power head

rolikesfish · 09/03/2010, 08:59 PM

I just wanted to know why do powerheads sometimes leak electricity into the aquarium, and how do you prevent this?

Percula9 · 09/03/2010, 09:08 PM

Power heads leak because they function by induced current. It is this induced current that spin the pumps impeller. This induced current also induces a small current in the water.You can't prevent this. The fish do not feel the current. It's like birds on a high tension wire. The current goes through harmlessly. If you ground the tank, that will make everything feel the current. What you have is potential only.

09/03/2010, 08:59 PM	#1
rolikesfish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 137	power head I just wanted to know why do powerheads sometimes leak electricity into the aquarium, and how do you prevent this?

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09/03/2010, 09:08 PM	#2
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	Power heads leak because they function by induced current. It is this induced current that spin the pumps impeller. This induced current also induces a small current in the water.You can't prevent this. The fish do not feel the current. It's like birds on a high tension wire. The current goes through harmlessly. If you ground the tank, that will make everything feel the current. What you have is potential only.