visa therm blow up

Joshsreef · 04/28/2009, 04:41 PM

well, interesting thing happened to me today. I unplugged my system - ran the vacuum to get all the dust off the carpet around the tank. and then plug everything back in - this is where it gets a little scary. soon as i plug the system back in my visatherm heater explodes - litterally - with the plug and top laying on the other side of the room - and the body of the heater on the tank floor. what the heck does this mean ? was there anything in that heater that can hurt my fish ? and is it something electrical with the house or THE heater itself.

Jeff · 04/28/2009, 04:44 PM

I doubt there is anything that can harm the fish/corals if you unplug it and throw it out. I would get an electrician out there to check out your electrical system in the house.

Joshsreef · 04/28/2009, 04:57 PM

honestly say it scared me to death - sounded as if a bomb went off when i plugged it in - i waited a few mins and plugged everything else back in and it seems to be up and running again. just blows my mind - if it was the house it would seem to have triped, ruined other equipment - something . but everything is fine. I kinda wonder if i pull it out out of the water when i plugged it in but still i dont think this would happen.

Aquarist007 · 04/28/2009, 05:29 PM

this is why it is recommended that any receptacles that are being used for your tanks be ground fault protected.

Aquarist007 · 04/28/2009, 05:31 PM

Here is a blog on them plus ground probes. Not everyone agrees with ground probes but you won't get much arguement against ground fault receptacles

http://www.reefcentral.com/wp/?p=264

Joshsreef · 04/28/2009, 05:40 PM

it was plugged into a gfci unit.

04/28/2009, 04:41 PM	#1
Joshsreef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kentucky Posts: 84	visa therm blow up well, interesting thing happened to me today. I unplugged my system - ran the vacuum to get all the dust off the carpet around the tank. and then plug everything back in - this is where it gets a little scary. soon as i plug the system back in my visatherm heater explodes - litterally - with the plug and top laying on the other side of the room - and the body of the heater on the tank floor. what the heck does this mean ? was there anything in that heater that can hurt my fish ? and is it something electrical with the house or THE heater itself.

04/28/2009, 04:44 PM	#2
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	I doubt there is anything that can harm the fish/corals if you unplug it and throw it out. I would get an electrician out there to check out your electrical system in the house. __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

04/28/2009, 05:29 PM	#4
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	this is why it is recommended that any receptacles that are being used for your tanks be ground fault protected. __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

04/28/2009, 05:31 PM	#5
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	Here is a blog on them plus ground probes. Not everyone agrees with ground probes but you won't get much arguement against ground fault receptacles http://www.reefcentral.com/wp/?p=264 __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

04/28/2009, 04:57 PM	#3
Joshsreef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kentucky Posts: 84	honestly say it scared me to death - sounded as if a bomb went off when i plugged it in - i waited a few mins and plugged everything else back in and it seems to be up and running again. just blows my mind - if it was the house it would seem to have triped, ruined other equipment - something . but everything is fine. I kinda wonder if i pull it out out of the water when i plugged it in but still i dont think this would happen.

04/28/2009, 05:40 PM	#6
Joshsreef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kentucky Posts: 84	it was plugged into a gfci unit.