STRONG Electricity in Water - No Effect on Fish?

fishyman · Oct 10, 2013

I was electrocuted when I dipped my hand into my aquarium about a week ago. Result was having a nasty electric shock which, I guessed, temporarily damaged the nerves in my hand as I felt pain for a whole day and had some difficulty in getting to sleep due to the pain (although not very strong pain). My internal UV filter was faulty and somehow that must be it! Tested with a test pen for 100V to 250V AC and it lit up as shown in the video below:

[video=youtube;IYtEBgUi2UI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYtEBgUi2UI[/video]

Strange thing is that the fish (arowana) in the tank is behaving normally, as if there is no electricity in the water. How is this possible? Has anyone encountered this before?

NOTE: The faulty filter is removed and now the water is safe to dip again.

UnstoppableJayD · Oct 10, 2013

yup,

I believe fish are not grounded so they are not affected. I once had a current running through my 150 and only figured out the bad accessory by unplugging each one and testing with my hand!!!!

baseballman1321 · Oct 10, 2013

By you sticking your hand in the tank you made the current go to ground which gave you a shock. And said before the fish arent grounded so the electricity doesnt flow through them but i think the stray electricity can hurt a fish through its lateral line but im not sure

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Inglorious · Oct 10, 2013

What they said, it's the same reason why birds are able to sit on power lines.

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Paulkline · Oct 10, 2013

Run a titanium probe that should stop you from getting shocked again.

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Nova 8 · Oct 11, 2013

Its the same as the way that linesmen clip onto high voltage power line to do repairs, if you don't ground you will remain safe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIjC7DjoVe8

Pet peeve: Electrocuted is death by electricity, you received an electric shock.

F1 VET · Oct 11, 2013

Always use a grounding probe with aquariums..... for some reason uv's and marineland 3 in 1 ph seem to add stray voltage to tanks..

×Go S Vettel #1 Infiniti Redbull! 3x WDC!!!×
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duanes · Oct 11, 2013

Agree with F1Vet and the others, I run the titanium probes in my tanks and they help prevent shocks. An inexpensive way to save nerve damage, and in extreme cases, heart failure.
Other causes of stray voltage can be a cracked heater, a shorting pump, and/or even badly situated light fixtures.
And even though the stray voltage doesn't shock the fish, it creates stress which can lead to disease outbreaks.

fishyman · Oct 12, 2013

Thanks for all your responses/answers and helping me have a better understanding of what's going on. :thumbsup:

MattyA · Oct 12, 2013

Would running an earth lead cause electrocution to the fish if something was to go wrong?


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STRONG Electricity in Water - No Effect on Fish?

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