gas logs

[r0bin]

So I moved this past week to a home that has gas logs. I lost my bi-color blennie and moving the tank was a pain but its over now, so I won't go into that too much. We put the tank in our family room that has gas logs. I am not concerned about the heat issue, I think that will be fine, but I do have a question. We lit the gas logs last night to test them out. We did not know what we were doing b/c we have never had them before. We did smell some gas after we kept fooling around with them trying to get them on. We finally got them on and everything was fine. Question: Does using the gas logs in the winter pose any danger to my tank besides the heat issue?

[skippy2]

I've got gas logs approxiametly 3' or so from my open top tank and have never had an issue.
I don't understand why you need to light your gas logs. I only have to flip a switch.

[r0bin]

Well I may not have used that term correctly. We turned the gas on and there is an ingnitor switch you use to ignite the pilot light. I am totally new to gas logs, I admit I have no idea what I am talking about.

[Hop]

You should have no smell of gas when it it running properly. Therefor I don't think there should pose any issue for the tank.

Should be a nice room... Tank... Gas fireplace

[r0bin]

Thanks Hop! Yes we def. we trying to figure it out last night. I think we turned the gas on to much and for too long before we got the logs lit. I appreciate your responses, you guys made me feel better about it! I can alway get the help I need on here!

[Savas]

Our gas fire place is 8 feet from the tank with no issues. I would recommend having a trained technician look at / service the gas logs and show you how to use them. It should run you about $100 - $150 and they should do a cleaning of the soot or other debris.

[ConsultantERP]

Check with the Chemistry forum, but you may experience a low PH because of the addition of CO2 in the room.

[OceanSpray]

I am the installation manager of a fireplace company in Alabama. I have been in the fireplace industry for over 20 years. I also have gas logs in my own home. Properly operating gas logs should pose no threat to your reef tank or your family. That being said, I may know what the issue is that you were dealing with. It sounds as though the gas logs are new and ventless? If so, just about all brands of ventless gas logs require a burn in period of 3 to 4 hours during which they will produce some really bad odors. This is caused by a bonding agent on the logs which needs to burn off, etc.. It smells bad, but is harmless. I always advise our customers to pick a day when they can open some windows, doors, etc.. and go ahead and burn them off. If the fireplace is vented, you can open the damper during this time and close it when the burn in is complete. After this period, you should have no odors, if everything is operating correctly. There are many things, which can cause gas logs to produce excessive odors if something isn't set up correctly. These things can also cause many other problems in your home like sooting, condensation etc.. The best course of action would be to have someone from a local fireplace company check them out, determine which type of gas logs you have, clean them, and show you how to operate them correctly. I do this all the time here. You may even be able to add a wall switch or remote control to the set if you wish. The service charge shouldn't be to high, and you will have peace of mind, and much more knowlege about how to operate them after they are checked out. There are so many types of gas logs, and so many different types of controls for them, that there is really no other good way to know exactly what type you have. Best of luck!!

[r0bin]

Wow, thanks OceanSpray!