"Cry" =( Heater Malfunction

I went out for a movie tonight. When I came home My fish were missing. I
found them on the mechanical intake. Water temp was 105.

Two dead clowns =(
4 turbo snails

Thats one hell of a way to start a hobby... or end it one.....

So my question is. After getting a new heater..... Will my cycle be okay
or did I kill all my bacteria to?


"James" wrote in message
. ..
I went out for a movie tonight. When I came home My fish were missing. I
found them on the mechanical intake. Water temp was 105.

Two dead clowns =(
4 turbo snails

Thats one hell of a way to start a hobby... or end it one.....

Give it a week before adding any more fish, and then if
amonia and nitrite are good, then start slowly stocking.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



James wrote on 11/6/2006 10:08 PM:
So my question is. After getting a new heater..... Will my cycle be okay
or did I kill all my bacteria to?


"James" wrote in message
. ..
I went out for a movie tonight. When I came home My fish were missing. I
found them on the mechanical intake. Water temp was 105.

Two dead clowns =(
4 turbo snails

Thats one hell of a way to start a hobby... or end it one.....

ALSO get a therometer, even though the heaters have a setting on top, make
sure when you set the heater at 74degrees that is actually 74 degrees. (
adjust accordingly)
"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
nk.net...
Give it a week before adding any more fish, and then if
amonia and nitrite are good, then start slowly stocking.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



James wrote on 11/6/2006 10:08 PM:
So my question is. After getting a new heater..... Will my cycle be
okay
or did I kill all my bacteria to?


"James" wrote in message
. ..
I went out for a movie tonight. When I came home My fish were missing.
I
found them on the mechanical intake. Water temp was 105.

Two dead clowns =(
4 turbo snails

Thats one hell of a way to start a hobby... or end it one.....

"James" wrote in message . ..
I went out for a movie tonight. When I came home My fish were missing.
I found them on the mechanical intake. Water temp was 105.

Well, that was a way too strong heater if it was able to rise
water temperature of the whole tank 30 degree in 2-3 hours...

What wattage was it and how big is the tank ?

200 watt in a 37 gal tank


"Pszemol" wrote in message
...
"James" wrote in message
. ..
I went out for a movie tonight. When I came home My fish were missing.
I found them on the mechanical intake. Water temp was 105.

Well, that was a way too strong heater if it was able to rise
water temperature of the whole tank 30 degree in 2-3 hours...

What wattage was it and how big is the tank ?

"James" wrote in message ...
200 watt in a 37 gal tank

Try 50W heater next time.
It will be enough for such a small tank!

If you are afraid 50W will not be enough
(like because you keep thermostat really low
in your fish room) than get 2 heaters, 50W each
instead of one 75W or 100W.

If one 50W fails stuck or open the second will
work OK and turns itself on/off as needed,
minimalizing temperature difference effects...

James wrote:
200 watt in a 37 gal tank

That's about twice what you need. Fenner recommends about 3 watts per gallon;
100 watts should be sufficient. When you have too large a heater, it comes on
frequently; smaller ones come on and stay on for a while ('cause they heat the
water more slowly). This more frequent cycling and more rapid heating of the
water stresses the fish and leads to thermostat failure with mechanical thermostats.

While we're on the topic of thermostats, I would go with an electronic
thermostat. I'm told that they're more reliable than mechanical and, when they
break, they usually fail in "off" mode. My old Supreme Heetmasters used to
require replacement of the mechanical thermostat every few years; I've had no
trouble from the Tronic brand replacements I bought over 10 years ago.

I'm also a firm believer in dividing the heating load. If you have two heaters
and only one fails, there's a much better chance that the tank will survive
until you notice the problem. With your tank, I would go with two 50 watt heaters.

George Patterson
Those who do not study History are doomed to repeat it. Those who DO
study History are doomed to watch every one else repeat it.

* James wrote, On 11/6/2006 8:56 PM:
I went out for a movie tonight. When I came home My fish were missing. I
found them on the mechanical intake. Water temp was 105.

Two dead clowns =(
4 turbo snails

Thats one hell of a way to start a hobby... or end it one.....


Ouch! Sorry to hear that.

Oh bad!
So sorry to hear that.


James wrote:
I went out for a movie tonight. When I came home My fish were missing. I
found them on the mechanical intake. Water temp was 105.

Two dead clowns =(
4 turbo snails

Thats one hell of a way to start a hobby... or end it one.....