Fluval heater broke--dangerous?

[Lindley]

The Fluval heater in my 50-gallon tank broke right down the middle. Not sure when, I just woke up this morning to find it that way. Maybe one of the plecos hit it wrong.

I've removed all the parts and broken glass that I could find, but I'm concerned about the possibility of dangerous chemicals from inside the heater entering the tank. I saw some rust-colored water come out of the broken tube while I was removing it.

This tank just recovered from an ick outbreak last week, I don't want more fish problems if I can help it...any advice?

I'll replace the heater first thing today.

[Goes to 11!]

If you had rust inside the heater that would indicate to me that it was leaking [& potentially not operating properly] for some time.

Rust is not good [It's basically oxidized Iron], Do a pair of massive WCs [80 or 90%] and hope for the best. You didn't mention the tank size but I would run some carbon also, Couldn't hurt anything.

[dbosman]

The main thing to watch for, is glass in the gravel, not chemicals from the innards. I've never seen anything but inert materials in heaters and I've seen a LOT of them. Getting cut from a sliver of glass inside an aquarium is potentially serious.

If you should get cut or scratched - or have cuts or scratches when servicing your tank - pay more attention to the wound than you might otherwise.