Epic Aquarium Heater Fails And How To Avoid Them
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Aquarium heaters combine water, heat and electricity, so a failure can kill fish or, in the worst cases, damage your home. Most heater accidents are preventable with a few simple habits.
Unplug Before You Reach In
Unplug every aquarium appliance before you put your hands in the water. The Fluval heater manual also says to unplug the heater and let it cool for at least 30 minutes before taking it out of the water.
Lower water levels during a water change can leave part of a running heater exposed, so switch it off before you drain. Don't plug it back in until the tank is refilled to the water level the heater's manual requires.
Use a Drip Loop
Let each power cord hang down below the outlet before it rises to the plug. Water running down the cord then drips off the bottom of the loop instead of reaching the outlet.
If a plug or outlet does get wet, don't pull the plug. Switch off the circuit breaker or fuse first, then unplug and check for water.
Plug Into a GFCI Outlet
A ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) cuts power quickly when current leaks to water or a person. The Aquatop heater manual says aquarium equipment should be on a GFCI-protected circuit and recommends having an electrician install one if you don't have it.
Watch the Temperature
A heater that sticks "on" can cook a tank, and one that fails "off" can chill tropical fish. Keep a separate thermometer in the tank and check it every day.
An external temperature controller adds a second layer of protection. On larger tanks, two smaller heaters are safer than one big one, since one failure won't overheat or chill the tank as fast.
Inspect and Replace
Check heaters for cracks, water inside the tube, damaged cords and mineral buildup. Replace any heater that shows damage or behaves oddly.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for sizing, minimum water level and cleaning.
