Any Ideas why my tank might be shocking me?

DoctaReef · 11/12/2007, 12:49 PM

I have a 100g frag tank in a rubbermaid container in my basement. yesterday i was down there and every time i touched the water i got a minor shock, didnt hurt, but let me know it was there. Thinking some of the equipment was leaking and shorting out, I tested each powerhead and heater individually and didnt get a shock, but when I had them all plugged in, I'd feel one. Anyone have any ideas whats going on?

aquabod · 11/12/2007, 02:01 PM

i had a problem like that once,it ended up being a cracked heater,so everytime the haeter would turn on i got shocked. check the heater for cracks or leaks. good luck

djcerna · 11/12/2007, 02:22 PM

Stray voltage from electrical device. Make sure that your system has a GFCI otherwise you can really get shocked if it becomes worst.

Racing1 · 11/12/2007, 02:23 PM

It's called electricity !!! Ha Ha

I would disconnect everything and check each item using a meter to see which one is leaking the electricity. You should also have a grounding probe to keep this from injuring you and your livestock...

Good Luck

DoctaReef · 11/12/2007, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Racing1
It's called electricity !!! Ha Ha

I would disconnect everything and check each item using a meter to see which one is leaking the electricity. You should also have a grounding probe to keep this from injuring you and your livestock...

Good Luck

I did that already. Each one didnt give me a shock alone. But all did when all plugged in.
The first thing i did was check the heaters, alone, together, no cracks, no leaks. There is a current without the heaters plugged in.
Anyone know if having too many powerheads plugged in will cause a current in the tank strong enough to feel?

Arthur1 · 11/12/2007, 04:03 PM

Doc,

Stray voltage sorry to say does happen. First make sure your wall outlet is grounded. GFCIs are great to have in the place of standard outlets. Without narrowing each electrical component out you of course couldn't say who the culprit is. Also it is not a bad idea to add a titanium grounding probe as an extra precaution.

morishidle · 11/12/2007, 04:10 PM

check your surge protector they go bad quickly

makdoogle · 11/12/2007, 04:15 PM

What kind of powerstrip are you using? I had the same problem with a brand new Netwek powerstrip. Once I took that off-line problem went away.

polwick · 11/12/2007, 04:27 PM

What brands of equipment are you using? My SEIO powerhead leaked electricity.

Just Jim · 11/12/2007, 05:29 PM

I had a timer that gave me a hello...

schneijt · 11/12/2007, 05:37 PM

You say you tested each piece of electrical equipment individually, but how did you do that? Did you unplug one item at a time and see if you still got a shock from the tank? If you did that and couldn't find any single thing causing the shocks, then examine your power strips as others have said.

I had a Koralia #3 go bad on me, and I discovered it by unplugging each item at a time until I found the culprit.

-Joe

Evansbr · 11/12/2007, 05:51 PM

My GFI didn't help me out.. broke a heater in the sump, and boy does that really hurt. was a two prong heater , no ground pin on the plug and GFI didn't trip.. now I just use the 3 prong heaters...
titanium.

aquabod · 11/12/2007, 07:44 PM

my koralia 3 did that too me too!!!

REEF-n-Chicago · 11/12/2007, 08:08 PM

koralia 3 strikes again! LOL

11/12/2007, 12:49 PM	#1
DoctaReef Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Glastonbury, CT Posts: 236	Any Ideas why my tank might be shocking me? I have a 100g frag tank in a rubbermaid container in my basement. yesterday i was down there and every time i touched the water i got a minor shock, didnt hurt, but let me know it was there. Thinking some of the equipment was leaking and shorting out, I tested each powerhead and heater individually and didnt get a shock, but when I had them all plugged in, I'd feel one. Anyone have any ideas whats going on?

11/12/2007, 04:10 PM	#7
morishidle Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 97	voltz check your surge protector they go bad quickly

11/12/2007, 05:29 PM	#10
Just Jim Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: berks county PA Posts: 1,660	I had a timer that gave me a hello... __________________ Big tanks are only big to people who don't have them. Current Tank Info: 240g Double sided DT, 45g sump, 55g fuge, and now a 150g new reef

11/12/2007, 08:08 PM	#14
REEF-n-Chicago Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA (san pedro) Posts: 1,456	koralia 3 strikes again! LOL __________________ Jordan My tank gets DRUNK every morning Current Tank Info: 150 Gallon w/ 100 gallon sump; 240 gallon

11/12/2007, 02:01 PM	#2
aquabod Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: cullman,alabama Posts: 120	i had a problem like that once,it ended up being a cracked heater,so everytime the haeter would turn on i got shocked. check the heater for cracks or leaks. good luck

11/12/2007, 02:22 PM	#3
djcerna Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 116	Stray voltage from electrical device. Make sure that your system has a GFCI otherwise you can really get shocked if it becomes worst.

11/12/2007, 02:23 PM	#4
Racing1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 740	It's called electricity !!! Ha Ha I would disconnect everything and check each item using a meter to see which one is leaking the electricity. You should also have a grounding probe to keep this from injuring you and your livestock... Good Luck

11/12/2007, 04:03 PM	#6
Arthur1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cape Cod MA Posts: 578	Doc, Stray voltage sorry to say does happen. First make sure your wall outlet is grounded. GFCIs are great to have in the place of standard outlets. Without narrowing each electrical component out you of course couldn't say who the culprit is. Also it is not a bad idea to add a titanium grounding probe as an extra precaution.

11/12/2007, 04:15 PM	#8
makdoogle Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: chicago Posts: 141	What kind of powerstrip are you using? I had the same problem with a brand new Netwek powerstrip. Once I took that off-line problem went away.

11/12/2007, 04:27 PM	#9
polwick Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 165	What brands of equipment are you using? My SEIO powerhead leaked electricity.

11/12/2007, 05:37 PM	#11
schneijt Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Des Moines, IA Posts: 497	You say you tested each piece of electrical equipment individually, but how did you do that? Did you unplug one item at a time and see if you still got a shock from the tank? If you did that and couldn't find any single thing causing the shocks, then examine your power strips as others have said. I had a Koralia #3 go bad on me, and I discovered it by unplugging each item at a time until I found the culprit. -Joe

11/12/2007, 05:51 PM	#12
Evansbr Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Portland,OR Posts: 156	My GFI didn't help me out.. broke a heater in the sump, and boy does that really hurt. was a two prong heater , no ground pin on the plug and GFI didn't trip.. now I just use the 3 prong heaters... titanium.

11/12/2007, 07:44 PM	#13
aquabod Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: cullman,alabama Posts: 120	my koralia 3 did that too me too!!!