My big mistake... - Aquarium Advice

Lonewolfblue · 10-30-2006, 11:33 PM

Well, I made a mistake yesterday, and glad I didn't lose my GBR's. I did a PWC on the tank, and unplugged the heater so it wouldn't explode when the water was lowered. Well, after I finished, I forgot to plug it back in. Today I found the temp was 56 degrees. At first I though, the heater failed. Then I noticed it was unplugged. Oops.... I plugged it back in and thought that it being a 50W heater, it wouldn't heat the water too fast. It heated it a couple degrees every hour or 2. Now it's up to 77 degrees, and the GBR's are still doing just fine. They were just a little slower when it was cold. But now they are back to their normal routine.....

joannde · 10-31-2006, 06:28 AM

56 !!! how did YOU live in that temp ??

rich311k · 10-31-2006, 06:56 AM

Got my fingers crossed for your fish, Wolf. You might want to turn the house thermostat a touch over 60 or are you saving money for another tank?

blazeyreef · 10-31-2006, 08:29 AM

56...thats cold for fishies, hot for me LOL I have to have my heaters set higher cause I like the house COLD!

**Fishyfanatic** · 10-31-2006, 08:35 AM

It's good to know that we aren't the only ones that don't use the heater until it is absolutely necessary. Ie: frostbite.

**An t-iasg** · 10-31-2006, 11:07 AM

Sorry, LWB, I hope the fish are ok!

What kind of heater do you have - a glass one? Get a Visitherm Stealth if you can. They are plastic and they don't have to be unplugged during a water change. The package says they detect the water level and when it's low, the heater turns itself off. I have noticed that my heaters do sometimes still feel warm when I do a water change and they are exposed to air. Since the heater is plastic, there's no harm of hurting anything, and the fact that it is exposed while on sometimes doesn't seem to hurt it.

I got one Visitherm Stealth and liked it so much that I soon got them for the other tanks too.

maxwell1295 · 10-31-2006, 11:12 AM

I did that too but my temp only dropped down to between 71* and 75*. Just plugged it back in a little while ago...

Lonewolfblue · 10-31-2006, 11:36 AM

The fish are doing great. I have the tank back to 80 degrees. It's quite cool outside, and inside it's pretty cool. Last night was the first time I turned my gas heat on. I leave it off during the day, as the heat from the tank lights keeps everything fairly nice.

tropicfishman · 10-31-2006, 11:43 AM

dang you got lucky, wish I had that kinda luck, yesterday I pulled a back muscle and this morning I'm starting to come down with a cold

10-30-2006, 11:33 PM	#1
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,869 Images: 7	My big mistake... Well, I made a mistake yesterday, and glad I didn't lose my GBR's. I did a PWC on the tank, and unplugged the heater so it wouldn't explode when the water was lowered. Well, after I finished, I forgot to plug it back in. Today I found the temp was 56 degrees. At first I though, the heater failed. Then I noticed it was unplugged. Oops.... I plugged it back in and thought that it being a 50W heater, it wouldn't heat the water too fast. It heated it a couple degrees every hour or 2. Now it's up to 77 degrees, and the GBR's are still doing just fine. They were just a little slower when it was cold. But now they are back to their normal routine..... __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

10-31-2006, 06:28 AM	#2
joannde Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 1,724 Images: 6	56 !!! how did YOU live in that temp ?? __________________ 35G barebottom: 2 boesemani rainbowfish, 4 congo tetras, Low light plants (1.5wpg) attached to or planted in my own handmade ceramics - Anubia v Nana, Anubia v Barteri, Red Rubin Sword 2.5G - Spot (beautiful betta - Soft pink with red spots on his fins. Java Moss.

10-31-2006, 08:29 AM	#4
blazeyreef Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 1,579 Images: 1	56...thats cold for fishies, hot for me LOL I have to have my heaters set higher cause I like the house COLD! __________________ Houston "Face Trials with Smiles"-Porter Ellett *My aquariums-3gall betta, 5.5gall nanoreef, 10gall planted,* *29gall planted* *"We are nothing until we make ourselves somthing"* *CTR*

10-31-2006, 08:35 AM	#5
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,251 Images: 15	It's good to know that we aren't the only ones that don't use the heater until it is absolutely necessary. Ie: frostbite. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

10-31-2006, 11:07 AM	#6
An t-iasg Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Criders Corners/Glen Eden (Pittsburgh, PA) Posts: 7,145 Images: 30	Sorry, LWB, I hope the fish are ok! What kind of heater do you have - a glass one? Get a Visitherm Stealth if you can. They are plastic and they don't have to be unplugged during a water change. The package says they detect the water level and when it's low, the heater turns itself off. I have noticed that my heaters do sometimes still feel warm when I do a water change and they are exposed to air. Since the heater is plastic, there's no harm of hurting anything, and the fact that it is exposed while on sometimes doesn't seem to hurt it. I got one Visitherm Stealth and liked it so much that I soon got them for the other tanks too. __________________

10-31-2006, 06:56 AM	#3
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,972 Images: 35	Got my fingers crossed for your fish, Wolf. You might want to turn the house thermostat a touch over 60 or are you saving money for another tank?

10-31-2006, 11:12 AM	#7
maxwell1295 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 887 Images: 7	I did that too but my temp only dropped down to between 71* and 75. Just plugged it back in a little while ago... __________________ 125G* Mostly Malawi Tank 75G Malawi Mbuna 7G Office MiniBow 125 Gallon Mixed African Thread, 75 Gallon Mixed Malawi Thread

10-31-2006, 11:36 AM	#8
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,869 Images: 7	The fish are doing great. I have the tank back to 80 degrees. It's quite cool outside, and inside it's pretty cool. Last night was the first time I turned my gas heat on. I leave it off during the day, as the heat from the tank lights keeps everything fairly nice. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

10-31-2006, 11:43 AM	#9
tropicfishman Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ashland KY Posts: 1,890	dang you got lucky, wish I had that kinda luck, yesterday I pulled a back muscle and this morning I'm starting to come down with a cold __________________ I love my clown loaches and red tail shark!!! lol

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