How much is too much stray voltage?

hurleybob · 11/21/2009, 10:04 PM

I've got some stray voltage but its just alittle from each piece of equipment. About .7 to 1.4 from each piece and about 12volt total. No salt creep from lights. Polyps closed up but some are starting to open.

jayk198030 · 11/21/2009, 10:12 PM

any measurable stray voltage is not a good thing. make sure all equipment is plugged in to a GFI for your safety. fix or replace any faulty equipment. also ground any equipment so any stray voltage has a safe path to ground.

jonrauh · 11/21/2009, 11:06 PM

+1
any is bad.

Peter Eichler · 11/21/2009, 11:14 PM

-2

If measuring with a multimeter there is 0 chance of not having some sort of voltage in an aquarium with electrical equipment. What you're experiencing is pretty typical and I wouldn't worry about it. There's not really any solid evidence that stray voltage is even harmful to anything we typically keep in our aquariums. Really all you're trying to avoid is faulty equipment that is leaking more voltage than usual.

hurleybob · 11/22/2009, 10:39 AM

evrythings plugged into surge strips which are plugged into gfci in wall. should i get a ground probe or would that be a waste of time and money?

dave3112 · 11/22/2009, 10:43 AM

Waste of time and money. I totally agree with Peter.

JAustin · 11/22/2009, 10:46 AM

A ground probe provides a path for the current to follow, i don't want that in my tank. I would rather the current not go anywhere....well until you put your hand in the tank, then it finds it's way through you. I've got 9v of stray (stings when i've got a cut in my finger) but i know it's coming from a heater that's due to be replaced anyway. Without that heater it's 1.8v. I would consider what you have to be normal and no action is required.

Again, just IMO

jbird69 · 11/22/2009, 10:51 AM

I have some in my tank. Never measured how much. I know exactly what it is, its my diy ATO float switch, so it only happens for a momment at a time. The only way I notice it is if I have a cut on my finger. I just ordered a new ato kit to try to eliminate it.

xmasia · 11/22/2009, 11:12 AM

i also have been told that you will have some stray volltage and to only use a ground probe when working in the tank.

hurleybob · 11/22/2009, 12:38 PM

Well I dont feel anything when i put my hand in the tank. And i usually have a cut or two on my hands from work. Theres still only two or three polyps open out of about 60, and some snails not really moving. What eles may that be?

xmasia · 11/22/2009, 12:41 PM

you may want to post more info on your tank. parms., size, sump/fuge,skimmer ect.

hurleybob · 11/22/2009, 12:47 PM

55g 20fuge octo110 and 3 maxi jet 12s Parms. check out good that was the first thing i did was go and buy anothe test kit. Pretty much the same results with both kits. API reermaster and Red Sea marine lab.

tkeracer619 · 11/22/2009, 12:56 PM

what is "good"?

Have you dipped them and looked for pests?

JHemdal · 11/22/2009, 03:54 PM

+1 on what Peter said. I think that "stray voltage" is a misnomer - how about "induced voltage"? Stray implies some sort of a short-circuit, that is "straying" from where it is supposed to be. Aquarium equipment should be on a GFCI, and I always go for UL listed devices, but there is no correlation between this measurable voltage and diseases like HLLE.

Jay

hurleybob · 11/22/2009, 05:29 PM

Just got back home and did another test. Here are the parms Ph 8.0-8.2, N03 0, N02 0.05, Alk 1.7-2.8, Ca2 480. And from test before that is about what it was before everthing closed up and nerite snails stopped. fish, crabs, and nassatius snails seem to be doing fine. Havnt done a dip but picked them up and didn't see anything on them. Have to go get water tomorrow so i'll dip'm then.

11/21/2009, 10:04 PM	#1
hurleybob Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: wilmington,nc Posts: 23	How much is too much stray voltage? I've got some stray voltage but its just alittle from each piece of equipment. About .7 to 1.4 from each piece and about 12volt total. No salt creep from lights. Polyps closed up but some are starting to open.

11/21/2009, 10:12 PM	#2
jayk198030 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tag, your it! Posts: 783	any measurable stray voltage is not a good thing. make sure all equipment is plugged in to a GFI for your safety. fix or replace any faulty equipment. also ground any equipment so any stray voltage has a safe path to ground. __________________ I feel like 1.025 and i look like skimmate. I eat crap and throw up! What am I? Current Tank Info: I need help!!

11/21/2009, 11:06 PM	#3
jonrauh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Muir Beach Posts: 119	+1 any is bad. __________________ <º))))>< Have fun every day! ><))))º> Current Tank Info: mixed reef 215gallon also clown breeding set up

11/22/2009, 10:43 AM	#6
dave3112 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Athens, AL Posts: 265	Waste of time and money. I totally agree with Peter. __________________ Deo Vindice Current Tank Info: 65 Gal AGA 6X39W T5 HO. 75 Gallon sump/refugium with cryptic zone. ASM G3 Skimmer. 2 Vortec MP10.

11/22/2009, 10:51 AM	#8
jbird69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The beautiful State of Jefferson Posts: 2,751	I have some in my tank. Never measured how much. I know exactly what it is, its my diy ATO float switch, so it only happens for a momment at a time. The only way I notice it is if I have a cut on my finger. I just ordered a new ato kit to try to eliminate it. __________________ Broke Back Mountain is not a movie, its the pile of dead ninjas in Chuck Norris' back yard

11/21/2009, 11:14 PM	#4
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	-2 If measuring with a multimeter there is 0 chance of not having some sort of voltage in an aquarium with electrical equipment. What you're experiencing is pretty typical and I wouldn't worry about it. There's not really any solid evidence that stray voltage is even harmful to anything we typically keep in our aquariums. Really all you're trying to avoid is faulty equipment that is leaking more voltage than usual.

11/22/2009, 10:39 AM	#5
hurleybob Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: wilmington,nc Posts: 23	evrythings plugged into surge strips which are plugged into gfci in wall. should i get a ground probe or would that be a waste of time and money?

11/22/2009, 10:46 AM	#7
JAustin Acropora Nut Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 1,628	A ground probe provides a path for the current to follow, i don't want that in my tank. I would rather the current not go anywhere....well until you put your hand in the tank, then it finds it's way through you. I've got 9v of stray (stings when i've got a cut in my finger) but i know it's coming from a heater that's due to be replaced anyway. Without that heater it's 1.8v. I would consider what you have to be normal and no action is required. Again, just IMO

11/22/2009, 11:12 AM	#9
xmasia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Des Moines Posts: 85	i also have been told that you will have some stray volltage and to only use a ground probe when working in the tank.

11/22/2009, 12:38 PM	#10
hurleybob Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: wilmington,nc Posts: 23	Well I dont feel anything when i put my hand in the tank. And i usually have a cut or two on my hands from work. Theres still only two or three polyps open out of about 60, and some snails not really moving. What eles may that be?

11/22/2009, 12:41 PM	#11
xmasia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Des Moines Posts: 85	you may want to post more info on your tank. parms., size, sump/fuge,skimmer ect.

11/22/2009, 12:47 PM	#12
hurleybob Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: wilmington,nc Posts: 23	55g 20fuge octo110 and 3 maxi jet 12s Parms. check out good that was the first thing i did was go and buy anothe test kit. Pretty much the same results with both kits. API reermaster and Red Sea marine lab.

11/22/2009, 12:56 PM	#13
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	what is "good"? Have you dipped them and looked for pests? __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

11/22/2009, 03:54 PM	#14
JHemdal Moved On Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,971	+1 on what Peter said. I think that "stray voltage" is a misnomer - how about "induced voltage"? Stray implies some sort of a short-circuit, that is "straying" from where it is supposed to be. Aquarium equipment should be on a GFCI, and I always go for UL listed devices, but there is no correlation between this measurable voltage and diseases like HLLE. Jay

11/22/2009, 05:29 PM	#15
hurleybob Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: wilmington,nc Posts: 23	Just got back home and did another test. Here are the parms Ph 8.0-8.2, N03 0, N02 0.05, Alk 1.7-2.8, Ca2 480. And from test before that is about what it was before everthing closed up and nerite snails stopped. fish, crabs, and nassatius snails seem to be doing fine. Havnt done a dip but picked them up and didn't see anything on them. Have to go get water tomorrow so i'll dip'm then.