Need Advice Asap!

[SoCalMom]

I went to feed Alpha and I noticed a plastic/burning smell. I immediately unplugged the heater and took Alpha and the shrimp out. I've since rinsed out the tank, plants, gravel and cave. There aren't any scorch/burn marks on the heater, but it does have that plastic smell to it. Everything in the tank smelled like it...even the thermometer!

Does anyone know what happened?

It wasn't over heated...the water temp was the usual 80

Should I refill the tank and try the heater again? Or just go buy a new one?

 

[zoekin8yg]

Try the heater without the fish maybe? Id be safe and probably get a new one if it was me

 

[SoCalMom]

I think I figured out what was wrong

I had the heater in a few inches of water by itself. After it had heated up, there was no smell at all

The little cave/hide thing was what smelled the worst

It had been sitting really close to the heater. I think it got too warm and produced the smell

I put all the stuff back in the tank (minus betta and shrimp), but this time I put the cave across from the heater. I'm going to let it sit for like awhile. If there is no smell, then thats what was wrong

Thanks for replying

 

[zoekin8yg]

That could have been what it was! Good luck

 

[Dibari]

I've had a similiar issue, but my betta cave smelled like hot sulfur (Awful smell) but once I rinsed it in scalding water, the smell went away and never did come back. If it was just the tank, rinse it very thoroughly in boiling water and it should be fixed.

 

[Ilya]

You can always put your heater in the freezer . That's what we did when our paper shredder became "critically hot". Lol.