Is My Heater Safe To Use?

[Mothi]

Hi,

Sorry if I have posted this in the wrong forum.

One of my fish tanks in my room was making funny squeaky noise and I realised it was the heater. I switched the heater off and took it out 10 minutes later to check for any crack on the glass. There are no cracks but there was some limescale build-up under the plastic cap on the bottom of the heater. I have removed the limescale and then tested the heater in a bucket of water just now. It seems like the heater is working but I noticed one of the heating elements is glowing red inside the glass tube. I have never noticed this with any of my other heaters before. This heater is about 2 months old and I have the same one in another tank which, I've had for about 6 months and doesn't have any of the limescale on it.

I'm too scared to put this heater back in the tank and before I through it away I thought I'd post here and double check that it is broken. I hope that the limescale thing is not something else that's leaked out of the heater.

Cheers,
Mothi

 

[KittyKat]

One of my fish tanks in my room was making funny squeaky noise and I realised it was the heater. I switched the heater off and took it out 10 minutes later to check for any crack on the glass. There are no cracks but there was some limescale build-up under the plastic cap on the bottom of the heater. I have removed the limescale and then tested the heater in a bucket of water just now. It seems like the heater is working but I noticed one of the heating elements is glowing red inside the glass tube. I have never noticed this with any of my other heaters before. This heater is about 2 months old and I have the same one in another tank which, I've had for about 6 months and doesn't have any of the limescale on it.

I'm too scared to put this heater back in the tank and before I through it away I thought I'd post here and double check that it is broken. I hope that the limescale thing is not something else that's leaked out of the heater.

The lime scale is not a problem, a lot of my own heaters have gotten it at some point or another.

On the other hand, I have never actually seen a bright red element when the heater is on. Your second heater, does the same element glow when it is actually heating the water? Keep in mind that most heaters have a red bulb to show when they are on.

If it is broken and only two months old, you should be able to get it replaced under warranty.. and just for reference, the best heaters I have ever used have been by Visitherm and Newatt.

 

[Mothi]

Thanks for your reply Kitty Kat.

After reading your reply I took of the bottom plastic cap off my other heater and tested to see if ny elements glow and it does. They both also have the red lights to show when it's on, and it's not the red light. Seems like it's normal with these heater. It's just that I have never inspected heaters this closely before and was really worried after the noise and the glow. The heater is no longer making noise so I've stuck it back in the aquarium. Testing the other heater for glow really didn't occur to me.

Thanks again, you've saved me from buying another heater. Also, next time I need a heater I'll keep an eye out for the ones you mentioned.

Cheers,
Mothi