current leaking into tank

[Tonycip]

I don't see how a grounding probe can be bad. If the stay current has a path to gnd it won't shock you. your tank will then be at the same potential as gnd. and f.y.i. gfci's don't monitor voltage. it works by detecting current differances from the hot and neutral lines, i.e . if any leaks to gnd or anywhere else it trips in fact you don't even need a gnd wire connected to the gfci for it to work .and it only takes 75ma of current to put your heart into fibrillation (stop beating )

 

[cveverly]

I may be all wet but the way I understand the negative side effect of grounding probes is creating the path for voltage to ground and causing current or amperage. If the tank is ungrounded it is at a stable potential. As soon as you touch it to ground it has a path to flow and it makes current.

That is why linemen can work on live circuits as long as you are not grounded there is no way for the voltage to change potential.

But then I could be full of BS. :lol:

If it were me I would find the problem and eliminate it. Using a probe is just masking the problem in my opinion.

 

[Eggs]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14484059#post14484059 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cveverly
I may be all wet but the way I understand the negative side effect of grounding probes is creating the path for voltage to ground and causing current or amperage. If the tank is ungrounded it is at a stable potential. As soon as you touch it to ground it has a path to flow and it makes current.

Bingo. It's like being in a car that is struck by lightning or a power line that has fallen on it (inside protection has nothing to do with the tires by the way). As soon as you get out of the car, the current was a path to go through.

Also, the grounding probe does not eliminate the chance that you won't receive a shock.

Don't get me wrong, I also believe you need to find and remove the source of the voltage.

 

[Paul B]

I am staying away from this one. These ground probe arguments can go on for a hundred pages and 99 of them are wrong.
Have fun

(electrician 40 years)

 

[Tonycip]

I agree you should find and eliminate the problem. BUT, If the tank is charged with electricity and is not gnd'ed the electricity has no where to go , if you touch it and create a path to gnd you will be shocked. If the tank is already at gnd potential you won’t.
My 2cents worth .
Fact. The #1 cause of electrocutions is faulty gnd's
I'm done two..

 

[rbd0331]

IMO the cause of the stray voltage (whether inducted or otherwise) should be investigated and solved. And every electrical outlet anywhere near water should be GFCI protected. I'm not an electrician or GC, but I'm pretty sure that's probably according to code. I personally prefer GFCI outlets as opposed to GFCI circuit breaker. I used to have the breaker setup, but it tripped one day due to faulty powerhead (for which I am thankful)....but it also shut off everything on that circuit, what happened to be a dedicated circuit for my whole tank. Not good.....lesson learned. So I went thru and replaced that with GFCI outlets instead.

Not only for your personal protection (and protection of any family member who might stick a hand in your tank....like a child), but I also remember reading somewhere that stray current in your tank can stress fish and that can lead to various diseases. I believe a couple of diseases mentioned were hole-in-head and lateral-line disease. How accurate that is, I can't say. I just remember reading it somewhere.
Okay, added my last $.02. I'm done also....

 

[serpentman]

I like to crank up the current until my fish have a nice glow to 'em.

Actually, not to set off a whole other debate but I could swear I read that some aquaculturing outfits are showing a small induced current in promotes growth of some corals.

Sean, be really interested to hear what Tunze says. My guess is the magnet in the pump induces the current, very similar to how a generator works.