Most of my heaters fail due to water

[TwoHedWlf]

This one, an Aqua One about a year or two old, hadn't quite failed but definitely had water in it. The last 3-4 were full of water and one of the wires in the heating element corroded and broke.
So, I've replaced this one with an Eheim thermocontrol E300 and thought I'd take it apart.



And of course, my assistant trying to help...


The top pulls off easily, then the plug just pulls out without much effort. I suspect if I wanted to keep this working, drying it out and coating the rubber plug with silicone before reinserting it would seal it up nicely.
I don't know how easily that could be done to a brand new one.


Which of course my assistant tries to help with...


The temperature setting is just a screw putting some pressure on the bimetallic strip...


And the actual strip...



And of course, my assistant trying to help again...

 

[Rtc/tsn]

This one, an Aqua One about a year or two old, hadn't quite failed but definitely had water in it. The last 3-4 were full of water and one of the wires in the heating element corroded and broke.
So, I've replaced this one with an Eheim thermocontrol E300 and thought I'd take it apart.

View attachment 1462877

And of course, my assistant trying to help...
View attachment 1462878

The top pulls off easily, then the plug just pulls out without much effort. I suspect if I wanted to keep this working, drying it out and coating the rubber plug with silicone before reinserting it would seal it up nicely.
I don't know how easily that could be done to a brand new one.
View attachment 1462879

Which of course my assistant tries to help with...
View attachment 1462880

The temperature setting is just a screw putting some pressure on the bimetallic strip...
View attachment 1462881

And the actual strip...

View attachment 1462882

And of course, my assistant trying to help again...
View attachment 1462883

Never actually seen a naked cat. Very very strange. Don’t want to derail the thread but. What’s the cats name

 

[fishhead0103666]

Did your assistant shove his balls in your face? I find my assistant has that problem.

On a more serious note, do you know how the water is getting inside it? That obviously shouldn’t be happening and I’d personally be tempted to say it’s a defect but given it’s happened several times...

 

[Rtc/tsn]

Did your assistant shove his balls in your face? I find my assistant has that problem.

On a more serious note, do you know how the water is getting inside it? That obviously shouldn’t be happening and I’d personally be tempted to say it’s a defect but given it’s happened several times...

Do cats have balls? Never actually seen such a thing. Never thought I’d say this but time too look up cat private parts.

 

[TwoHedWlf]

Do cats have balls? Never actually seen such a thing. Never thought I’d say this but time too look up cat private parts.

Yes, cats most definitely have balls.

 

[TwoHedWlf]

Did your assistant shove his balls in your face? I find my assistant has that problem.

ALL THE TIME. It's something noone mentions when you're getting a sphynx. Normal cat? You just get this little fluffy bum in your face. A sphynx? BIG GIANT NUTS AND BUTT. Well, he's neutered, so I guess technically, sack and sphincter?

On a more serious note, do you know how the water is getting inside it? That obviously shouldn’t be happening and I’d personally be tempted to say it’s a defect but given it’s happened several times...

I presume it's coming through the plug at the top, between the plug and the glass. I don't think I've ever had a heater that didn't eventually get water in, but the aquaones it happens fairly quick. Had some Jagers I got from my father in law that lasted like 5 years with water pooling at the bottom. One would actually boil the water when it was on.

Never actually seen a naked cat. Very very strange. Don’t want to derail the thread but. What’s the cats name

Hermiod, named after the character in Stargate Atlantis.
Here's the scene in the show that decided me on the name: https://i.redd.it/gdox479dl7d51.jpg

 

[fishdance]

If your having the same issue then keep the top of heater out of the water ?

 

[esoxlucius]

Did your assistant shove his balls in your face? I find my assistant has that problem.

Can you just clarify for peace of mind that your 'assistant' is indeed a pet, and not some guy who comes over to help you out, lol.

Do cats have balls? Never actually seen such a thing

If you saw my cats balls young man you'd instantly get a severe inferiority complex, lol.

If your having the same issue then keep the top of heater out of the water ?

This is something I always do now to prevent water from entering the heater. It works, sort of. I find that over time, even though water can't get in, I still have signs of condensation inside! I put it down to poor seals. The idea of putting silicon around the seal area is a good one.

 

[MooseTheWizard]

These little glass heaters are garbage. I have tried everything from cheap little heaters from the pet store, to big names like Eheim and Fluval. They all either fail, or eventually the built in thermostat goes way out of whack.

I now only use solid titanium heaters and a separate temperature controllers. It's a bit more money, but they're great. You can set alarms on the controller for too hot or too cold so if something is wrong it'll warn you. The heaters are also indestructible, so no worries about a big fish hitting them and breaking the glass. For reference I use:

INKBIRD Temperature Controller ITC-308

INKBIRD ITC-308 is out-of-the-box, safe and reliable with temperature calibration, independent setting for refrigeration and heating, over temperature protection and automatic temperature control system for more accurate temperature control. With output power of 1,100W(110V) /2,000W(220V), it...

inkbird.com

Finnex TH Deluxe Titanium Heating Element with Plastic Guard

Titanium heating tubes are virtually unbreakable, and corrosion resistant allowing the use in salt or freshwater aquariums. The titanium housing will resist damage a traditional heater would normally encounter while also providing another level of protection with the use of a plastic guard which...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

You can find the controller on amazon and the heater at any reefing store. I only keep freshwater but I guess saltwater people use these heaters primarily.