electricity leeching out into the aquarium

[Rogger Castells]

I actually got my first crashed in my tank due to a GFI outlet that tripped and started a serious of events that lead to the lost of almost 3/4 of the water content, needless to say, I do not like the idea of gfi's and will not have them in my next tank

 

[MikePowell]

i use a gfci but only on my CL, and lights, everything else is not on a gfci. my tank can go without CL or light for a while with out much harm but not my return, or skimmer.

 

[jeffbrig]

I still think GFCIs are the way to go for electrical safety, but you have to use multiples to keep things safe. I have my equipment spread across 5 GFCI circuits. 1 has the main pump and chiller, two cover the lighting system, and the other two cover the skimmer, tunze pumps, dosing pump, etc. I also have one of my Tunze streams on a battery backup that's non-GFCI protected. No matter what, there will always be basic water movement to keep the tank oxygenated.

Here's the layout I used when I was putting it together

I think there's a big difference in quality of GFCIs, in terms of how often they trip. I bought some inexpensive UL listed GFCIs from Harbour Freight, and they tripped every time an icecap ballast tried to turn on. I switched to the more expensive Leviton brand and I haven't had any false trips (knock on wood).