stressed but are swimming upright. I hope they make it.
Any reliable heater suggestions are appreciated.
ps. We're leaving for vacation next week. Can you imagine what could've happened??!!:eek2: