Top Fin aquariums or accessories
10 reports to CPSC, the latest made Oct 16, 2026. A report isn’t a recall.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.
At a glance
From SaferProducts.gov, released Nov 5, 2026.
- 10reports to CPSC
- Oct 16, 2026the latest report was made
- Jun 12, 2012the earliest
- 7with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Top Fin
- Maker
- PetSmart, IncMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- Aquariums or accessoriesCPSC’s product type: Aquariums or Accessories (code 1240), in Hobby: Pet Supplies
Other ways the reports write the brand (4)
“TopFin”, “TOPFIN”, “Top Fin Power Filter 10 gallons” and “Topfin”
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| October 2026 | 1 |
| December 2022 | 1 |
| January 2021 | 1 |
| November 2015 | 1 |
| July 2015 | 1 |
| May 2015 | 1 |
| March 2015 | 1 |
| February 2015 | 1 |
| January 2015 | 1 |
| June 2012 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- Emergency room 1 CPSC: Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
- Hurt, no treatment 1 CPSC: Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
- Hurt, care not known 1 CPSC: Injury, Level of care not known
- No one hurt 5 CPSC: Incident, No Injury
- No incident, no one hurt 1 CPSC: No Incident, No Injury
- Not said 1 CPSC: Unspecified
As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.
The reports, as CPSC published them
Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.
Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.
CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.
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No one hurt Made Oct 16, 2026, sent to the company Oct 21, 2026, published by CPSC Nov 4, 2026
The product, in the report: TopFin aquarium hang-on-back filter for 10 gallon tall aquarium kit. Power filter.
I bought a 10 gallon tall TopFin aquarium kit. I used it for less than 50 days. Relocated aquarium to a different room which meant unplugging it temporarily and adjusting my fish to the new water. I plugged the filter in. When I went to dump the fish into the nice clean water, my hands got very tingly and the water felt like foam. Almost static-like and carbonated. This is odd. Shortly after pulling my hands out of the aquarium, they began to feel numb, tingly still and a bit hot. I unplugged the filter as it was the only thing plugged in. The water was completely normal feeling after unplugging it. 40 minutes passed. I was feeling weak and not great. I went to the ER as I have a preexisting heart condition and thought the water had a stray current in it caused by that TopFin filter. I am making this report because I am worried that there are other faulty filters being sold at PetSmart. At no point was this filter roughly handled or had any potential to be user error.
- Model
- Filter- 10g
- Bought from
- PETSMART
- Bought
- Aug 7, 2026, about then
- Where
- Fergus FALLS, Minnesota: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 24, Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand TopFin, made or sold by PetSmart, Inc
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Hurt, care not known Made Dec 20, 2022, sent to the company Dec 27, 2022, published by CPSC Jan 11, 2023
The product, in the report: Top Fin CF60 canister filter
Top Fin CF60 Canister filter. The main seal around the filter must have leaked some and shorted out the main wire and broke off inside of the top portion where it plugs in. Shocked me while taking it off and broke inside. Can see green mold all inside the plug. Luckily didnt lose any fish, but might now until I can get a new filter for my 75 gallon tank.
- Model
- TopFin CF60
- Where
- Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 28, Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Top Fin, made or sold by PetSmart, Inc
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, Level of care not known
-
No incident, no one hurt Made Jan 23, 2021, sent to the company Mar 1, 2021, published by CPSC Mar 15, 2021
The product, in the report: Top Fin Power Filter 10 it is black the size is 5.7in long by 4.6 inches wide by 12.8 inches high
I received a fish tank for my birthday yesterday and a piece of the filter like the tube attached to it had a crack but was still working so I was looking for a replacement part today and came across the recall for this product. I was planning on buying the fish tomorrow since I was going to setup the tank today.
- Model
- TopFin 10
- UPC
- There is no UPC
- Serial number
- There is no serial number on the filter
- Where
- New Canaan, Connecticut: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Top Fin Power Filter 10 gallons, made or sold by PetSmart, Inc
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- No Incident, No Injury
-
Not said Made Nov 24, 2015, sent to the company Dec 4, 2015, published by CPSC Dec 18, 2015
The product, in the report: TopFin HT250 Aquarium Heater
Heater popped very loud, started shooting fire and smoke out of the top. Lucky I was home. Was in a 75gla saltwater tank. Lots of burnt goo floating on top. Tank has 125 lbs of live rock and 75lbs of live sand with fish.
- Model
- HT250
- Bought from
- PetSmart
- Bought
- May 1, 2015, about then
- Where
- WILSON, North Carolina: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand TopFin, made or sold by PetSmart, Inc
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Unspecified
-
No one hurt Made Jul 13, 2015, sent to the company Jul 21, 2015, published by CPSC Aug 11, 2015
The product, in the report: top fin 5,5 aquarium started kit
I bought a Top Fin 5.5 Gal Aquarium Starter Kit, Item: 36-5166072 at pet smart almost six months ago. last week the LED lighting started to turning off coming back on until went off. the problem is the LED case started to get hot, eventually got melted and also the cover where the LED attach got melted. I haven’t see it until I was cleaning the aquarium couple days after the light went off. when the light went off I decide to turn off the switch off, which was the best I did since I did didn’t knew the LED case and the hood was melting. the LED case is not seal for water condensation. I just want to prevent from something worse.
- Model
- item: 36-5166072
- Bought from
- pets mart
- Bought
- Feb 11, 2015, about then
- Where
- irving, United States: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand top fin, made or sold by PetSmart, Inc
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made May 14, 2015, sent to the company Jun 2, 2015, published by CPSC Jun 16, 2015
The product, in the report: Recall number: 14-244 Previous Next Enlarge Top Fin Plastic Aquarium Heater 1 of 2 photos Top Fin Plastic Aquarium Heater Download Share Recall Summary Name of product: Aquarium heaters Hazard: The heaters are insufficiently grounded, posing a risk of electrical shock to the consumer. Remedy: View Details Refund Consumer Contact: PetSmart toll-free at (888) 839-9638 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT Monday through Friday or online at www.petsmart.com and click on News Room under About PetSmart at the bottom of the page, then click on Product Notices & Recalls for more information. Report an Incident Involving this Product Recall Details Units About 33,000 Description This recall involves all 50-, 100-, 150-, 200- and 250-watt Top Fin brand plastic aquarium heaters. The heaters are black cylinders about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and about 13 inches tall2.5 in L x 1.9 in W x 13.5 in H. Recalled heaters have model number HT50, HT100, HT150, HT200 or HT250. Lot numbers for the recalled heaters are 1839, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1907, 1908 and 1910. “Top Fin,” “Premium Aquarium Heater,” the model number and the heater’s wattage are printed on the side of the heater near the top. Below that, the lot number is printed beneath the words “Made in China.”
I was sitting in my bedroom when all of a sudden heard a boom sound coming from the living room and a glow of orange lights. I slowly peaked around the corner into the living room and smelt a plastic burning smell and noticed black stuff floating all in the tank. I started to panic because I had just purchased $200 worth of saltwater fish 2 days prior to this incident, and within 2 minutes all my fish, coral and shrimp in the tank were dead! I am asking that you reinburse me for a total of $337.00 which will cover the replacement of the fish at $200, replacement of the coral and shrimps $100 and full refund of the heater $37.
I have attached a video that I took immediately after the explosion so you can clearly see the damage in my tank, the black stuff floating and my dead fish.
Please call me with any questions. My number is [REDACTED]
Thank you, [REDACTED]
- Model
- HT200 200W
- Bought from
- Pet Smart, South Carolina
- Bought
- Jul 22, 2014
- Where
- Orlando, Florida: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Top Fin, made or sold by PetSmart, Inc
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Hurt, no treatment Made Mar 23, 2015, sent to the company Mar 30, 2015, published by CPSC Apr 13, 2015
The product, in the report: This is a 250 Watt Top fin black plastic heater for a fish tank #HT250. Lot 1927
We have had the heater for about 2 and 1/2 months. I stuck my hand in the fish tank and got shocked. Nothing is broken on it or cracked.
- Model
- HT250
- Serial number
- E230625
- Bought from
- Pet Smart, Indiana
- Bought
- Jan 2, 2015, about then
- Where
- Anderson, Indiana: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 43, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Top FIn, made or sold by PetSmart, Inc
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
-
No one hurt Made Feb 11, 2015, sent to the company Mar 10, 2015, published by CPSC Mar 24, 2015
The product, in the report: Aquarium heater
Caller stated that the aquarium heater started electrocuting her fish. She was unaware of the incident until she put her hands inside the aquarium she received minor electrical shocks from the unit. The heater tripped her breaker as well. There were no prior incidents.
The manufacturer was not contacted as yet.
Caller stated that she noticed that there was a similar recall to her heater but her model was not included.
- Model
- 1927
- Serial number
- Sku#5210565
- Bought from
- Petsmart, Pennsylvania
- Bought
- Oct 11, 2014, about then
- Where
- Berwick, Pennsylvania: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Topfin, made or sold by PetSmart, Inc
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Jan 4, 2015, sent to the company Jan 20, 2015, published by CPSC Feb 3, 2015
The product, in the report: TOPFIN Submersible Plastic Aquarium Heater 250W
Bought this heater at Northborough Ma pet smart location today because my heater in my 90 gallon tank stopped working. I got it out of the package and set it up exactly as directions stated. I put it in and not only does it not heat, i could see bubbles where the wiring goes, my daughter pulled up information on the internet stating it is recalled and can cause electrician, luckily. I unplugged and put it back in box without a shock, but I would like a solution to this. I rely on the products being safe and functional at Petsmart, and now my 90 gallon tank with very expensive fish that are already sick have no heat. Please contact me with a way to fix this issue, I am not happy whatsoever. [REDACTED]
- Model
- HT250
- Bought from
- PetSmart, Massachusetts
- Bought
- Jan 4, 2015
- Where
- Northborough, Massachusetts: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand TOPFIN, made or sold by PetSmart, Inc
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Emergency room Made Jun 12, 2012, sent to the company Jun 21, 2012, published by CPSC Jul 6, 2012
The product, in the report: Top Fin® Aquarium Starter Kit - 37 Gallon. Glass aquarium with black plastic base. Dimensions: 30”W x 12”D x 22”H; holds 37 Gallons. Currently online here: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3477413&cp=3237714.11695590&utm_campaign=bazaarvoice&utm_medium=SearchVoice&utm_source=RatingsAndReviews&utm_content=Default. Sold in stores only.
Six days after I purchased this aquarium and set it up according to the instructions in the box, the glass fractured spontaneously (nobody injured the glass, it happened on its own; and there had been no visible prior damage, and no injury to the tank in our care). I was sitting six feet away, and I watched as the fracture ruptured, forcing out a 6” tall by 12” wide section of the front wall of the aquarium. The aquarium pump then forced water and glass (as well as fish) out of the tank at a long, two-foot arc.
I was injured as I cleaned up the mess. I have a cut that was about 1.5” deep at my wrist, requiring two internal stitches, six external stitches, and antibiotics for deep tissue exposure to aquarium bacteria; I have lifelong nerve damage in that hand. I was grateful that my children weren’t home, however, since we all typically sat in the line of fire of the tank: with the force of the water being expulsed, my 3-year old daughter would have been in danger; and we all would have been at risk for the many smaller shards of glass that left with the first large sheet.
- Bought from
- PetSmart
- Bought
- Apr 26, 2012
- Where
- Alexandria, Virginia: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 35, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Top Fin, made or sold by PetSmart, Inc
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
CPSC’s disclaimer
Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.
Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.
Sources
Sources
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.
Released Nov 5, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.
Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.