WATCH YOUR HEATERS!

First topic message reminder :

I am already hearing sad stories about fish frying. WATCH YOUR heaters . This is the time of the year that you will see those heaters malfunction.

As some of you may know. I do not use heaters and most experianced breeders do not. Death by heater is the reason why.

Just a heads up. Don't want to hear any sad stories!

im already used to heaters so... i try to keep the temp bet. 78 and 80

KMX wrote:

PS.... most people think you have to have your cichlid water at 78-80... Not true!

In lake Malawi the avg temp is 72 °F
Victoria sometimes goes below 70°F
Tang (72 °F), year round average.

Most of my tanks sit in this range. Breeding does not stop over here.

Lake Malawi:
Area 11,430 Sq.Miles.
Maximum Depth About 2,300 Feet
Clarity Up To 70 feet
pH 7.7 to 8.6
Total Hardness 4.0 to 6.0º H
Carbonate Hardness 6.0 to 8.0
Surface Temperature 76 to 85º F
Deep Water Temp. 69º F

Lake Tanganika:
Area 12,700 Sq. Miles
Maximum Depth Over 4,700 Feet
Clarity Up To 70 Feet
pH 8.6 - 9.5
Total Hardness 11 - 17 ºH
Carbonate Hardness 16 - 19 ºH
Surface Temperature 76 to 85º F
Deep Water Temp. About 70º F

Surface layers go down to around 250 ft - deep water layer is beneath that.

Most cichlids that aquariasts keep are in that surface layer. So temps should be kept at 75-84F for Malawi and 76-85F for Tang.

Make sure you know which layer in the water column that the information is discussing. Your fish species may not be from that part of the water column.

I did say avg.

Not all Cichlids are found on the surface. Frontosas are found in the deeeepest Parts of Tang. Some keep them with other Africans and temps of 80+.

Everyone is different in what they do. I did not say do what I do... I was just making a point which is 100% true. That The avg temps of the lakes are not 78-80 all year around. Africa dose have a winter just like the USA. Not as bad but it dose get chilly.

I do not use heaters b/c I want to controll what happens in my fish tank. I can not controll a heater when it desicdes to fry all my fish. Just me.

I do supplement with a space heater when it get wicked cold. Having most of your tanks in one room is a big plus when it comes to heating!

Yes siR!...and Mam!

All i know is i have been into aquatics since 1978 and have never fried a fish .As long as you check your tanks like you should there should never be a problem. I check my temp every day some times a few times a day and always have my hands in the tanks either cleanign stuff or changing decor

That is why 11 of my 12 tanks are in one room with an electric space heat as I have oil heat. I keep a heater in the 55 in the living room and check the temp quite often (paranoid). Being I have mostly SA that need higher temps all my tanks stay about 76-78 (depending on size of the tank). My oil bill has dropped dramatically because I can keep the house cooler.My electric bill has gone up just a couple of dollars if that.

Weather you have been in since 1901 or 2001. You may have never had a heater problem...you may have had 20... I dunno. I have a few problems myself and herd of a lot of stories about others. I don't take the chance. Just me. Everyone has there way of doing it.

I must just be lucky with heaters then just saying never had any problems and with my house at 68 i need them

do i have to use a heater? & what should the temp be?

wildbet04 wrote:

do i have to use a heater? & what should the temp be?

That would depend on what you are keeping and what temp your water stays at without a heater.

Just 2c from me.

Regardless of which brand heater you use I would say to follow some precautions.

Even if the instructions say you don't have to, I think you should always unplug the heater before a water change, and let it cool down for ten minutes before you drain the water below the heater.

Same with refilling. Refill the water, and wait several minutes before plugging the heater back in. Give the thing a chance to adjust to each temp change you put it through!

The life of the heater will be much extended if you take care of it.

Boisterous fish can knock out a heater, too. Banging the heater around and not storing it properly can ruin it, too. You need to take care!

I've used Marineland Stealth heaters since they hit the market and before that the old model, Visi-therm. I prefer the black, shielded heaters to the glass ones, hands down. They look better and are safer, IMO.

It's been almost 12 years and never a problem like the ones I heard here on this thread, except once with an old Visi-therm. That time, I realized it was overheating and cut it off in time. To be fair, though, I think it was my fault, as I had mis-handled the heater during a pwc. I knocked it around a bit!

A couple times the heaters just quit working, but didn't overheat. Marineland has the best customer service - any problem at all, they mail you a new heater, and don't argue with you. That has been my experience with them. The times my heaters quit I just called them and a new one was on the way, tout de suite!

Some folks don't need heaters, or prefer to heat the room, instead. This is great where it applies. Most of my aquariums are in a room that is not heated. Don't know why - that's the way the house was built. As a result, heaters are needed.

Great discussion, folks!

x3!



Although some of my heaters still failed and thats why I am now using a floor heater. 20 tanks and no heaters.

I turned on the floor heater last night and 2 hours later my Lemon Jakes were breeding

Got to love the Lemon Jakes!

KMX wrote:

Although some of my heaters still failed and thats why I am now using a floor heater. 20 tanks and no heaters.

That's a great system and it's working for you. Even in England, where it's cold most of the time, some folks use a big space heater in an outside shed type fishroom. I know some Corydoras folks that do this.

Marineland PRO Stealth Heater Voluntary Recall.

A letter from PetSmart to their customers is being posted in various fish forums on the web. Here is the letter:


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

Thanks for the info Kory

Props goes to D'Claro for sending it to me.

I will post a thread so everyone can see.

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?s=31f734ff5e303068e08735b52b7d063e&showtopic=263103&pid=3229303&st=0&#entry3229303
marinland to recall all stealth heaters!
they ask those who have em in their tanks to pull em out!

incase you all haven't seen this.

wow