Tank Conductivity Issue - Charge in the Water Questions

Vegas_ReefMan · 07/14/2006, 08:21 PM

I was wondering how you tell if your ground probes are working??? I have 2 nine inch grounding probes mounted in the tank one at each end, and their eyeloop connector piece is screwed into the wooden stand into a metal washer. I did the same for the nine inch grounding probe that i have in the sump. How do you measure the conductivity or charge in the tank and sump, to check for peripherals (like pumps or heaters) that are leaking current into the tank. Thanks again Reefers!

^__^

Vegas_ReefMan · 07/14/2006, 08:38 PM

What's weird is I see tons of snails gathering at both of the grounding probes that are in the main tank. The snails moved to around the tops of the grouding probes, I dont know if this means that their is current in the tank. I have two tunze 6080 powerheads in the main tank. Thanks again Reefers!

^__^

Rothie · 07/14/2006, 09:28 PM

The washer is not grounded.You need to connect the eye to a screw on an electrical outlet.Better yet get the type of ground probe that has a 3 prong cord.You just plug it in to any outlet to pick up a ground-this is all assuming your outlets are grounded as they should be.

Vegas_ReefMan · 07/14/2006, 11:01 PM

I tried the 3 prong ones, but they still had an eyeloop... Which needed to be screwed to a ground. So what is the proper way to ground the eyeloop using the wooden stand and a metal washer or something else? Thanks again!

Vegas_ReefMan · 07/14/2006, 11:21 PM

What do you connect the eye to a screw on the electrical outlet. Meaning where on the outlet exactly? Or where exactly, if i were to ground it to a power strip with multiple outlets? Thanks for your help!

Rothie · 07/15/2006, 07:27 AM

You dont have to use the eyeloop on the type with the 3 prong plug.It can be used either way.If you use the 3 prong type you can just plug it into a power stip or outlet.
If you only have the eyeloop,it can't be grounded through the power strip,it has to be grounded to the wall outlet.Remove the screw on the outlet cover plate,scrape off the paint on the back of the cover plate screw,slip the eyeloop over the back of the screw,and screw the screw back into the outlet cover.

Vegas_ReefMan · 07/15/2006, 09:42 AM

Thanks Rothie, you're the best! I think i better get the 3 prong versions as that is far easier! Can the whole probe be submerged in the water? Or can only the metal part of the probe be in the water, and the part where the cord hooks to the probe be above the water? Or can the whole thing be submerged? Thanks

Rothie · 07/15/2006, 11:13 AM

I submerge the entire probe.I do this in order to hide it behind rocks.As long as the plug is dry,you are safe.Be sure to create a drip loop(a long "U" in the cord).The bottom of the "U" needs to be lower than the receptical.If water drips down the cord from the tank,it will drip on the floor instead of down the cord and into the receptical.

Vegas_ReefMan · 07/15/2006, 01:23 PM

Thanks!

07/14/2006, 08:21 PM	#1
Vegas_ReefMan Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 316	Tank Conductivity Issue - Charge in the Water Questions I was wondering how you tell if your ground probes are working??? I have 2 nine inch grounding probes mounted in the tank one at each end, and their eyeloop connector piece is screwed into the wooden stand into a metal washer. I did the same for the nine inch grounding probe that i have in the sump. How do you measure the conductivity or charge in the tank and sump, to check for peripherals (like pumps or heaters) that are leaking current into the tank. Thanks again Reefers! ^__^

07/14/2006, 08:38 PM	#2
Vegas_ReefMan Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 316	What's weird is I see tons of snails gathering at both of the grounding probes that are in the main tank. The snails moved to around the tops of the grouding probes, I dont know if this means that their is current in the tank. I have two tunze 6080 powerheads in the main tank. Thanks again Reefers! ^__^

07/14/2006, 09:28 PM	#3
Rothie Registered Member. Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Dunnellon,FL Posts: 1,277	The washer is not grounded.You need to connect the eye to a screw on an electrical outlet.Better yet get the type of ground probe that has a 3 prong cord.You just plug it in to any outlet to pick up a ground-this is all assuming your outlets are grounded as they should be.

07/14/2006, 11:01 PM	#4
Vegas_ReefMan Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 316	I tried the 3 prong ones, but they still had an eyeloop... Which needed to be screwed to a ground. So what is the proper way to ground the eyeloop using the wooden stand and a metal washer or something else? Thanks again!

07/14/2006, 11:21 PM	#5
Vegas_ReefMan Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 316	What do you connect the eye to a screw on the electrical outlet. Meaning where on the outlet exactly? Or where exactly, if i were to ground it to a power strip with multiple outlets? Thanks for your help!

07/15/2006, 07:27 AM	#6
Rothie Registered Member. Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Dunnellon,FL Posts: 1,277	You dont have to use the eyeloop on the type with the 3 prong plug.It can be used either way.If you use the 3 prong type you can just plug it into a power stip or outlet. If you only have the eyeloop,it can't be grounded through the power strip,it has to be grounded to the wall outlet.Remove the screw on the outlet cover plate,scrape off the paint on the back of the cover plate screw,slip the eyeloop over the back of the screw,and screw the screw back into the outlet cover.

07/15/2006, 09:42 AM	#7
Vegas_ReefMan Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 316	Thanks Rothie, you're the best! I think i better get the 3 prong versions as that is far easier! Can the whole probe be submerged in the water? Or can only the metal part of the probe be in the water, and the part where the cord hooks to the probe be above the water? Or can the whole thing be submerged? Thanks

07/15/2006, 11:13 AM	#8
Rothie Registered Member. Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Dunnellon,FL Posts: 1,277	I submerge the entire probe.I do this in order to hide it behind rocks.As long as the plug is dry,you are safe.Be sure to create a drip loop(a long "U" in the cord).The bottom of the "U" needs to be lower than the receptical.If water drips down the cord from the tank,it will drip on the floor instead of down the cord and into the receptical.

07/15/2006, 01:23 PM	#9
Vegas_ReefMan Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 316	Thanks!