Shocking first experience

G

Goatonfly

New member
I am just getting into tanks and setting up a 40g breeder fowlr tank. I have everything I need to start it and just set up my ro/di system. It's connected in my garage to the hose spigot. Here's the problem, my brute 32g bucket is shocking the crap out of me. I assume it's static from the pvc and tubing from the system. When I stuck my hand in the water it gave me a nice little shock. Glad no one was around to here me yell and jump two feet..:lmao: So how do I stop this? I picked up a fire hotdog roaster and if I get within a foot of the water it starting cracking and popping like it's about to shock. Thanks.
 
I don't know man. I'm a noob lol. It's just that anytime I read about someone getting shocked from, there tank I see it suggested. what's your suggestions?

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A grounding probe is great for stray voltage from frayed wires from pumps or a heater, but static electricity is typically from things being to dry, or a build up of electrons from plastics.
 
i get static sparks all the time especially in the winter. i can't even touch other people let alone metals. :facepalm:
 
I get shocked from my tank all the time in the winter, but it's sitting on carpet and I walk across the carpet to get to the tank. I just touch something metal before going in the tank.
 
homer1475 said:
What good is a grounding probe going to do for static electricity?
Click to expand...

Grounding will dissipate the electrical charge. It's used all the time via dissipating walk off mats in places like computer clean rooms. Bare grounding conductors are also used in conjunction with plastic piping for dust collection systems to eliminate the static charge that could lead to an explosion. That's the reason you mostly see metal ductwork on dust collection systems and not plastic pipe. It's also why they tell you never to fill a gas can in a pickup bed that has a plastic bed liner and to place the can on the ground.
 
Not sure if this helps, but living in Colorado for many years, I was literally a lighting rod for static electricity. Nobody else seemed to have the problem but I would get the heck shocked out of me just touching things. I heard about, and purchased, a humidifier that went into my heating system. I had to cut into the ductwork by the heating unit, but it would put water into the heated air. I was surprised to find it literally eliminated this shocking altogether... at least in my house. I would go to someone else's house, forgetting I am a lightning rod, and zap the living hell outta myself, but that is another story. Maybe something like this would help?
 
Cool_fish said:
Not sure if this helps, but living in Colorado for many years, I was literally a lighting rod for static electricity. Nobody else seemed to have the problem but I would get the heck shocked out of me just touching things. I heard about, and purchased, a humidifier that went into my heating system. I had to cut into the ductwork by the heating unit, but it would put water into the heated air. I was surprised to find it literally eliminated this shocking altogether... at least in my house. I would go to someone else's house, forgetting I am a lightning rod, and zap the living hell outta myself, but that is another story. Maybe something like this would help?
Click to expand...
Sorry but I'm lmao [emoji4]

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Thanks for the replies. I live in military housing so modifying anything is out of the question. But, at least I know now it's a problem other people have too. I'm looking forward to setting my tank ip this weekend! And getting some good info from the forum.
 
I'd be very careful here

Sounds like more that just static electricity

You do understand, that unless it's PURE water- even with 0 TDS-
water is an excellent conductor. (100% pure water will not conduct electricity- look it up)

But any dust, dirt, salt at in the water- excellent conductor.

I hope it's only static electricity for you sake- otherwise- it's deadly- many true stories

YOu can buy a grounding probe-
I made my own, with left over stainless steel boat fittings, and copper wire, plugged into the third/round prong on the outlet-...

WITH GFCI protection as well

Good luck and be safe
 
A grounding probe should work just fine for static electricity, but that's an awful lot of discharge for static electricity. You might, as suggested above , seriously check around for any source of stray voltage
 
MidwesternTexan said:
I'd be very careful here

Sounds like more that just static electricity

You do understand, that unless it's PURE water- even with 0 TDS-
water is an excellent conductor. (100% pure water will not conduct electricity- look it up)

But any dust, dirt, salt at in the water- excellent conductor.

I hope it's only static electricity for you sake- otherwise- it's deadly- many true stories

YOu can buy a grounding probe-
I made my own, with left over stainless steel boat fittings, and copper wire, plugged into the third/round prong on the outlet-...

WITH GFCI protection as well

Good luck and be safe
Click to expand...

After I touch the water a few times it doesn't shock anymore. Rubber trashcan full of water on concrete not a single thing touching the bucket and it shocked me, I'm leaning towards static. Thanks for the info.
 
I live in Colorado springs where static electricity is some of the highest anywhere. Carpet in my new house was driving me crazy because all the light switches were shocking me. Luckily my tanks in the basement haven't been shocking me. You could try those full length rubber gloves. The other thing you could try is the thing we use in our computer room for working on computer equipment http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Anti-Static-Wrist-Adjustable-Grounding/dp/B00004Z5D1 may need to find one with a longer wire.
Edit: just clip it to something metal away from the ro/di container and it grounds you. Good luck
 
I can't shop at Giant Food Grocery Store by my house because I get shocked every time I pickup an item off the shelf :( Sorry, I know I am not helping to answer the question.
 
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