Aqarium heater broke

[jlbfish]

During a water change I forgot to unplug the heater then when I was filling the tank back up the heater popped and broke. This is a fish less cycle so no fishies are in danger but what do you do about the substrate? Throw it out ?

Thanks
Jana

 

[Rutrag]

I don't think the shock will affect the bacterial bed very much. And the substrate should be fine regardless. Be sure to unplug before you throw it away!

 

[TheFishBoss97]

I think jlbfish meant that the glass shards from the heater fell in the substrate...^rutrag

For that, I think you might have to throw it out....OR if you get the big pieces easily seen out, you should be fine as long as you don't get any soft bellied fish..how big is the tank?

if smaller than 29Gs, I'd drain completely and then shine a light in to catch any leftover pieces of glass? maby use a siphon for the smaller pieces?