Electric Current in tank - where is it coming from?

[Empyreal]

So I was doing a water change today and I had a small cut on my pinky finger. When I put my finger into the tank it stung, and stung each time and took my hand out and put back in. I immediately thought the heater was the culprit and removed the heater. But it continued to shot me each time! The only other things in the water are the intake and out take for a fluval 406 and api filstar 3 each. Also, there are a couple of plastic tubing with airstones.

I am not sure what else could be causing this? I am concerned it is affecting my fish, although they all act normal and eat well.

I have seen many thread / comments about this and want to know your guys opinion. Thank you!

 

[Oddball]

Could be salt creep from your lights, too. You started the job, now finish it. Unplug one item at a time on your tank. When you stop getting shocked you've just unplugged the culprit.

 

[Empyreal]

Could be salt creep from your lights, too. You started the job, now finish it. Unplug one item at a time on your tank. When you stop getting shocked you've just unplugged the culprit.

Sir Yes Sir! but I shouldnt have to unplug the filters right? I dont think they would be able to conduct current through the plastic intake and outakes?

 

[justarn]

Yes the water in the pipes will conduct it if the filter is the problem.

 

[Oddball]

^^What he said^^

 

[duanes]

Because the fish aren't grounded, they are not overtly affected.
There is a theory that stray current does cause stress over time and leads to disease.
You can put a titanium grounding probe in the tank that "removes" the stray current, I have them on several tanks, where the stray came from lights, pumps are also occasionally problematic.

 

[RD.]

To be on the safe side in the future you might want to consider adding a GFCI receptacle, or breaker, upstream - as well as a grounding probe in your tank.

 

[Belly up]

Do you only feel it on the cut finger? I have a water softener that does the same thing to me. If I have any kind of cut the salt in the water makes it feel like I am getting shocked, when in reality it`s just the salt tingling my nerves.

 

[BrookKeeper]

Do you only feel it on the cut finger? I have a water softener that does the same thing to me. If I have any kind of cut the salt in the water makes it feel like I am getting shocked, when in reality it`s just the salt tingling my nerves.

This was my thought... I wonder why you would only feel it on the cut finger? You could test this easily enough by scooping some tank water into a cup and sticking your finger in there...

 

[ShadowP]

Because the fish aren't grounded, they are not overtly affected.
There is a theory that stray current does cause stress over time and leads to disease.
You can put a titanium grounding probe in the tank that "removes" the stray current, I have them on several tanks, where the stray came from lights, pumps are also occasionally problematic.

ACTUALLY NO!!
The stray VOLTAGE is then shorted to ground as long as the lead from the probe is grounded properly.
The stray CURRENT must still flow from the source providing it, to the probe itself, and this still means the water in the tank is conducting the current.
What the probe does is provides a SAFE Path for the current to flow to ground rather than to flow up the arm, through, the heart, out the other arm (if it is grounded) or down and out the feet if your floor just happens to be wet.
It does not fix the problem... it only minimizes the danger. It is still best to find the faulty device and either have it repaired or replaced.