Hi,

I've a 450 litre tank with 35 cichlids. Did a 40% water change today, filled up with mains water (+ stress coat) as I usually do and made a note to check that the Temperature had returned to the normal 26.5C before going to bed but much to my surprise the tank is sitting at 20C and the TetraTec HT 300 which would normally have an orange glow to indicate it is working hard looks dead. I've unplugged and plugged everything back in again but can't get it to fire.

Will the fish survive at 20C until tomorrow when I can get a replacement heater? Is there anything I can do in the meantime?

Please revert to me ASAP. 9:45pm Sunday the 19th.

Regards,

John

Panic over. Took it out, wiped it down and fiddled with the temperature setting on top and bingo it came back on. I've reinstalled it and the orange light is on so fingers crossed it will keep doing the business.

Better get another one to have on standby, just in case!!

Sounds as though it could be on the way out. It would be better to replace it.

I would get another heater. The one you have failed once it could happen again.
It's not a bad idea to have second heater in place set 1-2c lower to act as a backup heater in case the main heater fails.
Jager by Eheim is a good heater.

good idea to replace it asap had one that nearly blew up my 450ltr tank in the middle of the night couple weeks back big orange glow in the room and it went poof managed to plug it out didnt kill any fish got a good 1 up in newlands

Agree with the others here,get a replacement.I would not panic about it,my heater and filter was stupidly left off for 3 days this week,no heating in the house,simply plugged it back in and all back to norm.Despite what the 'experts'?? say,there was no spikes of anything,there was no loss of fish,it was as if nothing happened,when I realised,temp was 18 dgerees.Popped the plugs back in and no worries.

Dave

Thanks all. I will order another heater, perhaps a different make and do what platty252 suggested, install it as a backup.

Is a Jager by Eheim the way to go and if so how do you choose the right model? Their largest seems to be a 250W and given I am already using a 300W TetraTec I guess thats the right one?

Are they easily sourced here or should I just order one from one of the online UK stores such as www.aquatics-direct.eu?

I got one last week from Zooplus.ie
Check the size of the heaters on the site firstly though as the heater I got was considerably larger than my previous one,but is far better with temp control.

Excellent delivery times and very good price also.

Gavin

Definitely - two heaters far better than one.
Similarly two filters better than one.

Should you be in a position where it happens & you're stuck though wrapping the tank in a duvet will slow down the rate that it loses heat.

Have't seen you posting in a while, I remember when your tank was first set up.

You must give us some recent pics, you probably even have 2nd generation fry at this stage?

Hi 2poc,

Yes, have a couple of second generation fish by now. Haven't intervened in any way, just let nature take it's course.

The tank is generally doing great and all the fish seem lively and more or less happy depending on whether or not they are getting too much attention from a few of the alpha fish in the tank.

Was just thinking I should post some new pics and will do, might even try videoing them for a few mins and posting that. I know that has to be done by first posting the pic/video to a photo sharing site. Is photo bucket still the preferred option?