Just needing to bounce some thoughts off of everyone

[breutus]

Okay, so I was playing around with the tank tonight and I got a small shock again when I put my hand in. This is pretty normal for my tank I don't have a grounding probe because I have always thought I didn't want to give the tank a ground to actually start shocking everything, though this point I am not sure of, since if I am getting electricity in I would figure there is a ground point for it to go out on. So I don't know, maybe it is still shocking everything in the tank. Either way a ground probe does not seem like the answer IMHO getting the electricity out does (easy said then done).

But I decided I was gonna stick a volt meter to the tank and see how much voltage I was getting. I stuck one end in the ground prong of the nearest outlet and the other in my tank water and :eek2: WOW, I was expecting to see maybe 5 or 6 volts but instead I read 30 volts!!!

I did end up tracing down most of the sources and am fixing them but some of it is not going to be easily gotten rid of being its my main pump and stuff.

What I am really curios about is what everyone else's is reading at? what is acceptable voltage in the tank

If some of the guys on here that have established tanks, that there corals are doing well in, could stick a volt meter in there tank and give me a reading it would be much appreciated, Just make sure you don't have a grounding probe attached when you do your reading.

I would like to also know everyones thought on the grounding probe issue here especially some of the electricians on the board. Is it better to put a ground source and make Voltage flow to it? Wouldn't there still be a ground point if the electricity makes it into the tank? Doesn't a ground probe just make sure everything in the tank is getting shocked

Sorry for the long winded post Just really curious about this!

 

[logiktest]

I have some pumps. if you would like to borrow one to help you find out more about your situation, your more than welcome to.

Just my unexperienced opinion, but I would be more concerned with locating and resolving the source of the problem(return pump), than trying to place some sort of band-aid(grounding post) on it. Not saying to not use a grounding post - I just think that you should try to eliminate the problem as opposed to lessening it. I also believe if there is enough juice to shock you, that is an unacceptable level of voltage for your tanks occupants.

 

[fazgood]

What type of volt meter did you use? A new DVM will almost always give a reading like that. If you had an old analog meter you would be able to get a better idea of the real voltage in there.

Were you barefoot, sweaty, or touching ground in any way?

Do you have a GFI on any devices?

I test safety using a home made extension cord with a GFI on the end of it. Plug everything in to an outlet strip that is plugged intot he GFI and see if it pops. Do it one by one and if there is a problem, it should help find it.

Faz

 

[breutus]

:lol: well put! I don't personally believe in grounding probes either. I am trying to track the source.

The thing is,More for curiosity's sake, Is it shocking them? If there is no ground, there is no current. But Would there always be a ground if electricity Leaking in?

heres what I have figured out on my system so far;

Mag 9.5 (return pump) is putting out 2.8 volts
Heater 3.6 volts
MJ1200 modded 1.2 volts
MJ900 modded tip 1.1 volts
pump for skimmer 18.9 volts!!! :eek this needs to be replaced if anyone has anything that will work.

Logiktest, the pumps might come in handy do you have anything I can put on my skimmer that you'd sell?

Faz it's a DVM but it's a nive one, 2 decimal points accurate I tested both of my nano's and got 2 and 4 volts out of them and systematiccly took things out to find the Big problem and if I unplugged everything I got 0

 

[Reggae Fish]

I have some stuff laying around also if you need. Give me a call. I can't remember if I have an extra mag 9.5 or mag 7 but also have a Mag 24 but that's too much.

 

[logiktest]

What pump are you using for what skimmer? internal, external, amount of flow, bla bla bla?

 

[Reggae Fish]

If I recall correctly, he's running a CSS 125 external and I would guess the mag 9.5 listed above is his return pump

 

[breutus]

yep the 9.5 is the return and the skimmer pump is internal, whatever comes on the superskimmer 125, I know it's nothing to big, but I have no idea what to replace it with, but I know it needs replaced.

I am not sure if the 9.5 needs replaced at only 3 volts but if it's supposed to be 0... I wouldn't know unless someone else can test there tank

Justin if you have a 9.5 laying around I would definitly switch them around and test it.

 

[Reggae Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12377302#post12377302 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by breutus
yep the 9.5 is the return and the skimmer pump is internal, whatever comes on the superskimmer 125, I know it's nothing to big, but I have no idea what to replace it with, but I know it needs replaced.

I am not sure if the 9.5 needs replaced at only 3 volts but if it's supposed to be 0... I wouldn't know unless someone else can test there tank

Justin if you have a 9.5 laying around I would definitly switch them around and test it.

I'll look when I get home. I sold either the 7 or the 9.5 (can't remember)

 

[logiktest]

Sorry Lucas, I have a mag 7, but no mag 9.5

 

[Im Lon 2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12376494#post12376494 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fazgood
Do you have a GFI on any devices?

Faz

Even if you have a GFI hooked up, you will still get shocked with out tripping the GFI..

BUT, it is always a lot safer to run GFI's in the case something falles in the water.

 

[Homereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12376494#post12376494 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fazgood
Were you barefoot, sweaty, or touching ground in any way?

If I know Lucas like everyone else you sure bet he was.


IME 1 out of 5 Magdrive pumps will throw out some serious voltage/current into the water. I don't know if they are not sealed properly on the inside or what. I am not a pump engineer or electritian. I have been shocked my fair share tho.

You can replace it and immediately tell the difference.

I have no real information to give you other than I have never been shocked by an Iwaki or any of the Sequence pumps.

BTW one thing I noticed maybe by coincidence but maybe worth looking into. When the pump "goes bad" your heater will usually be on it's last leg or already malfunctioning.

 

[breutus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12379631#post12379631 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Homereef
If I know Lucas like everyone else you sure bet he was.


BTW one thing I noticed maybe by coincidence but maybe worth looking into. When the pump "goes bad" your heater will usually be on it's last leg or already malfunctioning.

Drunk and sweaty go hand in hand

this makes since according to an electrician today he says if theres a small leak in your power from the pump and the closet thing in the sump is the heater and in my case the skimmer pump that it is probably grounding out to one or the other eating away at its seals making them worse. but he said that it is always gonna find a ground so a probe would only help to protect other equipment in the tank when one goes bad.

still wish i could find some one with good coral growth to see what theirs pulls on the voltmeter! just for reference on how much is to much since it seems like everything puts out something

 

[Homereef]

I know especially if I have a cut on my hands 30v in saltwater does not feel good at all. I can't speak for fish or coral.