Voltage leak? And STN question...

zachslow · 11/18/2010, 02:50 PM

Hey everyone,

I have a pretty stocked and established SPS tank. It's been moving along fine for years and just recently i started having a major STN problem. All of my parameters are rock solid and nothing had really changed in the tank recently--so i'm at a bit of a loss as to why this is happening. Everyday I'm watching more and more colonies starting to STN from the bottom up--it sucks.

The next thing I'm hoping to check for is stray current in my tank. Is there a voltage tester on the market I can use to check for a stray current in my tank? If so, i'd love to hear the name and possibly a link for the item.

Lastly, an aquarium maintenance guy I know suggested I dose Chemi-Clean once as he said it's possible there is a bacteria strain in my tank causing the STN. I've never heard of this train of thought. Has anyone else?

Much thanks!

Allmost · 11/18/2010, 03:09 PM

Hello,
any voltmeter/current meter would work, even the ones from HD.

have you checked the salinity and calibrated your refractometer lately ?
I was going through the same process a couple weeks back, re-calibrated the refractometer and salinity dropped to 31 PPT ! which caused some STN, corrected the salinity and boom, SPS back to normal ! just something to be sure about

zachslow · 11/18/2010, 05:00 PM

Thanks! Yes, I've checked and recalibrated my refractometer. I actually have two just to make double sure.

So, I know this is probably a silly question, but do you just put the probe on the voltmeter into the water to run the test?

Allmost · 11/18/2010, 05:10 PM

oh that's good

to check for stray voltage in your tank, get one of those cheap volt meters, set it to "AC 120 volt" . then place the Ground probe (the black one) inside the THIRD AND ROUND GROUNDing hole in electrical panel (dont electrocute yourself ! be sure you are putting it in the middle one) and put the red probe in the tank water, and check the needle. any movement would show volt difference between common ground and ure tank.

then IF you see stray voltage, turn the pumps and heaters off one by one till it disapears, to find what is causing it

Good luck, and hopefully you can find the cause soon

zachslow · 11/18/2010, 05:54 PM

awesome. thanks so much! very appreciated

11/18/2010, 02:50 PM	#1
zachslow Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: san francisco, ca Posts: 153	Voltage leak? And STN question... Hey everyone, I have a pretty stocked and established SPS tank. It's been moving along fine for years and just recently i started having a major STN problem. All of my parameters are rock solid and nothing had really changed in the tank recently--so i'm at a bit of a loss as to why this is happening. Everyday I'm watching more and more colonies starting to STN from the bottom up--it sucks. The next thing I'm hoping to check for is stray current in my tank. Is there a voltage tester on the market I can use to check for a stray current in my tank? If so, i'd love to hear the name and possibly a link for the item. Lastly, an aquarium maintenance guy I know suggested I dose Chemi-Clean once as he said it's possible there is a bacteria strain in my tank causing the STN. I've never heard of this train of thought. Has anyone else? Much thanks!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
STN and voltage leak	sowellj	SPS Keepers	3	06/16/2010 07:37 PM
Every single piece of equipment contributes to tank voltage	Crazed	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	22	03/19/2010 06:23 AM
voltage leaking	rodd1rj	New to the Hobby	4	11/12/2006 01:25 PM
Tunze voltage leak?	drtango	Tunze	2	02/20/2005 10:57 AM

11/18/2010, 03:09 PM	#2
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	Hello, any voltmeter/current meter would work, even the ones from HD. have you checked the salinity and calibrated your refractometer lately ? I was going through the same process a couple weeks back, re-calibrated the refractometer and salinity dropped to 31 PPT ! which caused some STN, corrected the salinity and boom, SPS back to normal ! just something to be sure about

11/18/2010, 05:00 PM	#3
zachslow Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: san francisco, ca Posts: 153	Thanks! Yes, I've checked and recalibrated my refractometer. I actually have two just to make double sure. So, I know this is probably a silly question, but do you just put the probe on the voltmeter into the water to run the test?

11/18/2010, 05:10 PM	#4
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	oh that's good to check for stray voltage in your tank, get one of those cheap volt meters, set it to "AC 120 volt" . then place the Ground probe (the black one) inside the THIRD AND ROUND GROUNDing hole in electrical panel (dont electrocute yourself ! be sure you are putting it in the middle one) and put the red probe in the tank water, and check the needle. any movement would show volt difference between common ground and ure tank. then IF you see stray voltage, turn the pumps and heaters off one by one till it disapears, to find what is causing it Good luck, and hopefully you can find the cause soon

11/18/2010, 05:54 PM	#5
zachslow Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: san francisco, ca Posts: 153	awesome. thanks so much! very appreciated