What's wrong with this picture?

rmougey

rmougey

Tang
M.A.S.C Club Member
#1
#1



As soon as I walked in the door this evening, I knew there had been a major failure this day. Just didn't realize exactly how bad it was till I found the bouillabaisse.

Losses included one male Goldenback Trigger, one large Zebra Moray and a pair of Genicathus caudovittatus.

150 gallons of fish no-more. It's kinda hard to go from 70 to 115+ in a 12 hour period. The tank was uncomfortable to touch. A special thanks goes out to http://bluelineaquatics.com/
 
Craigar

Craigar

Tiger Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#2
#2
What's wrong with this picture?

Mon sounds like me this summer I'm sorry if I can help let me know
 
09bumblebee

09bumblebee

Dolphin
M.A.S.C Club Member
#3
#3
Dang man that sucks. Sorry to hear.
 
amonchak

amonchak

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
ex-officio
#4
#4
Man that is terrible news. Sorry to hear that Rob!!

Those were some beautiful fish too what a bummer!
 
D

daverf

Tang
M.A.S.C Club Member
#9
#9
what a huge loss. sorry to hear
 
CRW Reef

CRW Reef

Blue Whale
M.A.S.C Club Member
ex-officio
#10
#10
Re: What's wrong with this picture?

Oh man Rob I am so sorry to hear that man. Crazy a heater can even get that hot!!!!
 
Haulin Oates

Haulin Oates

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#11
#11
What's wrong with this picture?

Oh man! I'm so sorry to hear... Let me know if you need anything...
 
DyM

DyM

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#13
#13
Sorry to hear about that Rob. I know I sound like a wus, but 5 yrs ago I accidently killed all but 4 of my fish... I cried.

This is why I think the controllers are worth every penny. Apex, Proflux, Reefkeeper, etc.... The ability to shut things off, send emails and texts, and allow a hobbiest to remote in and check things out is a critical eye when we're not home. And most important - peace of mind.
 
rmougey

rmougey

Tang
M.A.S.C Club Member
#14
#14
Agreed... could've bought three controllers for the cost of the critters that I lost. Fail safes for the fail safe.... how many layers do you go? Last time I had a runaway heater was over 25 years ago... you'd think I'd learn.
 
D

djkms

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#15
#15
I go 2 layers. I have my heater on a controller (JBJ truetemp) that is controlled through my Neptune. I also have it programmed to shut off the sump if it goes above a certain temp. The only thing that sucks about having a controller is the crutch it creates. Make sure to have a strategy if the controller itself goes bad and you have to go without that! I had to send back my Neptune 2 months after I first got it. I was without it for 2 weeks and didn't think enough ahead to plan without it, figuring I had time.

Sorry to hear about your losses Rob, stuff like this is a real kick to the...
 
J

jda123

Dolphin
M.A.S.C Club Member
#17
#17
I had that same unit fail with a 1000W titanium on it. Only got to 88 with the chiller, but that was bad enough. Now, it is dual controlled heaters for me... I have had tanks get into the 60s and fair OK, but over 90 is no good.

I am pretty sure that I still have it. If you plug it in outside, with the probe in the air, it says like 102 degrees... nowhere near a halide.

Mine almost melted my crosshatch pair. X triggers and blueline don't appear to go well together.
 
Dbarnes

Dbarnes

Nurse Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#18
#18
What's wrong with this picture?

Why not multiple heaters, I think it's crazy to run those huge heaters. Not only does it cause greater and faster temp swings but should one fail it won't be capable of over heating to that extent. I have a 225 and I run one 300 watt on my apex at 78.9-79.1 and one 150watt from 78.8-79.0 then a fail safe 300watt jbj set at 78.5 w/ .5degree variance That way should anything fail you don't end up with cooked or frozen fish. I do fully agree NEVER trust the heater itself, I have seen and read many similar horror stories. A controller may seem expensive but the end cost and frustration makes them worth it! Sorry to hear you lost so many fish...
 
T

that0neguy1126

Registered Users
M.A.S.C Club Member
#19
#19
That sucks Rob.

I guess my setup could be considered 3 layers deep. Like dbarnes said. I have 3 heaters to heat my tank. If one gets stuck on, it can't overheat the tank. The other failsafe is the temp controller on each heater. And thent he 3rd line of defense is the temp probe with the Apex that controls the outlet. So it would take the Apex power outlet stuck on, or temp probe to fail, plus I would have to have multiple heaters stick on as well. I feel pretty safe at this point. But like Kris mentioned, it creates a huge reliance on the controller. If my controller went out, I wouldn't even be able to turn my lights on without jerry rigging something up.

On a side note, I do need to get a new heater for my salt mixing station. Came home the other day and that heater had gotten stuck on.

It begs one to wonder why heaters fail so often. No other piece in our aquariums is so prone to failure. Surely there has got to be a way to make a better quality heater.
 
Dbarnes

Dbarnes

Nurse Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#20
#20
What's wrong with this picture?

Yea if my apex went down it would be a real bad day trying to figure it out without a controller. The other BIG benefit these controllers have is the email alert, mine is set for 79.5 so should something epic happens and three heaters get stuck and my junk fails I would still recieve an email at least notifying me that dinner will be boiled sushi when I arrive home lol
 
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