GROUNDING YOUR RAY TANKS

[Darin]

Hey all,

Just want to share with you a study I have been working on for the past 6 months now. I have invested alot of time into this theory of grounding tanks.
( ground probe). I have found that freshwater and saltwater rays can be stressed with stray current ( voltage ). Using meters that detect very low volts and stray magnetic current I have found that in several applications that most peoples tanks have some stray currents going through them, you will not be able to feel it yourself but your rays will. I started grounding my ray ponds about 7 years ago. Over the past 6 months have done alot of research on tis and have really found that it is something that all ray keepers should do. It can and will stress rays. It can do harm in a short amount of time and over longer periods as well. Can not say if it will harm all all , but for 5 bucks for a ground probe I would not pass on doing this. Just some info for the good of ray keeping. You can find ground probes on line or can make your own as well. Just make sure it is grounded properly.
Even very small amounts of stray current can stress a ray, even to death !
Heaters and pumps give off stray currents. If you have a good meter you can see for your self.
Hope this helps !
Darin . / Tfd.

 

[davo]

Just wondering is this just something you noticed, or you actually experimented with and got results kind of thing that you could show us, if you got anything written down, would be cool to read. Anyway, nice tip, interesting news.

 

[Darin]

This is all documented results and logs were kept through the experiment.
I will sum up the experiment and post it here all together of the actual readings of voltage and currents and how the rays acted, eating habbits , activness etc......

 

[rallysman]

What is the proper way to test for stray currents? I've heard people say "just stick the multi-meter probes in the tank". That doesnt make sense to me. I've always wondered the proper way.

 

[Darin]

The meter needs to be able to read nano volts and mili amps.
Need to check to ground and a complete "loop". Take your probes . Positive in water neg. to ground , see if your getting a reading of any resistance.
Then check to source , meaning resistance in water with both probes.
Check nano and mili amps and then resistance, similiar to conductivity but on the mili - volt selection of your meter. If the needle moves there is current in the water. Probibly from a heater. Most pumps are secure, but not all. Uv bulbs ( if you run uv ) are also known for stray voltage as well.
I would like to run even more testing on this subject, but just no time right now , will be doing more soon.
I will post a full report and how the results were obtained over the weekend.

 

[rallysman]

Damn. I have some pretty sensitive test equipment but nothing that reads nanovolts...

 

[Darin]

I bought my meter on ebay for 60 bucks, used but works good. Dont buy the meter, just spend 5 bucks and get the probe and your covered.
Interesting what can do.

 

[Darin]

Mili volt selection will also work, just wont get as detailed reading that all, but you can still see if you have a jump in the needle.

 

[Bderick67]

Hey all,

Just want to share with you a study I have been working on for the past 6 months now. I have invested alot of time into this theory of grounding tanks.
( ground probe). I have found that freshwater and saltwater rays can be stressed with stray current ( voltage ). Using meters that detect very low volts and stray magnetic current I have found that in several applications that most peoples tanks have some stray currents going through them, you will not be able to feel it yourself but your rays will. I started grounding my ray ponds about 7 years ago. Over the past 6 months have done alot of research on tis and have really found that it is something that all ray keepers should do. It can and will stress rays. It can do harm in a short amount of time and over longer periods as well. Can not say if it will harm all all , but for 5 bucks for a ground probe I would not pass on doing this. Just some info for the good of ray keeping. You can find ground probes on line or can make your own as well. Just make sure it is grounded properly.
Even very small amounts of stray current can stress a ray, even to death !
Heaters and pumps give off stray currents. If you have a good meter you can see for your self.
Hope this helps !
Darin . / Tfd.

Current is not voltage, current is amperage. You would have to measure with an amp meter to measure current. With a volt meter you can measure the difference of potiental(one lead in the water and one lead to the ground prong of your outlet recepticle).

 

[Darin]

Much better put, appreciate the input, really do.
Not to good with the proper language of electricity. Know how it works ( well sort of lol ! ). Anyway, yes you are 100% correct. In the study I checked both amps and voltage. Above post I was talking about different selections on the meter to measure different readings.
Thanks again.