So I know we're always trying to avoid stray current. But, how about utilizing electric shock to catch a damsel in a very established reef tank? I have tried nearly everything to trap this fish. I swear he's the smartest I've ever encountered! He even "tests" the bait in the traps I setup to see if they're rigged. It's ridiculous. I was just curious if any of you have tried this or if you think a brief charge would harm the starfish, crabs, etc. also in the tank.
Electricity to catch fish
- Thread starter paca444
- Start date
Having used electroshocking for lake and river surveys, I can say that it definitely works lol. I'm not sure what kind of effect it would have on your corals though. I know any inverts like shrimp, snails, and crabs would be adversely affected and might die from the shock. Besides those caveats, electricity works very well.
Plus the fact that electricity is going to travel through saltwater much differently than through fresh water due to the higher concentrations of dissolved solutes. I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure this would make the shock much stronger. Also, electroshocking (which I too have done) in lakes and streams has a much higher, nearly unlimited water volume, while your tank does not. In the end, not something I'd try on purpose.
Arkayology
Active member
put in a bigger fish to eat the smaller one duh 
foster200
New member
Youre thread made me laugh. I just took every rock and piece of coral out of my 180 trying to get all my fish out.. then i had to put it back in. what a royal pain! its now almost 3 and im still waiting for my RO to kick out 10 more gallons of water. Blue Green Chromis are uber fast! I thought of the same thing at 7pm today. I was so frustrated I was about to pull the wire out of my lamp and toss it in.
Not entirely a bad idea. I would probably get some gold fish and a smaller tank.. buy a dimmerswitch and give it a try. Ha! I would really love to be there for that. Sounds fun
Not entirely a bad idea. I would probably get some gold fish and a smaller tank.. buy a dimmerswitch and give it a try. Ha! I would really love to be there for that. Sounds fun
Cantonesefish
with active cooling
Have you tried dynamite or cyanide?
(Just kidding!)
(Just kidding!
)
Luiz Rocha
Salty Dog
Bad idea, electricity is used to catch fish, but only in freshwater. Salinity makes sea water much more conductive, and all you will do is short-circuit whatever you are using to create the current possibly causing an explosion!
majikmike9999
New member
If you do decide that this is the route to take. Please take video, if nothing more than to post on youtube so people can see what to do, or not do depending on the outcome
rachenbrazil
Member
will be a shocking experience... if you can , please try first your trap at the beach and see if it works... will be another shocking experience for sure...
Saltwater will conduct eletricity very fast ... will short circuit the trap poles and will burn it ... and will shock everything nearby including you.
Some professional trap for fish studies does have warning against use in saltwater areas.
Saltwater will conduct eletricity very fast ... will short circuit the trap poles and will burn it ... and will shock everything nearby including you.
Some professional trap for fish studies does have warning against use in saltwater areas.
Chiefsurfer
New member
Actually there should be a VERY safe and easy way to use, and harness this experience very safely, at least to you.
You guys are all thinking about 120v AC power. I went to boat school for corrosion among other things, and we studied "accelerated" galvanic corrosion from stray current. We hooked a pewter spoon to the + side of the battery, and a Bronze bar to the negative side of the battery. Between the bronze bar and the neg. terminal we had a 12v light-bulb, which would prevent a short circuit, by introducing a KNOWN load(amps) so you don't get a short-circuit. This voltags is quite safe to humans. You could easily stick both hand in and feel NOTHING, not even what you would get from licking a 9v battery. This was done in saltwater right out of the ocean.
Also, when you did this, you could "see" the electricity moving through the water. The trick about DC power is that it ALWAYS and ONLY travels in ONE direction. From the + to the -. Basically what happened, is that the electricity grabbed the dissolved salts and minerals to move the electricity. Basically making each attom a transferrable battery. That single particle would take a voltage charge, transfer to the negative side, and deposit the charge on that item. So you actually saw a slightly "cloudy trail" of electricity from the charged salts.
To make a long story short, I could EASILY see you using this method to "stun" a fish with a LOT of safety to YOU. Cannot speak for the fish. I would suggest using TRUE stainless steel as the 2 "rods" from which you would pass electricity. If you use any other material, whatever is connected to the + side will deposit microscopic pieces of itself in the water, which I already know some of can be toxic to fish. The current, or electricity will find the fastest path, or path of least resistance, and should travel a straight-line between the 2 "rods" so you WOULD have to get the fish to swim in-between them.
You guys are all thinking about 120v AC power. I went to boat school for corrosion among other things, and we studied "accelerated" galvanic corrosion from stray current. We hooked a pewter spoon to the + side of the battery, and a Bronze bar to the negative side of the battery. Between the bronze bar and the neg. terminal we had a 12v light-bulb, which would prevent a short circuit, by introducing a KNOWN load(amps) so you don't get a short-circuit. This voltags is quite safe to humans. You could easily stick both hand in and feel NOTHING, not even what you would get from licking a 9v battery. This was done in saltwater right out of the ocean.
Also, when you did this, you could "see" the electricity moving through the water. The trick about DC power is that it ALWAYS and ONLY travels in ONE direction. From the + to the -. Basically what happened, is that the electricity grabbed the dissolved salts and minerals to move the electricity. Basically making each attom a transferrable battery. That single particle would take a voltage charge, transfer to the negative side, and deposit the charge on that item. So you actually saw a slightly "cloudy trail" of electricity from the charged salts.
To make a long story short, I could EASILY see you using this method to "stun" a fish with a LOT of safety to YOU. Cannot speak for the fish. I would suggest using TRUE stainless steel as the 2 "rods" from which you would pass electricity. If you use any other material, whatever is connected to the + side will deposit microscopic pieces of itself in the water, which I already know some of can be toxic to fish. The current, or electricity will find the fastest path, or path of least resistance, and should travel a straight-line between the 2 "rods" so you WOULD have to get the fish to swim in-between them.
Dale Gribble
In Memoriam
Lol, I'll stick with my net.
ccampbell57
Premium Member
HAHAHAHA!!!! I love it Lisa! This might be the post of the month!
majikmike9999
New member
We need to change the thread title "101 ways to torment your fish" LOL
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