Am I cooking my fishes?

[jozevweise]

I got home from work tonight and the tank was kinda cool, so I plugged in the heater, and the entire thing keeps lighting up. it fades in and out about every 15 sec. I have never seen it do this before, but I do not use it that often. Is it broken? I unplugged it for now.

 

[GIS Guy]

I would say the heater is malfunctioning.
I've never seen anything that bad.
You may want to be worried that it might heat up and cool and crack/shatter.
Definitely replace it!

 

[MissFishy]

Yikes, looks like something is wrong with it. If you've just purchased it, take it back to the store and show them. If not, time to get a new one for sure! I would be worrying about shocking your fish!

 

[Katie217]

Ah! That doesnt look good at all, I'd get a new one

 

[Truckmuddr]

can you adjust the temp on that one?? cause with mine, if I turn it up it will do that, how else is it gonna heat the water.

In the summer I don't use my heater, it stays at 80°. one night I left my windows open cause it was cold out and my tank dropped 5° in 2 hours so I put the heater in and it was doin the same thing. it would glow for a few secs, then shut off, then repeat. but now that it's at the temp. it's set at, it doesn't do it anymore.

Just a thought.

 

[Grumpy_Marine]

that is bright.... mine has a little orange light come on when it heats the water, but just a led light not the actual coils... have you ever let it run when not submerged? did a w/c with it plugged in could cause it to malfunction probably, not for sure, but i would stop using it, if you need emergency heating for the meantime i would take trip to wally world and buy cheap small one to help a little.

 

[Truckmuddr]

gotta ask yourself, is it really that bright or was the shutter slow on the camara, by the looks of the picture, I'd say the shutter was slow.

 

[Lonewolfblue]

I would agree, if you can adjust the temp and it turns on and off properly, it's fine. I do have 1 heater that looks pretty bright, as it's glass and is not painted or anything to hide the true look of the coils. Just keep a close eye on it if you are going to use it.

 

[tropicalfish]

WOAH! It looks like the HEATING ELEMENTS are lighting up!!! is that true?
If it is, you are most definitely going to fry your fish!
What brand heater? I recommend Visi-Therm

 

[Truckmuddr]

umm, heating elements do that. If yours is clear, turn the setting up and turn all the lights off. I'll bet it glows also.

 

[tropicalfish]

well, I never noticed it...
It may glow the teeniest amount, but not to the point where it looks like a lightbulb!

 

[Orion]

I've never seen one get so bright that it was easily noticeable. Heaters can be fickle things anyway IMO. If I ever have a doubt about a heater of mine, then I try to replace it asap. Yeah, I worry more than I should probably, but it is part of the life support system.

 

[Katie217]

none of my heaters glow THAT MUCH, that looks like its burning...i strongly reccomend getting another heater ASAP

 

[Truckmuddr]

This is what I'm talkin about. If I turn mine up higher then current temp mine will glow also. and like I said shutter speed makes it looks worse.

Turn your lights off, and turn you heater up for about 30 secs, you will see it glow if it's clear glass. Mine done that since I got it, and it hold a temp perfectly.

 

[Truckmuddr]

90% of all heating elements glow not just for tanks. Look into a hair dryer, they glow. how else do you think they give off heat?!?