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	random poll: safety first?
Theresa_M Moderator Queen of Zoom Posts: 3649 Kudos: 4280 Votes: 790 Registered: 04-Jan-2004	Do you have anything electrical running in your tank when you do water changes, gravel vacs, etc or not? ~~~~~~~~~~~~ There is water at the bottom of the ocean
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
jasonpisani Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 5553 Kudos: 7215 Votes: 1024 Registered: 24-Feb-2003	I unplug or switch everything off. Better be safe than sorry. http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos http://www.deathbydyeing.org/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/ Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970. http://www.maltaaquarist.com
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
littlemousling Conchiform Posts: 5230 Registered: 23-Aug-2003	I leave everything running. For feding, I use mostly (sinking) pellet foods, so there's no worry about stuff getting swept up in the current. For changing water I should perhaps unplug the heaters, but they're pretty low in the water, the room is warm, and, well, when you're water-changing 8 tanks in 45 minutes plugging and unplugging heaters means lengthening that time a good bit. -Molly Visit shelldwellers.com!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
greenmonkey51 Fish Master Posts: 1571 Kudos: 1692 Votes: 5 Registered: 28-Jan-2004	I unplug the heaters just so they won't overheat
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
Light_Bright Moderator Posts: 1156 Kudos: 1403 Votes: 351 Registered: 16-Jan-2002	I have everything on a space bar for each tank and the whole thing gets unplugged during tank maintenance. ___________________________________________ If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
Theresa_M Moderator Queen of Zoom Posts: 3649 Kudos: 4280 Votes: 790 Registered: 04-Jan-2004	I only unplug the heater. I started after a recent water change when the heater started giving off a warning 'tick tick tick...' ~~~~~~~~~~~~ There is water at the bottom of the ocean
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
bigchris Fingerling Posts: 36 Kudos: 29 Votes: 0 Registered: 02-Mar-2005	Everything off: Biolife pump and heater both go off cos a)they're fixed to a rail in my Tropiquarium and so don't stay below the waterline, b) they run off the same plug.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
sirbooks Moderator Sociopath Posts: 3875 Kudos: 5164 Votes: 932 Registered: 26-Jul-2004	I leave everything on, especially since my heater is low in the water. If I ever have a tank with a sand substrate though, I will turn the filter off during water changes. That way, I don't get sand up into the impeller and ruin it. And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
OldTimer Mega Fish USAF Retired Posts: 1181 Kudos: 1294 Votes: 809 Registered: 08-Feb-2005	I never have turned anything off - not the safest thing to be doing, but I just really don't even think about it. Jim Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
sham Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3369 Kudos: 2782 Votes: 98 Registered: 21-Apr-2004	The one thing I might turn off are the powerheads on the river tank if I'm changing alot of water but generally nothing gets turned off. The only time I've had a problem is when I was completely draining a 10g and forgot about the heater. I noticed it when smoke was coming off. Unplugged it and dumped it in one of the buckets of water. Still works. Other than that I've had no problems leaving heaters on and as far as I know they are all still working accurately.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
Cory_Di Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 7953 Kudos: 2917 Votes: 25 Registered: 19-Dec-2002	Yes, I unplug/turn off everything .....because I have a switch on my power strip. When I do a water change, the level of water is too low for the filter to run and I don't want to have to think about whether the water level is too low for the heater. So, I shut it all off at the power strip (at which time my battery operated pumps kick in - a good time to check them). I power those things off, then turn them back on. For me, it is mainly the filter and water level issue.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
T/A Mega Fish Posts: 942 Kudos: 1796 Registered: 20-Feb-2004	I only unplug my heaters. The filers and air pumps stay running. I've had sand in my tanks for almost 2 years. And the sand has never caused a problem with the filters.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
kitten Fish Guru Meow? Posts: 2266 Kudos: 2194 Votes: 19 Registered: 18-Nov-2003	I'm going to say "everything is running" because the only item that sometimes gets unplugged is the filter, depending of if it's time to service it or not. Generally, everything is left running. My heaters are all just above the substrate or as low as they can be, so I don't worry about them. The only time I turn off everything is with my betta tanks. Since they get 100% water changes, the heaters obviously have to be turned off. I've never had issues with doing things this way, so until I do, I'll keep doing it. ~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
Natalie Ultimate Fish Guru Apolay Wayyioy Posts: 4499 Kudos: 3730 Votes: 348 Registered: 01-Feb-2003	Voted For no everything is running Is one supposed to turn things off if they do a water change? I've never done that, and frankly it's never even crossed my mind. Everything still works as it's supposed to when I do a water change, so why would I turn it off? Last edited by Cory Addict at 14-Apr-2005 14:22 I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
freeblaze Enthusiast Posts: 279 Kudos: 421 Votes: 40 Registered: 27-Feb-2004	Pumps and heater yes. My gravel vac is the cheapo suction thing. I unplug the output of my fluval and drain the water into a 5 gallon bucket for water changes etc. FreeBlaze
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
bigchris Fingerling Posts: 36 Kudos: 29 Votes: 0 Registered: 02-Mar-2005	While we're talking about electrics, what does everyone do when there's a lightning storm?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
Stormy Big Fish Posts: 357 Kudos: 606 Votes: 81 Registered: 13-Mar-2004	I unplug the heaters and filters, but generally I leave the hood plugged in so I get enough light to do a good job and don't suck up anything I don't want sucked up.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
goldfishgeek Fish Addict Posts: 667 Kudos: 412 Votes: 38 Registered: 27-Oct-2003	well clearly I tempted fate by posting here. Just scared myself witless because as I was WCing the 25G the heater exploded - well it went sort of bang in the water and my life flashed before me! So i will be a good girl guide in future and switch off the heaters!! you live and learn GFG _______________________________________ Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself. Harvey S. Firestone
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
labrakitty Fish Addict Posts: 740 Kudos: 435 Votes: 9 Registered: 12-Nov-2004	I unplug and turn off everything. I think it is dangerous because if something fails and the safety switch doesn't work. You can get electricuted. It doesn't hurt to have things turned off for a about 30 mintues. I have everything plugged into a power board any way.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
alexandre Fingerling Posts: 28 Kudos: 8 Votes: 0 Registered: 15-Apr-2005	Ok, so I WOULD unplug my heater, but I really just switch it off, cause it is easier than reaching behind the whole thing.. and I leave my bio-wheel plugged in... is that really bad? Cause it is usually pretty wet anyways.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
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