Equipment Review and Discussion :: Interesting Heater Issue

[Fencer04]

I came home to find that my turtle had pushed the heater halfway out of the tank at some point during the day. The heater seemed to have turned itself off and didn't explode but it now has this green hard growth on it. It is really hard like coral and porous as well. It's only on the part that was just above the water line. I have attached a photo. If anyone can tell me how to remove it and if it will cause any issues I would appreciate it. Thanks!

[TurtleKeeper48]

it now has this green hard growth on it. It is really hard like coral and porous as well.

I don't think that's anything that "grew" in a day. Are you missing anything plastic? (little floating plastic plants?) because it looks like melted plastic to me.

I'd try to carefully remove it using a window scraper (the type that uses a traditional razor blade). Be careful.

[Fencer04]

It is definitely not anything melted. It is almost like pumice stone. I think that it is a calcium deposit left from the water quickly evaporating on it as it was near the surface. It is extremely hard and virtually impossible to scrape off.

[TurtleKeeper48]

It is definitely not anything melted. It is almost like pumice stone. I think that it is a calcium deposit left from the water quickly evaporating on it as it was near the surface. It is extremely hard and virtually impossible to scrape off.

Really!? A green calcium Deposit? I dunno... and a calcium deposit THAT large (it looks lilke a big lump of stuff) developed that quickly... I dunno....

Why is it "definitely not anything melted"? Are you really sure that there is no missing green plastic plants? Especially the little floating lilly type? Those heaters get hot, and even hotter when out of the water... You know, melted plastic is usually lighter in weight and a little harder than un-melted plastic... melted green plasitc is likely to end up something like a green pummice stone tinged with brown...

But, I know you don't think that is what it is... so...

Now I'm really curious as to what it really is. You MUST continue this thread untill you figure out what it is. (I'm still putting my money on melted green plastic)

Tell you what - if it is a calcium deposit, get some "CLR - Calcium Lime and Rust remover" and it should take it right off.

...BUT, Are you sure you didn't have those little floating plastic lillys in the tank? Any other small, green, plastic plants that might have gone missing. It really looks like melted green plastic to me, and green plastics objects seem to be increadible common in turtle tanks.

I'd probably try chipping at the edge of it with a window scraper no mater what it is.

[Fencer04]

It is definitely not plastic. There is no plastic in my tank with the exception of the filter in tank which is fine. I tried white vinegar and baking soda and will be attempting CLR today. The green color comes from the water I believe. I happened just before a 50% water change. I have confirmed that we have hard water. I am very certain that it is minerals that were left behind after fast evaporation of water when the heater was pushed partially out of the tank because that is the only part that is affected. I will let you know how the CLR works. Thanks for the reply.

[steve]

In my initial turtle setup, I had a cheaper no-name brand filter that had a similar build up. I'm thinking that the glass isn't of high quality because I've had Ebo Jager heaters in use for years with no similar build up.

[VeipaCray]

Calcium deposits aka hard water stains are white on glass when dry. Ever see an old aquarium or glass shower doors?

Something that hard that showed up that fast is caused by a chemical reaction. I bet when your heater came out of the water, it cracked and something leaked. The heat, the exposure to air and what ever leaked out of the heater made that green mess. The part that was above the water line would have been the part to overheat and crack.

Throw that heater away and get a new one. If it works at all anymore, I'd be surprised. I bet it leaks current into the water if it does manage to turn on. For your safety and the safety of your tank inhabitants, get a new heater.

Careful with CLR. That is a mild acid based product...phosphoric and Glycolic acid. You don't know what that green blob is an you definitely don't know how it will react to any acid.

[marisa]

I agree---it looks like something happened to the heater. Perhaps it's off because it's not working anymore. I wouldn't use it anymore---if you're interested in seeing if it still works, put it in a bucket of water, not back in the tank. To be safe, I'd just get another heater.

For mineral deposits, soak the affected areas in white vinegar (or soak a paper towel in white vinegar and wrap it around the area), not CLR.

[VeipaCray]

If you do check it out to see if it works in a bucket... use a multimeter and make sure no current is leaking.

[papoopeepoo]

I believe that is low quality glass that has been heated rapidly then cooled rapidly. High quality glass is made out of cleaner, very fine grain sand in a somewhat homogenous mixture. That glass was probably made with a heterogenous mixture of sands and whatever is in it has a lower melting point.

Considering how inexpensive most heaters are, I suggest buying a new one. If you do want to check for voltage leak with a multimeter, do so with caution.

[Fencer04]

Figured since there was more interest in this I would post an update. I was never able to determine what caused it, but I'm am convinced that it is a hardwater calcium build up I have experimented with 4 other filters and done the same thing on purpose in a bucket of water and had the same result. Even "high end" heaters from Ebo Jager. I have confirmed that it is a deposit related to my hardwater but since my issue isn't mostly related to calcium but other type of sediment it is much harder to remove.

I have replaced the filter because it was also not a powerful enough for the larger tank I put my turtle in. I will be moving him to an indoor pond that I'm building in my basement but in the mean time how can I keep the turtle from pushing the heater around?

[steve]

I don't have my Ebo Jagers attached, they pretty much freely move around. If that concerns you, you can use a heater guard or try different suction cups. The ones from Visitherm work well for me.

[marisa]

I have heater guards on the filters in all but one tank and all except for one just lie on the bottom. For my RES, who's bigger and who tended to move the heater around (not intentionally, just when he was excited) I siliconed part of the guard to a flat rock, which acts like an anchor, limiting his ability to move the heater around.