Here's a questions for the GENIUSES!!

[jonnywater]

What algae can survive 250+ degree temps in an aquarium tank?
My heater is COMPLETELY covered with a green algae at the bottom of it. Where it gets the hottest. Now we have all most likely touched our heaters at the bottom when they were on at some point and know that they definetely go over 150+ degrees at the least. So who wants to take a guess?

 

[dburr]

No genuis here, but I really don't think the heater gets that hot. The water all around it will keep it from reaching more that a few degrees that the water is.
And my guess is you have coraline stuck to it. I always do in my tank.

 

[jonnywater]

All I know is that if your wrap your hand around your heater, even under water, it can still scold your hand. I had a friend do it. And that is why I was wondering about the algae bloom that is GREEN!!

 

[my way]

When you hold your hand around it you are blocking the ability of the water to dissipate the heat are'nt you? just a thought, but there has to be some validity (is that really a word?) to this

 

[thegrog]

My IQ is only 138, so I'm not quite a "Genius", but here goes.

Under water, the heater glass does not actually get that hot. If it did, the water around it would boil. The heater coil itself gets that hot, but is insulated and the heat dissapated by the water. If you turn your heater on when outside of water, it will get hot enough to burn a hole in carpet and start a small fire (trust me on this one, did it when was 15 when cleaning my tank......my mom was soooooo mad!).
Here is my theory on your algae. You could have some coralline growth on your heater that is acting as an insulator. During the summer months, the heaters don't kick on as much (mine rarely at all) and this gives the coralline a chance to grow. With a layer of coralline acting as insulation, the green algae can get a foothold and grow.
There are species of algae that live around deep sea thermal vents. That water reaches over 500 degrees (can do so without boiling because of the pressure). Somehow I doubt you got that in your tank though.
So, take your heater out, and give it a good cleaning with vinegar (rinse well). I bet you don't get algae on the hot part again! Will also keep it from cycling as often.

 

[thegrog]

Originally Posted by My Way
When you hold your hand around it you are blocking the ability of the water to dissipate the heat are'nt you? just a thought, but there has to be some validity (is that really a word?) to this
Yes, that theory does have validity (real word). The heat is dissipated by the water, but it is still hot enough to burn your skin with or without the water dissipation. Your skin will burn at temps far lower than water boils at.

 

[dejaco]

Quick fix, next time you are doing maintainance on tank, remove the heater,
place in a shallow dish and pour a little white vinegar over it. The algae is most likely a green coraline, and the acid in the vinegar will remove it. Rinse it off good and reinstall it.

 

[jonnywater]

I had to scrape it off with a spatuala. The algae was a thick, caked, disgusting, nasty, green, solid (but mushy) chunk of green garbage that had completely covered the coil area. Also I think water needs to get to 350 in order to boil doesnt it? I could be wrong. I never said that it went that high. 150 is about 35-40 degrees hotter then the average hot tub temperature. 250 is not that much worse but can still scold you like that one guy indicated.
Either way it was nasty and my hermits are eating what is left of it on the sand bed.

 

[thegrog]

 

[jonnywater]

 

[thegrog]

 

[jonnywater]

 

[colorteck]