Skills learned while reefing

[estutesman]

We all become masters of various arts while reefkeeping. Most of us could be journeyman electricians and master plumbers after a few years of DIY. Tonight, I got new bulbs, and set out to install them. One of the wires broke on the mogul socket as I installed the new bulb, so I had to practice my electrical talents. After tonight, I am considering quitting my job to pursue my new found talent. Does anyone know if the railroads are hiring? I happen to be a great conductor.

I also learned that I can take 250 Watts, but that it makes me scream like a girl. Who would have thought one loose screw could cause such a hair raising experience.

 

[Lownismo]

Sounds like a shocking experience....

 

[Pickupman66]

OUCH.. ive done that before. slight tingle.....

I am a pretty darn good plumber and electrician thanks to the tank.

I hve also been known to redneck fix things from time to time as well.

 

[SushiGirl]

LMAO, too funny.
I grabbed a electric dog wire once (the kind that pulses off, then on, then off, then on) cuz I didn't think it was working. Not sure how many volts, but I certainly did NOT manage to scream...or anything else for a few seconds!

 

[estutesman]

It solved my fear of the Foxface. He is always swimming around my arm when I have it in the tank. I just know he wants to sting me. I doubt that he will be messing with me now that he knows I can shoot lightning from my finger tips...

 

[poolkeeper1]

I Did that while changing a light fixture on the top of a building about 20 feet high, Forgot to flip the breaker and started to undo the wire nuts to change the fixture.
Well it was at a pool i took care of and a lady saw me fall off the ladder on the grass, Lucky for me and she said Oh My did you get a shock! It was a Sodium Vapor 250W fixture and I was shaking for an hour after that. And to this day i double check that the power is off. I told the lady no i always fall off ladders and try and kill myself LOL
Bill

 

[NeedBiggerTank]

I tried to put a dimmer switch on a ceiling fan/light combo once. I DID turn off the breaker - who knew that in a house built in 1905 with the old style insulated wiring that the white colored insulated wire (which is supposed to be the ground wire) was still hot... My fingers were numb for about a day.

My friends call me "McIver" - because I'll try to fix/install anything....especially if it will save me money. But I have to admit, after that shock, I gave up on the dimmer and called an electrician.

 

[orthokardia]

love it!!!!

 

[ORayRay]

it solved my fear of the foxface. He is always swimming around my arm when i have it in the tank. I just know he wants to sting me. I doubt that he will be messing with me now that he knows i can shoot lightning from my finger tips...

lmao

 

[gannmann9876]

this thread is great i am loving the stories

 

[commonstranger]

Hmmmmmm a story of electricity. Well when you put a pump that is too stong on a tank and then you add a ball vavle to slow down. Well let me tell you if the spaflex comes loose from the pump youve got problems but, you have even more problems when there is a electric socket in the wall only inches away that the pump is plugged in to. Once the spaflex came off the pump the water was pumping so hard it was blasted to the top of the underside of the cabinet and getting everything and I mean everything wet. I reached for the plug to unplug it and BAMMMMMMM, I felt my arm have that hurting numb feeling but knew I had to get it unplugged so again BAMMMMMMM and again BAMMMMMMMM. Im proud to say after I rode the lightning the third time I was able to hold on to the plug and pull enough while being shocked to get it out of the socket. Oh yeah a friend was right behind me watching the whole time. What was he doing ????? Laughing his head off !!!! Hey what are friends for you know. LOL !!!

 

[Paul B]

Actually I have been a master electrician for 40 years and I am hoping the tank will make me forget all of that.

 

[rcmike]

I have been shocked more times than I can remember. I guess the worst was when I looked at my tank one morning and the fish weren't acting right and the corals were all closed up. While trying to figure out what was wrong I noticed a coral that had fallen and reached in to my armpit to pick it up. About the time I grabbed it I got a good jolt and jerked my arm up and hit my MH bulb with my elbow and it burned the crap out of me too. Come to find out, the Rio pump I had on my skimmer had died and had a big crack in the case. It also took months to get everything under control due to all the oil that had leaked out of it.

 

[poolkeeper1]

I am the King of frying my tanks, At least three time that i know of by leaving wire laying around loose where they fall in the water. Next thing your looking at the tank thinking what the heck is going on! The last time it was with 12V and it was 20hrs before i realised what was going on, But to be honest the coral always comes back even nicer in some cases.
When I hear Rhett talk about that Pump deal It still makes me laugh hard as the day it happened. I actually wasn't registering what was happening until i saw how serious he was yelling to pull the plug, I was laughing because he was getting drenched with water.
You just had to be there i guess.
Bill