my tank water seems to shock me... what could it be?

[agoutihead]

just out of the blue my tank now seems to shock me as i put my fingers in it.

What would possibly make it do this?

[Reefbox]

Sumberged pump/heater/powerhead/skimmer leaking juice?

Just start unplugging equipment to see which piece is shocking the tank.

[returnofsid]

I'd agree with above. Saltwater also conducts electricity much better than freshwater. I'd also suggest installing a grounding probe.

[sanababit]

just a tought besides stated above, if you have a little nick or cut specially in the nail area, you will be more subseptable of getting shocked or a shock feeling, check for stray electricity on pumps, heaters, etc and get yourself a grounding probe, good luck

sana

[Michael]

http://avdil.gtri.gatech.edu/RCM/RCM...ingProbes.html

just some info for you, im not in any way suggesting grounding probes are unnecassary, as for salt water conducting electricity more than freshwater, well regardless of that any shock is bad so do as reefbox suggested and try to find the culprit

[mixed_reefer]

This thread covers the same exact issue and has some good discussion.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1333989

[Michael]

Originally posted by mixed_reefer
This thread covers the same exact issue and has some good discussion.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1333989

this was a discussion alright, lol , basically from all i have seen i would recommend a gfi and probe together, the gfi in my opinion is a must, i know, iknow others will disagree but its what i think, and after reading about probes i think 1 of them is handy as well so the 2 together sounds like a safe combination, i still think reefbox has the right idea, find the bugger causing the trouble and get rid of it

[agoutihead]

is this goign to hurt my fish or corals in anyway?

i will say that my sump flooded my carpet and i was standing in the wet carpet with a small cut on my finger.

But still, there is obviously a problem taht i need to elinate and it seemed to do so when i turned off my lighting.

How would i fix this problem if my MH and my T5's are doing this?

This is the first time it has ever happened. I have my hands in the tank with the lights on all the time and have never had this problem.

[billsreef]

The fish and corals are not grounded, so it won't hurt them. Use a voltmeter to check for stray voltage and start unplugging equipment. When the voltage drops, that's the culprit. Once you've found the problem item, you need to determine what the fix is. If it's a heater or submersible pump, replace it. If it's the lights, you probably have a bare connector or some salt creep making contact with the bulb sockets.

[Michael]

some good points there bill, i would also say make sure you zero the voltmeter as false readings are easy with them and remember current kills not the voltage, try checking any current leaking from the tank, hence the need for a gfi

[agoutihead]

thanks alot guys, i will go inspect everything more closely when i get home.

[Untamed12]

This could be nothing more than static. Just like shuffling across the carpet and touching the metal door knob. You shuffle around, then touch the tank water.

[agoutihead]

Still seems to be happening. any cords that were hanging low to the ground i have elevated now.

This was never an issue until the sump flooded and it only seems to be when my T5's or MH are on.

Is this a fire hazard of any kind?

I need to put the MH on for a few hours at least so my coral doesnt die, but dont want to chance a fire obviously.

thanks.

[agoutihead]

well never mind because i just got shocked again and my lights are turned off.

The only other thing is a pump, titanium heater and a ATO float switch.

all which none of their plug parts were by water at any point.

I cant figure it out. I dont have a reader either

[billsreef]

Hmm, since the sump flooded, did the pump get wet? Any other items like remote ballasts that sit on the floor and might have gotten wet?

[agoutihead]

its an internal pump and no ballast and everything are all elevated.

Is this a fire hazard if i have my MH on and there is this stray voltage like this?

im supposed to move out of my moms house in 1 week. ive already flooded her house twice now in the last 2 months (long story)

The last thing i want to do is burn it down.

[Reef-LeGeNd]

current. get a ground probe son.

[pledosophy]

Dude!

There is only so many ways people can tell you to unplugg everything and plug them back in one at a time until the "shock" comes back on to find out what is doing it. I can't think of another.

Try it, will take you 5 minutes and then we can help you fix the problem instead of just talking about it.

IME I have had the culprit be, MH's, T5's, PC's, Rio powerheads, heaters, and on time even the refugium clip on lamp. It's going to be something that is plugged into the wall that is by your tank. I'll put money on it.

[billsreef]

Yup, you really need to unplug everything one at a time and when the current the disappears. Use a voltmeter to check for this, not your hand A ground probe is not the solution to leaking electrical equipment, it only hides the problem. The problem needs to be determined and fixed.

[agoutihead]

obviously i want to fix the problem ASAP, and will try my best to do so, but how large of a fire hazard is this?

[billsreef]

No one can determine how large of a fire hazard it is from the other side of a computer monitor. Depending on just what is the problem, depends on if it is a fire hazard or not. You need to get a voltmeter and figure out what's wrong, sooner is better than later. An inexpensive voltmeter can be brought from Radio Shack or Home Depot for around $20 if you don't already have one.

[vanmo92]

Saltwater is a great conductor of electricity, it is likely a pump, heater...etc. Personally I would get a grounding probe. Or better yet, find out where the voltage it coming from and fix the problem.

[goldmaniac]

will you PLEASE listen to the advice you were asking for:

unplug everything and check for voltage one piece of equipment at a time

check for salt on any outlets or power strips

now's the time to wipe off all salt creep you see with a damp towel

[agoutihead]

I am listening to the advice. But i am not able in incorporate it fully yet because of time and understanding exactly how these readers work.

[goldmaniac]

My friendly advice is to just use the cut on your finger as a gauge to what's causing the current, then turn it off. I do that sometimes. I had this problem often with PC lighting sitting on glass on my tank. turns out it was salt creep going up the cords into the fixture, for me. switched lighting so it's been a couple years since i had this issue. but paper cuts, finger scrapes, etc, are great uber-sensitive indicators.

I wish you luck, just identify it first and foremost