The heater in my tank shuts off for no reson sometimes and lets the water get cold. Other times it just works. Any ideas?
2007-01-19 06:01:10 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
almost all pet shops use OVERHEAD heating for their tanks-it's very unwise and expensive to use a heater in each tank. No one who REALLY owns a shop uses separate heaters in every tank.. You didn't say what the high and low temps in your tank are-is the thermostat setting on the heater too low? Sometimes moisture /condensation forms inside the heater and this might cause problems ie open circuits.-Try this: turn it off. Let it cool & remove it from the tank. Open it by carefully turning the top.There usually is 1 wire easily seen-make sure it has not become disconnected at the point where it was soldered to.Sometimes a vibration or movement in tank causes the wire to kiss where it broke-that's why u might hav that on/off problem...Did you just recently set this heater up? Did you follow the instructions correctly? Is it brand new? If all else fails, you should buy a new heater. What wattage? Five watts per gallon of water.
2007-01-20 14:22:03 · answer #1 · answered by antonio bigfish baccala 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
How old is your heater? They only last 3-7 years on average. (Be thankful it is malfunctioning by turning off rather than cooking your tank!). It sounds as though it's time for it to be replaced. Be sure that the replacement is 3-5 watts/gallon (that is if your tank is 30 gallon, the heater should be a 100 or 150 watt). If you have a tank bigger than 30 gallon, get two heaters that add up to the correct wattage (that would be 2-50 watt or 2-75 watt for the 30 gallon in the example above). It may cost a little more, but by doing this, if one heater stops working the other will provide some heat till you can get a replacement (and if it sticks in the "on" position, a smaller heater will be less likely to cook the fish.
2007-01-19 14:36:38 · answer #2 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All heaters eventually fail, I would replace it ASAP. Once the thermostat starts sticking there is not much you can do. A real danger exists for your fishes if it gets stuck in the on position, think bouillabaisse.
Anyway I like to run two heaters in my tanks. It provides even heat distribution throughout the tank, and it ensures you always have a spare ready to go
Good Luck!
2007-01-19 14:14:46 · answer #3 · answered by Saltwater Fish Guy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You cant cheap out on a heater, in that case, you really get what you pay for. Buy a new heater with actual temperature settings on it, I've found that the pre-set heaters almost never work.
2007-01-19 14:07:53 · answer #4 · answered by brandi91082 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Right now Im maintaining about 75 tanks, and on the majority of them that the heaters die out on, are the ones that you clip to the back of the tank. I really prefer the submirsible heaters (they go completley underwater, you can hide them well, behind plants, driftwood or rocks in back of tank. (as aposed to the other ones. They are a little more expensive but its been my experience that the thermostates in them are more accurate and hold the temp better. (They like all, will eventually wear out, but seem to last longer)
2007-01-19 14:12:03 · answer #5 · answered by intense 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Let me guess, you got the cheapest one possible?
Buy a new one, a heater malfuntion killed all my fish exept my least favorite
2007-01-19 14:07:26 · answer #6 · answered by Skittles 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get a new heater.
2007-01-19 14:05:13 · answer #7 · answered by jamie c 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋