ChrisMack Posted September 5, 2004 Report Share Posted September 5, 2004 Almost too embarrassed to post this.......... Late Last night I realised the "Clogging" indicator on my interal Fluval filter was showing that the filter was clogged up.......Knowing that today would be "fish-tank Maintenance day" (water changes etc) I decided that rather than risk straining the motor on the filter, I would simply dis-connect it from the power and clean it at a more respectable hour........ Morning came around, and I started my water changes etc.....when it came time to do the tank with the Fluval filter in it, I put my hand in the water...and got a shock to notice that the water was "STONE COLD" Panic set in as to what the problem was..........Thermometer was reading really low........and the filter was unplugged...meaning the heater was still plugged in...or so I thought!!!! On closer inspection I found that I had indeed unplugged the HEATER and not the FILTER (was I asleep at the time????........I think Ii must have been) After all maintenance,and BOTH heater and filter plugged in, I'm able to report that: 1: The fish are fine (even if they have been through a blizzard) 2: I feel really stupid about it all 3: I'm extremely lucky that I didnt lose any of my finned friends......and 4: BIG LESSON LEARNED!!!! ChrisMack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fins Posted September 5, 2004 Report Share Posted September 5, 2004 I have once left one of my heaters off for about week. I unpluged it when I had to lower the water below where the heter was placed. The other tanks in my room must have kept it warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 5, 2004 Report Share Posted September 5, 2004 I'm sure we have all left a heater unplugged at some stage. Keep an eye out over the next few days as you might get an outbreak of white spot. Then again, if the room temp wasn't too bad the fish would handle it as the temp would have slowly dropped and it is sudden temp changes that upset them most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 5, 2004 Report Share Posted September 5, 2004 My tetras have that happen to them all the time. Never had a problem, though the temp usually only drops to around 18ish. Even had the heater in my fry tank die and the fry seemed to handle it without a problem, they were down to 15. Anyway, don't worry too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaway Posted September 5, 2004 Report Share Posted September 5, 2004 You should put a piece of red tape on the heater plug. I have never accidentally unplugged my heater, because it is the only plug that is plugged into a surge protector. Anyway, Is it important to have surge protection for all aquarium devices? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kim Posted September 5, 2004 Report Share Posted September 5, 2004 it happens to everyone so dont stress , fish can go days with out heat before it will kill them, what i would do is put some white spot cure in because they might get it and that will stop it before they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 6, 2004 Report Share Posted September 6, 2004 Is it important to have surge protection for all aquarium devices? Only the expensive ones :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaway Posted September 6, 2004 Report Share Posted September 6, 2004 I mean, if thre is a power surge, is there a chance of the devices blowing up and killing all the fish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted September 6, 2004 Report Share Posted September 6, 2004 Do birds die sitting on power lines?? Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.