Do you use A GFCI on your tank?

[Gallan56]

Just wondering if you use a GFCI, ground fault circuit interrupter, on your tank.? If not why?

 

[serpentman]

I HIGHLY recommend GFCI's to prevent the risk of shock. I myself have been given large jolts working on or around a reef tank in the past.

The only exception would be my return pump. Given its heavy draw it can pop the GFCI when it fires up.

 

[Fdfiremedic]

I absolutely use them. Salt water and electricity not a good combo!!!!!!

 

[funkyman]

Yepper. I had the outlet that feeds my setup changed over to a GFCI before I set my tank in front of it.

If it ever goes bad I'm not sure what I'm going to do since it's trapped behind the tank now, but I'm glad I have it since it saved me at least once so far.

The GFCI was spuratically tripping out of the blue, and come to find out the housing of my return pump was all cracked up with parts of it getting wet that probably shouldn't have been.

 

[pws]

I don't use one. I should I guess but there are worse ways to die

 

[brad]

I never had one, thinking the risk of shock was less than the risk it would accidentally trip and losing my tank before I got back. I recently had an extension cord go up in front of my eyes in a spectacular ball of fire. So now I have a GFCI, but keep my Tunze streams on another circuit - that way everything will stay alive if it trips.

 

[Sump'n2do]

I don't have one at the moment but it is supposed to be installed this weekend. Crossing my fingers nothing bad happens before then.

 

[Apercula]

I have a gfci breaker on the circuit the tank is on.

 

[Eggs]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14478584#post14478584 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by serpentman
The only exception would be my return pump. Given its heavy draw it can pop the GFCI when it fires up.

You don't have to plug directly into a GFCI to get the protection they provide. If the next plug on that circuit (going towards the breaker) has one, it will offer the same protection.
In other words, if a GFCI outlet is placed somewhere on the circuit, all other outlets that follow that circuit will be get the protection (assuming the GFCI is wired correctly)
I've had to switch outlets to non-GFCI because they popped to easily. Moved up to the next outlet, you won't get the problem. The GFCI's are sensitive, it may be better to not plug the heavy duty equipment directly into one.

Basically the same concept as Apercula mentions.

 

[chuggy]

would a power strip with a circuit breaker provide the same protection?

 

[itZme]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14481847#post14481847 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chuggy
would a power strip with a circuit breaker provide the same protection?

Not really because the powerstrip will still have power going to it so if there is a problem with your tank and water pours onto it, even if the little breaker pops on the strip there will still be a saltwater/electrical mix involved.
When I ran my two dedicated 20A circuits I installed a GFI outlet on each one and then ran another 12 outlets from the "load" side of the GFI so they are all protected.
I also split my equipment between the two circuits in case one had a problem it would leave half of the equipment still powered.

I recently had a heater break and trip the GFI on one circuit but the other heaters, pumps and lights saved all the livestock until I noticed.

-- Kevin