Almost created a fire and nuked my tank at the same time!

[AydenLincoln]

I forgot to refill my ATO and I kept meaning to and the water level dropped so much that the heater was mostly exposed to air. And as soon as I added more water I heard pop and fizz! And smelled burning. Oh bleep! Unplug everything immediately and see my crispy heater but very safe fish and no electric shock or fire. The lesson here refill the ATO as soon as it runs out. The heater lasted me a solid two and a half years when I have forgotten to refill the ATO many times and refilled it the next day or two. I think this time I just waited way too long and the heater ran dry. Thank God I noticed it when I did because any longer and I know a fire or an electrical shock would have happened.

 

[Fish Fan]

Glad you and yours, and Hewbie are safe!

 

[Garf]

I forgot to refill my ATO and I kept meaning to and the water level dropped so much that the heater was mostly exposed to air. And as soon as I added more water I heard pop and fizz! And smelled burning. Oh bleep! Unplug everything immediately and see my crispy heater but very safe fish and no electric shock or fire. The lesson here refill the ATO as soon as it runs out. The heater lasted me a solid two and a half years when I have forgotten to refill the ATO many times and refilled it the next day or two. I think this time I just waited way too long and the heater ran dry. Thank God I noticed it when I did because any longer and I know a fire or an electrical shock would have happened.

Have you got your heater in with a return pump, or something? If so, could you locate your new one to an area that never drops? Can you see the ATO chamber without making an effort? That might help you remember.

 

[RockRash]

Glad you and your fish are safe. Good reminder for all of us.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Glad you and yours, and Hewbie are safe!

Hewbie is all safe and unaware this was the reef tank.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Have you got your heater in with a return pump, or something? If so, could you locate your new one to an area that never drops? Can you see the ATO chamber without making an effort? That might help you remember.

It’s an AIO so that doesn’t matter and it’s going to drop no matter what if I don’t add water to the ATO or at all lol.

 

[Fish Fan]

Hewbie is all safe and unaware this was the reef tank.

Hewbie knows..... He knows lol!!!

 

[LiquidSpace]

Hewbie knows..... He knows lol!!!

Yeah, Hewbie is probably really disappointed in you.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Hewbie knows..... He knows lol!!!

Lucky for Hewbie he had a BRS Titanium Heater and Inkbird along with a grounding probe usually at least of if I have an extra outlet.

 

[JayM]

What about the increased salinity?

 

[Fish Fan]

Has anyone mentioned: GFCI?

 

[AydenLincoln]

What about the increased salinity?

Yeah that happens not a major issue or concern for me personally.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Has anyone mentioned: GFCI?

Something I considered installing when I first got the tank but the issue is if it trips then your entire tank does and if you aren’t home or don’t know then that isn’t good.

 

[VintageReefer]

Fyi some heaters have a sensor built in so they don’t heat if they get exposed to air

I would make that a shopping point on the next one

 

[VintageReefer]

I Have an all In one with no ato…and once in a while the water drops too low and the heater reminds me with a lovely alarm sound, non stop, until I add water and reset the heater.

 

[AydenLincoln]

I Have an all In one with no ato…and once in a while the water drops too low and the heater reminds me with a lovely alarm sound, non stop, until I add water and reset the heater.

I actually replaced it with the exact same one Fluval. They are cheap but have done really well for me for years. This issue was 100% avoidable and entirely my mistake.

 

[RockRash]

Lucky for Hewbie he had a BRS Titanium Heater and Inkbird along with a grounding probe usually at least of if I have an extra outlet.

I would definitely recommend not using a grounding probe if you are not using a gfci outlet.

 

[VintageReefer]

Jagers have run dry protection and aren’t too much money. One of the most reliable heaters on the market, and they let you recalibrate them if the temp settings are off

https://a.co/d/7FpWMM8

 

[Fish Fan]

Something I considered installing when I first got the tank but the issue is if it trips then your entire tank does and if you aren’t home or don’t know then that isn’t good.

With the utmost respect, this is what you want. I love Hewbie, and I get where you're coming from, and I would exhaust all other possibilities for sure, but.....

This is a big safety concern! I believe that you *need* a GFCI for your saltwater tank < Someone please tell me I'm wrong here

I love Hewbie, but I care for you much more than Hewbie, having never met either of you ;-)

As always: I'm not an expert, BUT - You want that GFCI to trip, it could save your life, just like why it's mandatory in most bathrooms and kitchens in the US.

If not an outlet, I would suggest a short GFCI extension cord for your tank, something like this:

2 ft. In-Line GFCI Triple Tap Cord Automatic Reset

^Please try something like that. It should not trip randomly when you're away, and if it did, it HAD to

I would definitely recommend not using a grounding probe if you are not using a gfci outlet.

Agreed! That's not a good setup!

I learned very recently that a whole circuit in my house was NOT grounded, assuming because the original 1970's electrician was lazy, AND I've had a saltwater fish tank hooked up to that circuit (Gasp!).

I'm firming up my household electrical concerns by hiring an electrician to add a dedicated circuit for my next tank, and to make sure I can run my other tanks safely.

 

[AydenLincoln]

With the utmost respect, this is what you want. I love Hewbie, and I get where you're coming from, and I would exhaust all other possibilities for sure, but.....

This is a big safety concern! I believe that you *need* a GFCI for your saltwater tank < Someone please tell me I'm wrong here

I love Hewbie, but I care for you much more than Hewbie, having never met either of you ;-)

As always: I'm not an expert, BUT - You want that GFCI to trip, it could save your life, just like why it's mandatory in most bathrooms and kitchens in the US.

If not an outlet, I would suggest a short GFCI extension cord for your tank, something like this:

2 ft. In-Line GFCI Triple Tap Cord Automatic Reset

^Please try something like that. It should not trip randomly when you're away, and if it did, it HAD to


Agreed! That's not a good setup!

I learned very recently that a whole circuit in my house was NOT grounded, assuming because the original 1970's electrician was lazy, AND I've had a saltwater fish tank hooked up to that circuit (Gasp!).

I'm firming up my household electrical concerns by hiring an electrician to add a dedicated circuit for my next tank, and to make sure I can run my other tanks safely.

Oh yeah I kind of forgot I do have a GFCI extension cord on it lol. Super heavy duty with individual outlets on Hewbie’s tank.