Ranting here-- Marientland Stealth Pro 10 watt nearly cooked my fish!

[elijahfeathers]

So this is partly the fault of a defective thermometer.... just got hit with a doublewhammy I guess.

A weekish ago I bought a heater for my 2 gall tank. It didn't turn on. I went back to petsmart. I decided to pay the extra and just get a marienland heater for smaller tanks. It said it was preset to 74 and would heat up to 3 gallons of water.The fish I had in with it was unhappy, but I figured that was mostly due to the bare-bottom QT2 gallon tank.


Anyway, I get my lovely new 2.5. I set it up. Put in the heater. Several hours later my fish is lethargic, starting to list, and goign belly up. I cup him, and realize his water is kinda warm. I feel my 10 gallon. Deff warmer than my 10 gallon which I keep at 80. My thermomiter in the 2.5 is showing like 70something degrees. appropriate range. I pluck the thermomiter from inside the 10 gallon.


NINETY. DEGREES. NINETY! 90!!! No wonder my fish was doing horribly! I got him in some cooler water and he's perking right up and swimming around again. ugh. One heater that doesn't work, and one that fries my tank!

[Pitluvs]

Sounds like what happened to me! I had a 50w for my 10gal, just as a precaution on cooler nights. WELL, one night I turned it on and went to bed. I woke up the next morning and my thermo said 88F!! My fish were used to 73-75F. It nearly cooked my fish! It was one of them preset ones from WalMart (Tetra). I'm going to buy a new one someday and put the old one in the box and take it back LOL

Glad your fishes is ok!! How scary!

[elijahfeathers]

Funny think is, I've got a tetra in my 5 gallon that keeps the water right at 80. It's great.

I just don't know what to get now for the 2.5 gallon. I'm feeling pretty upset, and could use some ideas.

[Pitluvs]

Im lost, sorry. I need heaters for mine too and no one seems to come up with names and where to buy when I ask. Good luck!

[Arashi Takamine]

That's strange...I have the same one but Akira's true colors came out at the temp it keeps it at. It's kept at 80 it's a 10 watt too...Maybe it malfunctioned.

[elijahfeathers]

Maybe. I'll return it I suppose. I'm tempted to ask for a refund, but I'll try another one. No fish in while I see if it heats tho. >>

[CyerRyn]

Because of the heat and humidity during the summer and not really able to think of a good way of cooling down my tanks, my boys wind up in about 90F water.. and they never act any differently than when its the 82F I prefer it to be. I'm surprised your fish reacted like such, unless he's older. I hear they become more finicky the older they get.

[elijahfeathers]

I think it was the 10 degree jump over the span of a few hours that did it to him.

[CyerRyn]

Oh yeah! It probably shocked him! :( Glad he's perked up since though! I'd honestly take it back and find an adjustable knob one.

[elijahfeathers]

I was looking but tbh I don't know if there are adjustable ones for 2.5 gallon tanks. 8C