Getting shocked by tank

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T

tskemble

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 25, 2007
40
0
6
Indiana
I'm trying to decide what to do about my 90g tank. It has a charge running through the tank. Mosty coming from my rio return pump from my sump. There is a little charge being caused my a hydor heater. I had never noticed that problem until I cut my finger this weekend. The cut quickly informed me that there was a little current in the tank. I can't feel that there is anything wrong at all with my other hand or fingers.

I don't have a multimeter at home to test the water.

The fish seem normal but always seem a little stressed.

Should I be concerned about the charge? Is this stray voltage normal due to the spinning motor? Would a grounding probe fix the problem?

Thanks for any help in advance.
 
Your pump or heater may be faulty, shorted, or incorrectly grounded; be careful it most likely will get worse so you best examine all your wires and equipment or get all the hardware checked out professionally if you don't know how to do it yourself.

BTW: Due to the nature of a submerged environment even a properly grounded tank (ground probes) and/or the use of GFIs will not necessarily keep you or your fish safe from electruction.

BTW2: I experienced a very, very bad electric shock and burn as a youngman from my tank due to a faulty heater. I had noticed a slight charge before but just thought it was natural and/or from my walking across the carpet and never considered that my pump or heater might be failing.
 
Special Note: GFIs may not always trip... again due to the submerged environment... so do not trust them inherently.
 
Ricochet;3761335; said:
Special Note: GFIs may not always trip... again due to the submerged environment... so do not trust them inherently.
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This is a false statement. A GFCI works by monitoring the current between the Hot and neutral. If there is a difference of more them 5 milliamps between the current going out and the current returning the circuit is opened. The is nothing that submerged equipment can do to prevent a GFCI from working under ground fault conditions. The only reason for a GFCI not to work would be if it was faulty.
 
I would start by getting the grounding probe! If you know what piece of equipment is causing the current, replace it. If you are unsure, start unplugging things 1 at a time until you figure it out. GFCIs are a good idea but they are by no means a fail safe. I have had sparks flying all over the place from a saltwater tank I have that blew out the rear glass and the GFCI never tripped. Of course, I rushed in to start resueing the livestock and got a very nice shock.
 
Bderick67;3763108; said:
This is a false statement. A GFCI works by monitoring the current between the Hot and neutral. If there is a difference of more them 5 milliamps between the current going out and the current returning the circuit is opened. The is nothing that submerged equipment can do to prevent a GFCI from working under ground fault conditions. The only reason for a GFCI not to work would be if it was faulty.
Click to expand...

Pardon me, but I said "may not always trip"... please stop and think before you post so hastily.

It seems many are so quick to the draw... reading through some of the posts on this site many are too ready for a confrontation and over aquariums... silly. With all due respect... knock it off and grow up a little bit as this would never fly in the workplace or in any other "physical" social environment.

My point was to not trust solely in one device but to be smart and to check all wiring, devices, etc. and to be careful.

If a device shorts out (massive current going in black and white wires), the GFCI may not trip and in fact may be damaged first before it can perform its function. A circuit breaker may trip on a short circuit, but the GFCI won't if all the short circuit current is contained in the black and white wires. Therefore GFCIs need to be tested regularly if not daily.

My cousin died on a worksite due to a failed GFCI... there was no daily test procedure to test and then reset the GFVI to make sure it worked. An investigation discovered that the GFCI was burned out and the submerged environment was "likely" the cause and/or an accelerent to the accident. As everyone knows water and electricity do not play well together. He sadly learned the hard way that GFCIs are not the be all to end all and water doesn't play games.
 
Ricochet;3763830; said:
Pardon me, but I said "may not always trip"... please stop and think before you post so hastily.

It seems many are so quick to the draw... reading through some of the posts on this site many are too ready for a confrontation and over aquariums... silly. With all due respect... knock it off and grow up a little bit as this would never fly in the workplace or in any other "physical" social environment.

My point was to not trust solely in one device but to be smart and to check all wiring, devices, etc. and to be careful.

If a device shorts out (massive current going in black and white wires), the GFCI may not trip and in fact may be damaged first before it can perform its function. A circuit breaker may trip on a short circuit, but the GFCI won't if all the short circuit current is contained in the black and white wires. Therefore GFCIs need to be tested regularly if not daily.

My cousin died on a worksite due to a failed GFCI... there was no daily test procedure to test and then reset the GFVI to make sure it worked. An investigation discovered that the GFCI was burned out and the submerged environment was "likely" the cause and/or an accelerent to the accident. As everyone knows water and electricity do not play well together. He sadly learned the hard way that GFCIs are not the be all to end all and water doesn't play games.
Click to expand...

Sorry about your cousin.

The statement you made was false. GFCIs save thousands of lives daily and discouraging someone from using them is wrong. If ya don't like having you opinion criticized then don't post on a public forum, because there is a good chance someone may disagree with you.
 
Thank you for your kind words regarding my cousin.

It is not the criticism that bothers me my friend... I encourage criticism and healthy debate, however it should be "constructive criticism" and the manner in which it is approached. A blanket (and very bold) statement such as:

"This is a false statement."

is highly confrontational and really not a healthy response to encourage informative debate. You are not criticising my opinion at that point but in fact questioning my honor and/or in simpler terms "calling me a liar"... even in a court of law a judge will most likely overrule that statement and may even strike it from the records and ask for a clearer substantitated response.

What was false about my statement? GFCIs may and do fail; my cousin is unfortunately proof of that.

I am not discouraging the use of GFCIs either but they need to be used correctly and properly. Just because you have a GFCI would you jump into your bath tub with a toaster pluged into it? I hope not!

Electric devices and wiring submerged under water need to be thoroughly checked as in the case of the OP... simply buying and adding a GFCI will not solve his problem. He needs to check his equipment first.

Anyways, kind respects as I again appreciate your friendly response.
 
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