Equipment Volt Leakage

[nzafi]

I created a similar thread in General Aquarium outlining my issue with volts in the water. For this thread, I am just wondering if people have experienced this issue on a variety of equipment. I literally have all of my equipment showing volts except for my filter which is a HMF run by an air pump so it would never happen. Here is what I am seeing:
Nothing connected but air pump: 8v (potentially coming from lights sitting on glass canopy)
Each 300w finex heater: jumps from 8 to 34v
Finnex controller: jumps from 8 to 100v
Hydor Koralia 1650 Power head: jumps from 8 to 30v

Does anyone else consistently measure their equipment and see similar readings? I cant believe there is 0 volts from most folks equipment. I have purchased a grounding rod but I am trying to figure out if I throw all the equipment in the garbage or try to at least salvage the powerhead or some of the heateres. I am definitely replace the controller with a Ranco controller.

 

[skjl47]

Hello; back a few decades ago when tanks had stainless steel metal frames and the light fixtures were also stainless steel, it was common to have current in the water. Sometimes just enough for me to feel it when I stuck my hand it the water. A few times a pretty good bite. Never seemed to bother the fish that much or I missed the effect.

I eventually figured some of it was water vapor condensing in the light hoods or somehow with heaters. You may not believe it but the early lights had no barrier at all between the water and the lights. Had a few incandescent bulbs explode when a large fish would splash water. I eventually cut glass sheets to place under my old style lights.
Even with the lights turned off there is still current in a hood up to the switch. This high humidity air and light condensation may give a path for some current.

 

[monkeybike]

We used to sell a grounding probe back in the day. It was marketed to prevent hith in marine fish from voltage before they figured out that carbon was the issue.