Heater Blew up in my QT tank!!!

[badasstang]

I set up my QT tank on thursday, and bought a new heater on tuesday. Well last night I woke up hearing a loud sound (the saltwater tank, and qt tank are both in my bedroom)...and when I got to the tank, major flames and sparks in the heater were going on . I managed to get it unplugged, and went back to bed. Which was hard to do, because it stunk BAD. Anyways, I got to it this morning, the glass broke in the tank (just split actually)...is this bad for the water?
Also, I added half of the water of the qt tank from my display tank, and mixed up some new for the rest...about how long do I have to wait for it to be all ready to be used? This is considering that the heater didn't F up my water.

 

[eeldarb21]

i would do a water change to be on the safe side..and wait it out testing the water every other day...
What kind of heater was it? I'll make sure never to buy that kind! Where did u buy it? I would go back and rasie some hell... but it might also be a defective heater so you will have to take it up with the manufacture....
I would be pissed to, so don't feel bad!

 

[badasstang]

It was just a cheapy, Radiant, but I have that same one on my other tiny tank, with no problems. I bought it at my favorite LFS, and I won't raise any hell, but they should understand. My tank got a leak in it awhile back, and I brought it in there, they didn't ask for a receipt or anything, so I am pretty sure it won't be too bad.
Anyways, how much of a waterchange should I do? It is a 10 gallon.
Do these really go through a cycle? What makes the ammonia spike, if there is nothing in there to die?

 

[dreeves]

If the 10 hasnt been cycled...or needed right away...it is best (I think) to drain it and give it a good rinsing with some running water and a brush. The reason I say this is the heater contains insulation of some fashion, and in this insulation could be potential contaminants.
I forgot to unplug a heater one time in my 32 gallon water stash...blew up when I put water in...left a really nasty, very fine particle haze in the water which came from the insulation.
As for the cycling...us some dead stuff...like shrimp from the grocery store....someones ex-wife...those sorts of things work well...